We’re sharing the easy steps on how to boil chicken thighs, whether they’re boneless, bone-in, frozen, or fresh!
Similar to how to boil chicken breasts, boiling a whole chicken, and how-to chicken drumsticks, this method for chicken thighs is just as easy!
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Why use boneless or bone-in thighs?
- Substitutions
- Equipment
- How to Make Bone-In Chicken Thighs
- How to Make Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Spices and Sauces for Chicken Thighs
- How to Shred Cooked Chicken Thighs
- Recipe Pro Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- What to Serve with Boiled Chicken Thighs
- Storage
- More Chicken Thigh Recipes You’ll Love
- Recipe
- Comments
Enjoying the cooked chicken thighs just like they are, is a great easy dinner idea.
However, when using this cooking method, it’s also a great way to prep for easy meals similar to when cooking shredded chicken in the slow cooker. Cooked chicken can be used in recipes like this Frito Chicken Casserole or this Stove Top Stuffing Chicken Casserole.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Flexible: This method for boiling chicken thighs is flexible to where you can add different vegetables, spices, and herbs if desired.
- Make-ahead recipe: Love making dishes ahead of time, or meal prepping? Boiling a large pack of chicken is a great way to secure cooked chicken for other recipes.
Ingredients Needed
Ingredients can vary for boiled chicken thighs. In this example, we’ve made chicken thighs, alone, with just water, and chicken thighs with vegetables and herbs.
The above image shows a package of bone-in chicken thighs, whereas the image below shows boneless chicken thighs.
Why use boneless or bone-in thighs?
This could vary for different reasons. Some say bone-in chicken thighs are juicier and more affordable.
However boneless chicken thighs are easier for sandwich recipes and are still a juicy cut of chicken meat.
Substitutions
Substitution options are endless with boiling chicken thighs. They can be boiled by themselves or you can add your favorite fresh herbs, fresh vegetables, and spices. Here are some ideas that may help:
- Onions
- Fresh Thyme
- Parsley
- Bay Leaves
- Celery
Equipment
A large stockpot that’s big enough to fit the chicken and any other ingredients you wish to put in with it, along with the amount of water that it needs, as well as allowing a lid to sit on top.
How to Make Bone-In Chicken Thighs
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
If you have bone-in chicken thighs, you’ll want to follow the cooking time below. You can boil them by themselves or like how we boiled them with carrots, rosemary, and spices for extra flavor.
For Thawed Bone in Chicken Thighs
- Place chicken thighs in a large pot (one that is large enough to fit everything you plan to cook, as well as the water it will take to cover the chicken with about an inch of water above the top of the chicken) and season with salt and black pepper.
- Next, add in any other ingredients you wish to boil with the chicken thighs. We added 3 carrots, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and 3 sprigs of rosemary.
- Fill the pot with water, so that the water is about an inch of water above the top of the chicken.
- Turn the stovetop burner to high heat, to allow it to boil. When boiling, reduce heat to medium heat, cover with a lid, and allow to boil for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken, reaches 165 degrees when checked with a meat thermometer.
For Frozen Bone in Chicken Thighs:
It could take up to 40-45 minutes for the frozen chicken thighs to cook to 165 internal temperature.
- Remove chicken thighs from the water, and serve or use for another recipe.
TIP: If you love a crispy skin, you can place the chicken thighs in a baking dish, and set the oven on “broil” and broil the chicken thighs for a couple of minutes or until they reach the desired golden-brown color that you desire.
How to Make Boneless Chicken Thighs
If you have boneless chicken thighs, you’ll want to follow the cooking times below. You can cook them by themselves or with spices, vegetables, and herbs like we used above.
- Place boneless chicken thighs in stock pot (one that is large enough to fit everything you plan to cook, as well as the water it will take to cover the chicken with about an inch of water above the top of the chicken) and season with salt and pepper.
- Fill the pot with water, covering the chicken so that there’s about an inch of water above the top of the chicken.
- Turn the stovetop burner to high heat, to allow it to boil. When boiling, reduce heat to medium, cover with a lid, and let simmer for about 10 minutes until chicken is done, or internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
If frozen boneless chicken thighs: it could take up to 20-25 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. - Remove the cooked chicken thighs from the water and enjoy or use them in other chicken recipes.
