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How to Cook Chicken for Chicken Salad

by Laura Fuentes

July 22, 2022
updated Jul 27, 2023
5 from 50 votes
Learn the easiest (and BEST) method on how to cook chicken for a perfect chicken salad!
Jump to Recipe

All the articles & recipes on this website have been created through real-life testing and experience (no ai) since 2010.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

The best chicken salad begins with perfectly cooked chicken. Chicken that’s not dry, rubbery, or tasteless, right?

In this post, you’ll learn how to cook chicken for chicken salad, so you have the BEST meals!

bowl of shredded chicken

The Best Way to Cook Chicken for Chicken Salad

You are correct if you guessed poaching is the best way to cook chicken for salads! Hands down, it’s the simplest way to achieve juicy chicken and will give your salad the perfect texture.

Whether you like chunky chicken salads or smooth textured chicken salad, you can do both with this easy poaching method!

There are a couple of other cooking methods worth mentioning, like roasting and pan-searing, which you can read about in this graph

Cooking MethodProsCons
RoastingEasy to shredBreasts dry out easily
Hands-off method
Flavorful
Pan-SearingQuick to cookCubed only
Easy to overcook
Breasts dry out easily
PoachedJuicy
Easy
Cubed or shredded

How to Cook & Shred Chicken for Chicken Salad

Grab a large pot, and let me show you how to make chicken worthy of being turned into an EPIC Homemade Chicken Salad.

poaching chicken

To keep this recipe simple, I am using boneless skinless chicken breasts, but I’ll show you different cuts to use later in the post.

Now let’s get started! 

  1. Boil some water
    Place a pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts into a large soup pot, and add enough cold water to cover the chicken by 2-inches. 
  2. Add salt and seasonings
    Generously season the water with salt and your choice of herbs, if using. *You’ll find more details on seasoning poached chicken in the next section.
  3. Simmer
    Bring the water to a low boil and use a pair of tongs to flip the chicken. 
  4. Remove from heat
    Place a lid over the pot and turn off the heat. Allow the chicken to steep in hot water for 10 minutes or until it’s cooked to an internal temperature of 165F. 
  5. Shred
    Remove the chicken from the water and set it onto a large cutting board. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes before shredding the chicken with your preferred method.

Watch the whole process that I use to cook chicken for chicken salad in this video:

Seasoning Chicken for Chicken Salad

Since we plan to toss the chicken in a creamy, seasoned dressing, adding spices and herbs while cooking isn’t necessary, the only essential source of flavoring is salt. 

That said, you can cook the chicken with aromatics like fresh or dried thyme, oregano, sage leaves, rosemary, peppercorns, and garlic without significantly altering the finished recipe. Just add them in with the salted water and cook as directed. 

70+ Epic Chicken Recipes

If chicken is your go-to meal builder, you’re going to love the recipes inside this book!

From marinades, soups, slow cooker meals, one-pot wonders, sheet pan dinners, and more, the recipes inside are delicious and kid-approved.

chicken ebook displayed on an ipad and phone screen
Buy the Book

How Much Shredded Chicken

The amount of shredded chicken you get depends on the type of cut you are cooking. The graph below displays common cuts of chicken you’d find at the grocery store and how much to expect from each. 

*These approximate estimates provide you with a general idea of what to expect, not exact amounts. 

Chicken Cut & PackCooked Amount Yield
1 lb chicken breasts
boneless, skinless
3 cups shredded/cubed
4 lb split chicken breasts4 cups shredded/cubed
2 lb chicken thighs
boneless, skinless
3 cups shredded/cubed
2 lb chicken thighs
bone-in, skin-on
2 cups shredded/cubes
5 lb whole chicken5 cups shredded/cubed
rotisserie chicken3-5 cups shredded/cubed

Best Chicken Salad Recipes

Now that we have some delicious shredded chicken let’s count the recipes to use it in!

Southern Chicken Salad | Spicy Chicken Salad | 5 Healthy Lunches with Chicken Salad

How to Cook Chicken for Chicken Salad (Poaching Method)

Laura Fuentes
5 from 50 votes
Learn the easiest (and BEST) method on how to cook chicken for a perfect chicken salad!
Servings: 4
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 17 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 4 cups water, more if needed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons peppercorns, optional
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme, optional
  • herbs and spices of your choice

Instructions
 

  • Using the poaching method to cook the chicken breasts, place the chicken in a large soup pot, and add the water to cover the chicken by about 2 inches. 
  • Generously season the water with salt and your choice of spices and herbs. The measurements above suggest peppercorns and herbs, but don’t skip the salt.
  • Bring the water to a boil, and flip the chicken breasts over using a pair of kitchen tongs.
  • Place a lid over the pot and turn off the heat. Let the chicken sit in the water for 10 minutes or until cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165F. You can check by removing the chicken from the pot onto a board and using a meat thermometer.
  • Remove the chicken breasts from the water and set them on a large cutting board. Allow them to rest for 5 minutes to seal in the juices.
  • For salads, shred the breasts between two forks or use the hand mixer method to achieve a finely shredded chicken texture in under a minute. 

