How to boil chicken tenderloins (the best way)
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When asked what technique should be learnt for healthy meal prepping, I always say that you should learn how to boil chicken tenderloins. Theyโre a lean, great source of protein that can be incorporated into so many dishes! No chicken tenderloins? Try my how to boil a whole chicken or how to boil chicken thighs recipe!
Table of Contents
Why youโll love this recipe
- Quick and easy – you get succulent, perfectly seasoned chicken breast in just 12 minutes. Thereโs barely any prep as you just check it all into a pan and let the low boil do itโs thing.
- Flavorful broth – the key to intensely savoury, delicious chicken is to create a rich broth. Boil chicken tenders in a mix of mushroom bouillon (hello umami), aromatics, and ACV or lemon juice for tenderising. Heaven.
- Great for meal prep – if youโre like me and want to incorporate healthy proteins into all of your meals then boiling chicken tenders is for you. You donโt use any oil to cook the chicken so itโs naturally lower calorie, whilst still being a delicious protein pairing for an array of recipes. Such as my Din Tai Fung cucumber salad!
Looking for other great chicken recipes to eat this week? How about trying some of these recipe favorites!: One Pan Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Pasta, Chicken and Chorizo Risotto, Easy Baked Pesto Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
The main ingredients that make this Boiled Chicken Tenderloin recipe fantastic are the following:
Mushroom bouillon~ my secret ingredient to add umami, seasoning and depth of flavour. The key to the question of how to boil chicken tenderloins is a rich broth, and this creates just that.
Onion ~ leave the skin on the onion to colour and flavour the broth.
Apple cider vinegar OR lemon juice ~ use these interchangeably. They add brightness to the broth and also help to tenderize the meat, leaving you with juicy boil chicken tenderloins.
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
Get your favourite paste involved:
- Add miso paste for an umami boost in the broth. Youโll also get a delicious miso infused soup as a bonus at the end.
- Love Harissa? This would add a smoky, mildly spicy vibe to your chicken tenderloins, plus a fab colour!
- Curry pastes ~ whether itโs a thai curry paste or more of an indian style curry paste like madras, these will all add a great twist of flavour.
- Add a homemade sauce like Tomato Basil Sauce.
Adapt to dietary requirements:
Gluten free: Be sure to check your bouillon powder to ensure there isnโt any gluten. Other than that, this recipe is naturally GF.
Low sodium: either substitute the bouillon for low sodium bouillon or you can also switch it out or reduce the quantity to 1tsp, or whatever your comfortable with.
Thatโs the great thing about learning how to boil chicken tenderloins yourself: you can easily adapt the base for whatever you need!
How to make boil chicken tenderloins
Step 1: Add water and bouillon powder to a medium sized saucepan and mix well.
Step 2: Next add the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer for 10 minutes.
Step 3: After 10 minutes, check the internal temperature. Once the temperature is 74ยฐC/165ยฐF, remove the chicken from the pan using tongs.
Step 4: Allow the chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting or shredding.
How long to boil chicken tenders
Depending on whether youโre starting from fresh or frozen, or want to shred, the cook time for tenderloins might be slightly different.
How long to boil chicken tenderloins? My recipe below is using fresh chicken tenderloins straight from the fridge which take between 10-15 minutes to cook with a low simmer. I find my sweet spot to be around the 12 minute mark. The most important thing is to make sure you remove the chicken once itโs hit 165ยฐF/74ยฐC.
How long to boil chicken tenderloins to shred? I find that the optimal time is similar to above. Be sure to leave the chicken to rest for a minimum of 5 minutes before shredding, this will help to retain the juices.
How long to boil frozen chicken tenderloins? No need to thaw! Just add a couple of extra minutes. Boil on a low heat for 18 to 22 minutes, depending on thickness. Itโll take a little longer to get to a gentle boil as the frozen chicken cools down the water. Start your timer when the gentle boil starts.
Tips for the best result
- Check the temperature of your chicken at the 10-minute mark to ensure youโre not getting to 165ยฐF/74ยฐC before the end of the cook time!
- Let the chicken tenderloins rest for a minimum of 5 mins. This will help to retain the juices, creating the most tender chicken.
- Make sure your water isnโt boiling too aggressively! This will lead to tough, dry chicken.
Storage and meal prep tips
Storage & reheat info – store the shredded or chopped chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Thatโs why I love to whip this up on a Monday for a healthy source of protein for all of my lunches.
How to freeze – add to freezer-safe bags or an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 3 months!
How to reheat – either incorporate the cooked chicken into your recipe of choice which would heat it up, or add to the microwave with a splash of stock or water for 1-2 minutes, depending on the quantity of chicken youโre reheating.
Meal prep tip – double the batch of chicken tenderloins and freeze half for the following week. Then you have even more protein for next week!
Use this recipe in place of the cooked chicken in your other favorite recipes- some personal faves of mine are: Shredded Chicken Tacos, Tarragon Chicken and Marry Me Chicken.
Recipe FAQs
Store the shredded or chopped chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, either incorporate the cooked chicken into your recipe of choice which would heat it up, or add to the microwave with a splash of stock or water for 1-2 minutes, depending on the quantity of chicken youโre reheating.
Yes, no need to thaw! Just add a couple of extra minutes. Boil on a low heat for 18 to 22 minutes, depending on thickness. Itโll take a little longer to get to a gentle boil as the frozen chicken cools down the water. Start your timer when the gentle boil starts.ย
If you tried this How to Boil Chicken Tenderloins Recipe, it would mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys ๐ Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
Easy Boiled Chicken Tenderloins
Ingredients
- 1 lb 450g of chicken tenderloins
- 1 stick of celery
- 1 onion halved with skin on
- 1 carrots peeled & roughly chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic smashed
- Handful of fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp bouillon powder I used mushroom
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1.2 litres of water or enough to cover
Method
- Pop everything into your medium saucepan- the chicken tenderloins, vegetables, bouillon and ACV/lemon juice. Pour the cold water into the pan and bring up to boil, then reduce to a low simmer. If the water is boiling too aggressively, youโll get tough chicken!
- Once simmering, set your timer for 10 minutes. Skim off any foam that rises to the top with a spoon,
- When your timer goes off, check the temperature of the thickest part of the tenderloin. It should hit 74ยฐC/165ยฐF. It should 10-15 minutes to get there but I like to check early just in case!
- Remove the chicken and let it rest for 5 minutes for slicing or shredding.
- Strain the broth into a container, let cool and pop in the fridge.
Notes
- The chicken can be stored for up to 4 days in the fridge or frozen for 2-3 months. The broth lasts 5 days in the fridge and freezes for up to 2-3 months.ย
- Make sure your water isnโt boiling too aggressively!
- Measure the thickest part of the tender for the temperature
Nutrition
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