Poaching chicken in liquid is a quick easy and healthy cooking method that results in tender juicy and flavorful meat. But once you’ve poached your chicken, what do you actually do with all that delicious poached chicken and flavorful poaching liquid?
Turns out, there are so many possibilities! From salads to sandwiches, soups to casseroles, poached chicken can be used in a variety of dishes. And the poaching liquid is also a treasure trove of potential.
In this article we’ll explore 15 delicious ways to use every last bit of your liquid poached chicken, ensuring zero waste and maximum enjoyment. Let’s dive in!
1. Chicken Salad
Chicken salad is a classic way to use up poached chicken. Simply chop or shred the chicken, and mix it with mayonnaise celery shallots, herbs, and any other ingredients you like. Poached chicken makes an exceptionally moist, tender chicken salad.
2. Chicken Noodle Soup
Poached chicken is perfect for chicken noodle soup. Use the strained poaching liquid as your soup base. Add carrots, celery, onions and egg noodles. Shred the poached chicken and add it just before serving so it doesn’t get overcooked.
3. Chicken Tacos
Shred your poached chicken and use it as the protein filling for tacos. Top with pico de gallo, avocado, lime juice and Mexican spices for a quick and easy taco night.
4. Chicken Pot Pie
What’s better on a chilly night than a hearty chicken pot pie? Just dice the poached chicken and mix with frozen mixed veggies and gravy made from the poaching liquid. Top with pie crust and bake until golden.
5. Chicken Fried Rice
Stir diced poached chicken into your favorite fried rice along with veggies like peas, carrots, bell peppers and scallions. Drizzle with soy sauce and sesame oil. Easy weeknight meal!
6. Chicken Enchiladas
Roll shredded poached chicken, cheese and onions in tortillas smothered with enchilada sauce for the ultimate comfort food.
7. Chicken Caesar Salad
Poached chicken is ideal for Caesar salads. Slice or shred the chicken and mix with romaine lettuce, croutons, shaved Parmesan and classic Caesar dressing.
8. Chicken Sandwiches
From classic chicken salad sandwiches to BBQ chicken sandwiches, poached chicken is endlessly versatile as a sandwich filler. Get creative with sauces, toppings and rolls!
9. Chicken Pizza/Flatbread
Top flatbread or pizza dough with shredded poached chicken, mozzarella, tomatoes, spinach and your other favorite toppings for a fun and tasty meal.
10. Chicken & Dumplings
Simmer poached chicken in the poaching broth with carrots and celery. Top with simple homemade dumplings. Comfort food at its finest!
11. Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Transform the poaching liquid into a creamy soup loaded with poached chicken, wild rice, mushrooms and fresh herbs.
12. Chicken Quesadillas
Fill tortillas with shredded poached chicken, pepper jack cheese and sautéed peppers and onions. Grill until crispy and melty.
13. Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry
Slice poached chicken and stir fry quickly with your choice of vegetables and sauce for a healthy, fast dinner.
14. Chicken Casserole
Mix diced poached chicken with rice, veggies, cheese and condensed soup. Top with breadcrumbs or potato chips and bake for an easy one-dish meal.
15. Chicken Salad Wraps
Shredded chicken salad makes a quick and portable lunch when wrapped up in a tortilla or lettuce leaves.
So there you have it – 15 creative ways to transform humble poached chicken into delicious, crave-worthy meals. With a little imagination, the possibilities are truly endless. Don’t let any of that flavorful poached chicken or poaching liquid go to waste. Get cooking!
How to Poach Chicken
Poaching chicken is super simple. Start by adding your chicken breasts, aromatics, and salt to a pot, and then add enough water to cover the chicken by one inch.
Place the pot over medium heat and wait, without increasing the heat, until the cooking liquid comes to a very low simmer. This takes a few minutes and keeps the chicken soft and tender. Increasing the heat at this point to speed up the simmer will make your chicken tough.
Lower the heat and cook until the chicken is cooked through (about 10 to 15 more minutes), and then transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for a few minutes. Slice and serve.
How to Poach Chicken Breasts | How to Cook Chicken by MOMables
FAQ
What to do with liquid after boiling chicken?
And don’t throw away the cooking liquid!
This method will make a lightly-flavored chicken broth, which you can use in place of chicken broth for other recipes or as the cooking liquid for rice and other grains. You can also sip it all on its own!
Can you use the water after poaching chicken?
If your poaching liquid was stored fewer than 2 hours at room temp, refrigerated or frozen – all good. If more than 2 hours – please discard, as it’s not worth the health risk.
What is poached chicken good for?
It’s healthy. Poached chicken breasts are high in protein, low carb, and requires less added fat and oil to cook.
What to do with the broth after boiling chicken?
- Chicken étouffée.
- Rice (very good when made with chicken broth)
- Cornbread dressing with giblet gravy.
- Green beans (better when made with chicken broth)
- Chicken and sausage gumbo.
- Gravies (veloute sauce)
- Baby lima beans.
- Chicken and dumplings.
How do you make poached chicken taste good?
The poaching liquid, made with water, soy sauce, salt, and sweetener, adds flavor and helps to keep the chicken moist. The recipe also suggests adding aromatics like garlic, thyme, and bay leaf for additional taste. Whether sliced, shredded, or diced, this poached chicken is perfect for a variety of dishes such as sandwiches, soups, and salads. 7.
What can you do with poached chicken?
The poached chicken can be used in various dishes, such as salads, sandwiches, or tacos. Overall, this recipe is a must-try for anyone looking for a hassle-free way to cook chicken breasts.
Does poached chicken need to be boiled?
Instead of boiling, poached chicken is very gently cooked in liquid (like water or broth) brought to a temperature of 175 to 180 F. When done correctly, you’ll end up with moist and tender chicken breasts and flavorful cooking liquid. It’s important to note that poached chicken is not boiled chicken. Boiling chicken is a good way to overcook it.
What is the best liquid for poaching chicken?
Stock, broth, or court bouillon are even better choices. Because poaching is done at a low temperature, you can use all kinds of liquids, like wine, milk, even oil or melted butter. But for chicken breasts, water, stock, or broth are the best choices.
Can You poach frozen chicken?
To keep poached chicken from becoming dry, make sure the water or broth is kept at a gentle simmer, not a boil. Also, let the chicken rest in the poaching liquid for 5-10 minutes after cooking to retain moisture. Can I use frozen chicken for poaching? Yes, you can poach frozen chicken.
What is poached chicken?
Poached Chicken is an easy and foolproof method to achieve flavorful, juicy, tender, and moist chicken breasts. The gentle flavors of lemon, onion, fresh herbs, peppercorns, and optional white wine lightly enhance the chicken. This versatile dish can be used in sandwiches, soups, stews, dips, tacos, and more.