How Long Does It Take to Cook Raw Chicken in Soup?

Cooking raw chicken in soup is a common way to add protein and flavor to your bowl of soup. However, it’s important to cook the chicken thoroughly to avoid any foodborne illnesses. So how long does it actually take to cook raw chicken in soup? Let’s take a closer look

Why Cook Raw Chicken in Soup?

There are a few good reasons to cook raw chicken directly in your soup rather than cooking it separately

• Saves time – You don’t have to cook the chicken twice by poaching or sautéing it before adding it to the soup. The chicken cooks right in the broth.

• Adds flavor – The chicken imparts flavor to the broth as it cooks. Likewise, the seasonings in the broth flavor the chicken.

• Convenient – With just one pot, you can cook a complete meal of soup with chicken. Easy cleanup too with just one pot to wash.

• Budget-friendly – Using raw chicken pieces is often cheaper than buying already cooked chicken. You can use different cuts like boneless breasts, thighs, or drumsticks.

How to Cook Raw Chicken in Soup

Cooking chicken in soup is easy. Here are some tips:

• Cut the chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs work best. Cut them into 1-inch chunks so they cook faster.

• Brown first (optional) – For more flavor, you can brown the chicken pieces first in a bit of oil before adding them to the soup.

• Add raw to simmering broth – Make sure your broth is simmering gently before adding raw chicken so it immediately starts cooking.

• Cook thoroughly – Cook until the chicken is fully cooked through and registers 165°F internally. The time varies (see next section).

• Shred (optional) – For chicken noodle soup, you can shred or chop the cooked chicken and add it back to the finished soup.

How Long Does Raw Chicken Take to Cook in Soup?

The cooking time for raw chicken in soup depends on a few factors:

Type of Chicken

• Boneless chunks – Takes 15-20 minutes
• Bone-in parts – Takes 25-50 minutes depending on size
• Whole chicken – Takes 1-2 hours

Boneless chicken cooks fastest since heat can penetrate quickly. Chicken cooked on the bone takes longer but adds lots of flavor.

Size of Pieces

• Chunks – Cook faster than whole pieces
• Small pieces – Are done in 15-20 minutes
• Larger pieces – Require 25-40 minutes

Cutting the chicken into smaller 1-inch chunks reduces cooking time substantially compared to larger pieces.

Temperature of Broth

• Gentle simmer – 190-205°F, chicken takes longer
• Rolling boil – 212°F, chicken cooks fastest

A hard boil makes the chicken cook faster than a gentle simmer. But too vigorous boiling can make the chicken dry or stringy.

Type of Soup Pot

• Thin stockpot – Faster than thick pots
• Thick Dutch oven – Slower cooking

Thinner pots like stainless steel stockpots conduct heat quicker than thick, heavy pots like enameled Dutch ovens.

Frequency of Stirring

• Occasional stirring – Helps chicken cook evenly
• No stirring – Causes uneven cooking

Stirring helps distribute heat so all sides of chicken cook evenly. But avoid constant stirring which can break up the chicken.

By taking these factors into account, you can adjust your cooking time and technique to ensure the chicken cooks fully and properly.

How to Tell When Chicken is Done

Since soup pots don’t have thermometers, here are some ways to check that chicken is fully cooked:

• Pierce with a fork – Meat should be white throughout with clear juices.

• Cut into thickest part – Check that meat is white inside, not pink.

• Shred a piece – If the meat shreds easily, it’s done.

• Look for doneness – Meat will turn opaque and become firm when fully cooked.

If there is any pink color inside, simmer the chicken longer until cooked through. Chicken soup is not safe to eat if the chicken is undercooked.

Tips for Cooking Chicken in Soup

Follow these tips for safely cooking raw chicken in soup:

• Cut chicken into 1-inch chunks to reduce cooking time.
• Make sure broth is simmering before adding raw chicken.
• Allow enough time for the type and size of chicken you’re using.
• Stir occasionally to distribute heat evenly to chicken.
• Check chicken pieces for doneness; cook longer if needed.
• Bring broth back to a boil after adding cooked chicken.
• Add quick-cooking ingredients like noodles only in the last 5 minutes.

Sample Recipe

Here is an example recipe for homemade chicken noodle soup using raw chicken:

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch cubes)
• 2 quarts chicken broth
• 1 onion (diced)
• 3 carrots (sliced)
• 3 celery stalks (sliced)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp thyme
• 8 oz egg noodles
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat broth to a gentle simmer in a large soup pot.
2. Add chicken pieces and simmer 20 minutes.
3. Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, thyme. Simmer 10 minutes.
4. Remove bay leaf. Add noodles and simmer 8-10 minutes until noodles are tender.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Serve soup hot with additional seasoning if desired.

This simple recipe shows how to incorporate raw chicken into homemade chicken noodle soup in about 40 minutes total. The key is simmering the chicken for 20 minutes first before adding the vegetables and noodles.

The Takeaway on Cooking Raw Chicken in Soup

Cooking raw chicken directly in soup is a quick, easy way to make homemade chicken soup from scratch. Allow 15-20 minutes for boneless chunks, 25-50 minutes for bone-in parts, and up to 2 hours for a whole chicken. Frequent stirring, a simmering broth, and smaller pieces help reduce cooking time. Check the internal temperature or cut into the chicken to ensure it’s fully cooked before eating. With the proper technique, you can safely enjoy delicious homemade chicken soup using raw chicken.