Confession: this isn’t the “classic” way to poach chicken breast tenders. This method won’t produce the classic poached chicken breast that is dinner-worthy; i.e. it won’t look so pretty. But, this is my quick and easy way to make poached chicken breast tenders without a lot of fuss and preparation!
How to Cook Lazy Girl’s Poached Chicken Breast Tenders
I use pre-cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders in many recipes, such as sandwiches, soups, enchiladas, casseroles, and more, so I like to keep cooked chicken handy in the refrigerator or freezer for quick and easy lunches or dinners. I like to use chicken breast tenders as opposed to actual chicken breasts because they are smaller, therefore cook faster. (This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
And, I always make a batch at a time by just filling up my non-stick skillet with 12 or more frozen chicken breast tenders, covering it, and turning the heat on low. I don’t add any water. I set a timer for 20 minutes and walk away. Twenty minutes later – boom – done. I remove the lid, allow them to cool down for about a half-hour (set the timer again) and then rinse them under cold running water.
I rinse them under cold running water because they form an unappealing foamy “skin” around the poached chicken breast tenders and on top of them. But, I just wash that stuff right out of my poached chicken breast tenders and then place them in a freezer bag for the freezer or refrigerator for later use. Here’s a picture of one of the ways I use poached chicken breast tenders:
You are not seeing things! That shadow approaching from the left is Coco sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong! About once a month, I make a batch of these poached chicken breast tenders just for him (he’s a boy named Coco) and bag them in individual sandwich bags and put them in the freezer. Then, when I need a new one, I just take one out of the freezer for him and defrost it overnight in the refrigerator. It takes him about 4 or 5 days to eat one chicken breast tender because I tear it into tiny pieces for him as a treat. He’s so spoiled.
The lazy girl's way of poaching chicken breast tenders is one of those stupidly simple chicken breast recipes to have on hand for anything and everything like sandwiches, soups, enchiladas, casseroles and more including a perfect… Click To TweetAnyway, he knew I was making chicken for him because he could smell it wafting through the house. And on poached chicken breast tenders cooking days, he’s on high alert with a twitching nose and a swishing tail. He jumped on the kitchen table to get a bird’s eye view of the goings-on in the kitchen and the minute I set them out for the photo shoot, he was all over them! Guess I’m not using this particular batch for our chicken sandwiches! Want more of Coco? Click here — Meet Coco!
By the way, there is no rosemary in this recipe. Rosemary grows like a weed in my garden so I just went outside and cut a few sprigs to make the chicken look pretty.
Here’s a photo for your Pinterest board. Thank you for sharing!
Here’s the recipe for Lazy Girl’s Poached Chicken Breast Tenders for Anything and Everything:
PrintLazy Girl’s Poached Chicken Breast Tenders for Anything and Everything
While maybe not the way to get perfect dinner-worthy results by poaching the “classic” way, the lazy girl’s way is one of those stupidly simple poached chicken breast recipes to have on hand for anything and everything like sandwiches, soups, enchiladas, casseroles and more including a perfect treat for your cat!
- Prep Time: 1 min
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 21 mins
- Yield: 5 to 6 1x
- Category: Chicken
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 10 to 12 frozen Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Tenders
- Poultry Seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Place frozen chicken breasts tenders in large non-stick skillet.
- Sprinkle with poultry seasoning, if desired (this step is optional; I usually leave it out because Coco doesn’t like poultry seasoning and many recipes I use this chicken for don’t benefit from the addition of poultry seasoning).
- Cover with lid.
- Heat on low for 20 to 30 minutes until cooked through.
- Rinse under cold running water removing skim and foam from chicken.
- Ready to use in your favorite chicken recipe or place in freezer bags and store in the freezer until ready to use.
Notes
If you don’t have a large non-stick skillet with a lid, you can use a regular pan as long as it has a lid. Just add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to the pan before adding the chicken.
Kitchen Essentials Needed
Large Non-stick skillet with Lid || Silicone Tip Tongs to use with a non-stick skillet || Food Freezer Bags || Kitchen Timer
Tootles,
Other posts from Toot Sweet 4 Two’s archives:
Baked Mac & Cheese with a Crunchy Sourdough Topping
One-Pot Chunky Potato Bacon Corn Chowder
Easy Cream of Mushroom Pork Chops
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d. k. says
This recipe looks quick and delicious, I can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★