Get ahead on your week with this easy meal prep chicken recipe! How to Boil Chicken Breasts is my simple tutorial that will give you juicy, flavorful shredded chicken that you can use for just about everything.
For the most perfect and amazingly tender baked chicken, grab my very popular recipe for Oven Baked Chicken Breasts.
Now that everyone is getting to the end of their summer, it seems like a good time to start thinking about meal prep, again. Whether for school, homeschool, work, or just saving time across the board, meal prep is a great habit to start.
This easy recipe for boiled chicken breast yields a ton of yummy shredded chicken that’s perfectly juicy and ready to portion out for several days’ worth of meals. It’s well-seasoned yet neutral, so it goes with everything. You’re going to love this simple and healthy recipe and all the time it saves.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This easy recipe uses simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Feel free to double or even triple the recipe because you’ll need it; plus, it freezes beautifully.
- Chicken: One batch of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 to 1.5 pounds of chicken).
- Broth: You can use veggie broth or chicken broth, enough to cover the chicken. That’s about 4 cups.
- Garlic Powder: Use ½ tablespoon garlic powder to season.
- Dried Herbs: Here’s where you can make it your own. Any kind of dried or fresh herbs will work well. Italian Seasoning, dried rosemary, a mix of dried rosemary and thyme, whatever you like!
- Salt and Pepper: I find that a teaspoon of each is just right. Peppercorns work just as well.
How to Boil Chicken Breasts
This method is practically foolproof! To make sure that the chicken doesn’t dry out or overcook (or worse, undercook!) we’ll be using an Instant-Read thermometer to check for doneness.
- Place Ingredients in a Large Pot. Place the chicken in a large pot, followed by the chicken broth, garlic powder, herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Cook. Cover the pot, and bring everything to a boil. Then reduce heat to low, and simmer the chicken for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken registers at 165˚F. Use your handy instant-read meat thermometer to check for doneness. The thicker the breasts, the longer it will take to cook through.
- Shred the Cooked Chicken. Remove the chicken breasts from the broth, reserving 1 cup of broth and tossing out the rest. Transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board and use two forks to shred the meat. If the chicken seems dry, add a bit of the reserved broth and stir to allow the chicken to absorb the liquid.
- Enjoy! Serve immediately, or put in an airtight container and refrigerate.
Tips for Success
You’re probably feeling ready to knock out some meal prep, but before you get started, hang on one sec! Take a minute to look over these handy tips, first.
- Have It Your Way: While I usually shred my chicken, you can definitely leave it whole, chop it, slice it, or cube it. Whatever works for you or for the recipe that you’re going to make.
- Use Thighs: Thighs also make tender pulled or shredded chicken. They also take longer to cook, so be sure to use a thermometer to check for doneness.
How To Boil Chicken in the Instant Pot
This recipe can also be made in the Instant Pot—you can just cook the chicken breasts on high pressure for 10 minutes. Allow the pressure to naturally release for five minutes or so, and then do a quick release of the rest of the pressure. See my recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Breasts for more information.
How to Use Shredded Chicken
- Salad: Top a salad with shredded chicken for a light and healthy lunch or dinner. This Very Berry Avocado Salad is perfect with chicken!
- Sandwiches and Wraps: Stuff shredded chicken into a sandwich, pita, or wrap with a delicious dressing like this Honey Mustard. Mmm.
- Casserole: Throw shredded chicken into a favorite casserole, like this Cheesy Chicken Cauliflower Rice Casserole.
- And More: Baked tacos, quesadillas, soups, burrito bowls, dips, barbecue… the possibilities are endless!
How to Store and Reheat
To store leftovers in the fridge, place them in airtight containers or food storage bags and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To freeze, place in freezer bags and press out as much air as possible before sealing. Freeze for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
More Healthy Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chicken Pasta Primavera
- Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts
- Chicken and Vegetables Skillet
How To Boil Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast, about 1 to 1.5 pounds of chicken
- 3 to 4 cups chicken broth, or enough to cover the chicken
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried herbs, you can use Italian Seasoning, dried rosemary, dried oregano, or a mix of dried rosemary, oregano, and thyme, etc…
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Place chicken in a large pot.
- To the pot, add chicken broth; add enough broth to cover the chicken breasts.
- Stir in garlic powder, dried herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and continue to simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, or until internal temperature of the chicken registers at 165˚F. Please use an instant-read meat thermometer to check for doneness. The thicker the breasts, the longer it will take to cook through.
- Remove chicken breasts from the liquid; reserve 1 cup of liquid and toss out the rest.
- Transfer chicken breasts to a cutting board and, using two forks, shred the meat.
- You can also place the chicken breasts in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on low for about a minute, or until chicken is shredded.
- If shredded chicken looks dry, add a little bit of the reserved liquid and stir to combine. Taste for salt, pepper, and seasonings; adjust accordingly.
- Serve chicken immediately, or put in an airtight container and refrigerate.
Notes
- Use shredded chicken throughout the week for casseroles, sandwiches, salads, tacos, etc…
- NET CARBS: 3 g
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
