Learn how long to boil chicken thighs with these helpful tips and an easy recipe. Use fresh or frozen chicken thighs and either bone-in or boneless chicken. With this recipe, boiled chicken thighs will turn out tender and perfectly seasoned.
Boiled chicken thighs are convenient and versatile. You can shred the meat for sandwiches and salads, use it for meal prep or add boiled chicken to your kid's plate for a simple protein at lunch or dinner.
It's important that you know how long to boil chicken thighs so that they turn out tender and flavorful.
But timing isn't the only information that you need. This blog post and recipe includes several crucial tips that will make sure the meat is really tender and really flavorful.
Let's get started!
Jump to:
- Boiled vs Simmered - Which is best?
- How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs
- Boiling Frozen Chicken
- The Best Internal Temperature for Cooked Chicken Thighs
- Expert Tips
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- How to Tell if Chicken is Done
- Leftovers and Storage
- Freezing and Safe Defrosting
- How to Serve Boiled Chicken
- FAQ About Chicken Thighs
- More Chicken Recipes
- More Easy-to Cook Proteins
- 📖 Recipe
Boiled vs Simmered - Which is best?
Tender chicken can't be rushed. Both bone-in and boneless chicken thighs should be gently simmered over medium or low heat. Cooking chicken at a rapid boil makes it more likely that the chicken will be tough and rubbery.
How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs
How long you cook fresh chicken thighs depends on whether you're cooking boneless or bone-in.
The times listed below are an accurate estimate, but the internal temperature of the chicken is a better indicator of doneness than timing is. Use time as a guide, but use a meat thermometer as the final indicator of when the chicken is ready.
Boneless Thighs: 15 to 20 minutes at a gentle boil.
Bone-in Thighs: 25 to 30 minutes at a gentle boil.
For the most tender dark meat, cover the chicken with cold water and cover the pot with a lid. Turn the heat to medium. Bring the water to a gentle simmer, then move the heat down to medium-low or low. Simmer the thighs very gently and try to avoid a full, roiling boil.
Boiling Frozen Chicken
If using frozen chicken thighs, they should be separated and cooked in a single layer, not frozen together in a clump.
The USDA recommends increasing the cooking time for frozen chicken by 50 percent. For bone-in thighs this means around 45 to 55 minutes, and for frozen boneless thighs around 30 to 35 minutes.
The Best Internal Temperature for Cooked Chicken Thighs
Use a meat thermometer to test the temperature of the cooked chicken. The safe, internal cooked temperature for chicken is 165º F. Unlike chicken breasts, which turn dry after 165 degrees, chicken legs, drumsticks and thighs actually become more tender and flavorful when cooked to a slightly higher temperature.
When cooked to a slightly higher temperature, the connective tissue in dark meat has more time to break down and become tender. So, for really tender chicken thighs, aim for a final cooking temperature between 175º and 190º.
Before taking the temperature of the thighs, remove the thighs from the boiling water.
Expert Tips
- Season: Season the water generously. Add 2 teaspoons of table salt for every 6 cups of water.
- Add the chicken to cold water: Cover the chicken with cold water, then turn up the heat. This helps keep the meat stay tender; adding raw chicken to already boiling water can make the meat tough.
- Simmer, not boil: Simmer the thighs very gently and try to avoid a full, roiling boil. Cooking chicken too fast will cause the meat to seize up and get tough or rubbery.
- Cook to 175F-190F: Chicken is safely cooked when the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 165º. However, dark meat will be even more tender once it reaches a temperature between 175º and 190º.
- Rest the meat: Let the thighs rest for at least 10 minutes, or until cool, before slicing the meat.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Place chicken thighs in a pot or Dutch oven, in a single layer
2. Add enough water to cover the chicken (6 cups) plus 2 teaspoons salt. You can add more flavor enhancers, like fresh herbs, garlic or onion.
3. Cover the pot with a lid and turn the heat to medium. Bring to a gentle simmer. Turn the heat down and continue to simmer very gently. Check the temperature of the thighs after a total cooking time of 20 minutes. The temperature of the chicken is a better indicator of doneness than timing is.
See the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and detailed instructions
How to Tell if Chicken is Done
The best indicator of cooked chicken is the internal temperature of the chicken. All types of chicken should be cooked to a minimum of 165 degrees F. This is because bacteria can be found on raw or undercooked chicken.
Use an Instant Read thermometer and test the chicken in several spots. Make sure to stick the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken. Also make sure that the thermometer is not directly touching a bone (and make sure to take the chicken out of the boiling water before taking the temperature).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a safe minimum cooking temperature chart for all types of meat.
In addition to checking the temperature of chicken, you can look for other indicators of cooked chicken:
Juices run clear: When you cut into the chicken, the juice that comes out should be clear, not pink
Opaque flesh: The meat should be opaque, not translucent or shiny. The flesh of bone-in chicken thighs will sometimes remain pink around the bones, due to pigment in the bone marrow.
Shape: Cooked chicken thighs and breasts plump up. The shape is higher and rounder than uncooked chicken, which is more limp and flat.
Leftovers and Storage
Store the boiled chicken in an airtight container. It can be stored as whole thighs, or sliced/shredded. It will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
Freezing and Safe Defrosting
Shredded cooked chicken or whole cooked thighs can be frozen for up to 6 months. Place chicken in a freezer safe sealed freezer bag or freezer safe containers. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze chicken salad.
The safest methods to defrost frozen, raw chicken are in the refrigerator overnight, in cold water, or in the microwave.
