There are many ways to cook a whole chicken. You can roast, smoke, grill, and boil it. Boiling is the focus today because, besides being a foolproof way to get tender, juicy chicken, the most flavorful chicken broth is left over! If all sounds good, let’s delve into the answer to the question, “How long to boil a whole chicken?” so you can experience all it offers.
How Long to Boil a Whole Chicken: Step-by-Step
Before we get to the question, “How long does a whole chicken take to boil?” gather your ingredients. You’ll need a whole chicken, salt, pepper, a lemon, aromatics of choice, and any other seasonings you’d like to use. Furthermore, you want to find a large pot to accommodate the chicken and the liquid it will be cooked in.
Next, it’s time to do a bit of prep work. Whole chickens may require you to remove a few things from the cavity, plus you want to season it well so it doesn’t come out bland and tasteless. To prep a whole chicken:
- Remove the giblets and neck from the chicken’s cavity. You can discard these parts or reserve them for later use. Some store-bought chickens do not include the neck and giblets but always check before proceeding with a recipe.
- Clean the chicken by rubbing it down with the juice of a lemon instead of running it under cold water. The acid cleans poultry well, improves flavor, and tenderizes. There is no need to rinse it off. Also, reserve the juiced halves, as you can throw them into the pot.
- Season the chicken if you have time. I suggest dry-brining it the night before or applying a marinade under the skin instead of focusing it on the exterior since the chicken will be boiled. Then, refrigerate the chicken for a few hours or overnight.
Now, let’s address the question, “How long does it take to boil a whole chicken?” The following steps also answer the question, “How long to boil a whole chicken for soup?” To boil a whole chicken:
- Place the chicken in the pot with any seasonings and aromatics you like, including the juiced lemon halves.
- Pour enough water to cover the chicken by 1-1 ½ inches.
- Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce to a simmer and cook for 45-60 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Note: 3–4-pound chickens take about 45-50 minutes, while larger chickens take up to an hour to reach a safe internal temperature.
Boiling Whole Chicken Cook Times
The steps above provide a cooking time range instead of anything specific because how long to boil a whole chicken varies depending on how you’d like to use the chicken. For example, if you want to shred the chicken, you want to cook it longer than if you wish to slice it. Refer to the table below for more details on how long to boil a whole chicken when you have a specific texture in mind.
| Weight | Slightly Firm | Tender | Fall Apart Tender | Melt In Your Mouth Tender |
| 3-4 pounds | 45-50 minutes | 50-55 minutes | 55-60 minutes | 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes |
| 5-6 pounds | 55-60 minutes | 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes | 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes | 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes |
What will you do with your newfound knowledge now that you know the answer to “How long does it take to boil a whole chicken?” The meal possibilities are endless once a whole chicken is boiled and ready to go! As mentioned, soup is an option, but you may want to think outside the box with something like chicken pot pie hand pies, green chili chicken tamales, or buffalo chicken pizza.