Equipment

packed lunches ebook on a tablet
101 Packed Lunches eBook
Batter Bowl

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 135kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 24gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 132mgPotassium: 451mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.02gVitamin A: 56IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
Like this recipe?Rate and leave a comment below

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    Recipe Rating




  1. C Rassekh

    August 08, 2023 at 4:32 pm

    5 stars
    Best way I’ve found to make chicken for chicken salad. It was cooked perfectly and came out very moist. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      August 14, 2023 at 1:01 pm

      Thank you for sharing you enjoyed my method. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Linda Binder

    August 06, 2023 at 9:19 am

    5 stars
    Very easy and delicious

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      August 06, 2023 at 11:50 am

      Thanks for sharing how much you enjoyed this, Linda!

      Reply
  3. Linda Ouellette

    July 30, 2023 at 2:08 pm

    5 stars
    I have to admit, I was skeptical as to whether the chicken would be done prepared this way. It was perfect! I have been over cooking mine for years

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      August 04, 2023 at 11:29 am

      Thank you Linda for sharing that this came out well for you. I know it seems counterintuitive -like just leave it there?- but it works! -my grandmother was right.

      Reply
    • Nesi Stewart

      August 18, 2023 at 5:14 am

      5 stars
      Hello. Is there a substitute for the salt?

      Reply
      • Laura Fuentes

        August 28, 2023 at 11:49 am

        Hi Nesi, the salt is for seasoning the water. If you can’t have it for health reasons, you can omit it.

        Reply
  4. Jd

    July 16, 2023 at 2:20 pm

    This recipe is a joke. In no universe will this work. The chicken will take at least 30 minutes to reach 165 by this method and will be rubbery as hell. What a joke

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      July 19, 2023 at 11:52 am

      Perhaps you should try following the recipe and see that the chicken is fully cooked before you leave a comment like this.

      Reply
    • Kelli

      July 24, 2023 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      JD you can’t be serious

      Reply
    • Maria

      July 25, 2023 at 10:45 pm

      5 stars
      I tried the recipe and it works. Moist and tender. Before you make a comment, cook the recipe first. Your negativity, negative comment is the joke and is not welcome anywhere.

      Reply
      • Laura Fuentes

        August 04, 2023 at 11:58 am

        Thank you, Maria, for sharing how much you enjoy this recipe.

        Reply
    • Scott

      August 07, 2023 at 7:44 am

      5 stars
      Jd is no doubt someone who has nothing better to do in life than be a JERK!! JD, DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO NOT BE A D!*k TO THE REST US, NORMAL AND WELL-ADJUSTED humans.

      Reply
    • Mollie

      September 13, 2023 at 2:08 pm

      You’re a joke… why don’t you zip it until you’ve tried it. THEN maybe you can leave an honest review.

      Reply
  5. Maureen

    July 04, 2023 at 7:21 am

    5 stars
    Can I use chicken broth instead of water?

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      July 10, 2023 at 5:24 pm

      You can use chicken broth instead of water but you’ll be discarding the liquid after cooking.

      Reply
  6. Jen

    June 25, 2023 at 2:45 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect! Have used this method twice- little mess and can use any mix of chicken parts =)

    Reply
  7. Jenna

    March 03, 2023 at 10:36 pm

    5 stars
    This poached chicken made my chicken salads great for the week! Very tender not dry.

    Reply
    • Sheila Forsberg

      July 22, 2023 at 1:46 pm

      5 stars
      How do i adjust this recipe for split chicken breasts (bone in)?

      Reply
      • Laura Fuentes

        August 04, 2023 at 12:14 pm

        I follow this method for bone-in thighs and breasts. Bone-in breasts are thicker than boneless so I adjust the resting period to 25 minutes following the same method.

        Reply
    • Katherine Labrie

      July 29, 2023 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      Ok please provide me with the amount of chicken you would use to serve 100 people chicken salad for a tea.

      Reply
      • Laura Fuentes

        August 04, 2023 at 11:55 am

        Well, it depends on what else you’re serving. I’ve made chicken salad in large batches for parties and just 3x, 5x the recipe…

        Reply

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