Spices and Sauces for Chicken Thighs
If you’re looking to serve these tender chicken thighs by themselves, you may like to serve them with more seasonings or your favorite sauce. Here are some ideas that you may find helpful:
- bbq sauce
- buffalo sauce
- teriyaki sauce like I use in this recipe for teriyaki chicken too!
- jalapeno ranch dip
- chipotle aioli
- blue cheese dip
- bbq seasoning
How to Shred Cooked Chicken Thighs
If shredding the chicken, it’s easiest to shred cooked chicken when it’s warm. You can do this by using two forks, or if you have a stand mixer, it’s a great way to shred chicken fast. You can see below how using this whisk attachment on our stand mixer, shredded the chicken so nicely!
Recipe Pro Tips
- Cooking time can vary: Depending on the size of your chicken thighs, the cooking time can vary. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees before serving.
- Boil in chicken broth (optional): If desired, you can boil the chicken thighs in chicken broth instead, for more flavor.
- Make broth. When boiling the chicken in water, it can make a homemade chicken broth that you can use to make easy homemade chicken noodle soup, buffalo chicken soup, or other soup recipes!
Recipe FAQs
Place the raw chicken in a stock pot with water covering it, and boil long enough that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
If fresh, boneless chicken thighs, allow it to come to a rolling boil, and then reduce heat to medium, cover, and allow it to cook for about 10 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken thighs reaches 165 degrees.
Yes! It is so tender, and depending on what you boil it with, or how you serve it when cooked, it can be a new favorite cut of chicken.
What to Serve with Boiled Chicken Thighs
Boiled chicken thighs are delicious served with old-fashioned side dishes such as this pea salad, macaroni and tomatoes or with these delicious homemade biscuits.
Or, you can serve this boiled chicken thighs recipe on top of this cream cheese pasta for a great combination!
Storage
Leftover chicken thighs: Store cooled leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freeze: Once the chicken thighs have cooled, store them in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag, for 3-4 months.
Thaw: To thaw the chicken thighs, place them in the refrigerator to thaw.
More Chicken Thigh Recipes You’ll Love
Love cooking with chicken thighs? So do we! Here are some of our favorite chicken thigh dinner ideas:
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe
How to Boil Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 pounds chicken thighs bone-in or boneless, amount can vary
- water enough to cover the chicken and other ingredients that you may choose to add, with at least one inch of water above the top of the chicken.
Instructions
For Fresh Bone in Chicken Thighs
- Place chicken thighs in a large pot (one that is large enough to fit everything you plan to cook, as well as the water it will take to cover the chicken with about an inch of water above the top of the chicken) and season with salt and pepper.
- Next, add in any other ingredients you wish to boil with the chicken thighs. We added 3 carrots, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and 3 sprigs of rosemary.
- Fill the pot with water, so that the water is about an inch of water above the top of the chicken.
- Turn the stovetop burner to high heat, to allow it to boil. When boiling, reduce heat to medium, cover with a lid, and allow to boil for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken, reaches 165 degrees.
For Frozen Bone-In Chicken Thighs:
- It could take up to 40-45 minutes for the frozen chicken thighs to cook to 165 internal temperature.
- TIP: If you love a crispy skin, you can place the chicken thighs in a baking dish, and set the oven on "broil" and broil the chicken thighs for a couple of minutes or until they reach the desired golden-brown color that you desire.
For Fresh Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Place boneless chicken thighs in stock pot (one that is large enough to fit everything you plan to cook, as well as the water it will take to cover the chicken with about an inch of water above the top of the chicken) and season with salt and pepper.
- Fill the pot with water, covering the chicken so that there's about an inch of water above the top of the chicken.
- Turn the stovetop burner to high heat, to allow it to boil. When boiling, reduce heat to medium, cover with a lid, and let simmer for about 10 minutes until chicken is done, or internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
For Frozen Boneless Chicken Thighs
- It could take up to 20-25 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Allyson Zea says
The meat from chicken thighs is so much more flavorful than breasts, I’m gonna do this from now on!
Kristyn says
Love the tips!! This really is the best way to make chicken legs!! There are so many recipes that these are perfect for!