If you thaw food in cold water, change the water every half hour to make sure it stays cold. Keep the frozen chicken in a sealed bag so it doesn't get wet.
Only defrost in cold water or in the microwave if you are going to fully cook the chicken immediately after defrosting it.
How to Serve Boiled Chicken
Plain, boiled chicken is a tasty source of protein and can be added to meals throughout the week. It can also be added to recipes, such as:
- Chicken Salad (try blt chicken salad)
- Enchiladas
- Burritos
- Grain bowls and green salads
- Stir-fries
- Pasta
FAQ About Chicken Thighs
Using chicken broth instead of water to boil thighs is an added cost that is unnecessary. Seasoned water works just as well.
Yes. Chicken skin is a flavorful layer of fat that helps keep chicken moist, even when you're boiling the chicken. It isn't absolutely necessary, however, and skinless chicken thighs are also quite tender when boiled.
According to the USDA guidelines on cooking chicken, frozen chicken can be safely boiled or simmered. The cooking time is approximately 50 percent longer than for fresh chicken.
It is not safe to put frozen chicken in a slow cooker or Crock Pot. The meat will be in the "danger zone" for too long, which is the temperature range that bacteria is most likely to grow (between 40 and 140 degrees F).
No, store bought chicken should not be rinsed before cooking it. This is an outdated practice that simply spreads raw chicken bacteria around your sink and countertops. Rinsing raw chicken does not destroy bacteria. Only cooking will destroy bacteria that might be present on fresh chicken.
If you like crispy skin, you're better off cooking chicken thighs in the oven or on the grill. Try my sheet-pan honey mustard chicken and cauliflower or sheet-pan soy sauce chicken and broccoli.
If you really want to boil the chicken first, then it works okay to put boiled thighs under an oven broiler. Place the boiled thighs on a baking sheet. Pat the skin dry. Brush oil or butter over the skin. You can also add spices, seasonings, or sauce (like BBQ sauce). Broil the chicken until the skin is crispy, making sure to keep a close eye on the chicken so it doesn't burn.
Yes. The cooking time for boiled drumsticks is usually around 20 to 25 minutes. Chicken leg quarters take longer, closer to 30 minutes or more.
Ideally, don't let raw chicken sit out of refrigeration. Although this is unavoidable when buying groceries. According the the FDAs cold facts about food safety, "poultry should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking or purchasing if held at room temperature. Refrigerate within 1 hour if the temperature outside is above 90° F."
More Chicken Recipes
More Easy-to Cook Proteins
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📖 Recipe
Tender Boiled Chicken Thighs (fresh or frozen)
Learn how long to boil chicken thighs with these helpful tips and an easy recipe. Use fresh or frozen chicken thighs and either bone-in or boneless chicken. With this recipe, boiled chicken thighs will turn out tender and perfectly seasoned.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 to 8 chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless; skin on or off)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 6 cups water (enough to cover the chicken thighs)
Additional Seasonings (optional - choose 1 or 2)
- Onion, quartered
- Garlic, peeled and smashed
- Sprigs of fresh herbs (parsley, thyme)
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Use a stock pot or Dutch oven that is wide enough for the chicken thighs to lay in a single layer.
- Cover the chicken thighs with 6 cups of cold water (enough to cover the chicken).
- Add salt to the water.
- Optional: Add additional seasonings to flavor the chicken (onion, garlic, fresh herbs, peppercorns, etc)
- Put a lid on the pot and turn the heat to medium. After 10 minutes, the water will either be simmering or look like it’s about to start simmering.
- Turn the heat down to medium-low and gently simmer the chicken for another 10 minutes with a lid on the pot. Check on it once, making sure the water never reaches a rapid boil. If it’s bubbling rapidly, turn the heat down to low.
- Boneless chicken thighs usually need a total cooking time of around 15 to 20 minutes, and bone-in thighs usually need closer to 30 minutes. However, temperature is a better gauge of doneness than timing is.
- Take the thighs out of the water and use an Instant read thermometer to check the temperature in the thickest part of the chicken thighs. Chicken needs to reach a safe minimum temperature of 165 F. For tender chicken thighs, aim for a final cooking temperature between 175º and 190º.
- Let the cooked thighs rest for at least 10 minutes, or ideally longer, before slicing the meat.
Notes
If using frozen chicken, the frozen bone-in thighs will take around 45 to 55 minutes to cook fully and frozen boneless thighs will take around 30 to 35 minutes.
You can boil any amount of chicken thighs, as long as you have a pot or Dutch oven wide enough for the thighs to be in a single layer. Use enough water to completely cover the chicken thighs by 1 or 2 inches.
The broth that remains in the pot after cooking the thighs can be used to cook rice or make a quick soup or chicken soup.
If using skin-on thighs, the skin can either be discarded or eaten after the chicken is cooked.
You can change the flavor of the chicken thighs by adding ingredients like sesame oil, ginger ( peeled and smashed) and/or a cinnamon stick or star anise.
Jess says
I love cooking with chicken thighs because of their natural flavor. Boiling them is such an easy way to cook them!
Savita says
Such an informative post, thank you for sharing it. Will definitely try this way while making my next chicken dinner.
Kali Alexandria says
An amazing chicken recipe to try! Thank you!
Andrea says
This was an extremely helpful post. Now I know why my meat gets too tough when boiling. I can't wait to try this out.
Dannii says
So many great tips here. I never would have thought to cook chicken this way, but it sounds great.
Jenny says
A very helpful recipe, lots of good tips for cooking chicken that tastes good.