Whether you're learning how to boil chicken legs for a quick and easy dinner or to make flavorful shredded chicken and broth for future meals, this method is perfect for both.
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I'm all about that meal prep life during the summer. Anything that I can do now to save me the hassle later is always worth it in my book. So boiling chicken legs for soup, casseroles, and other meals is at the top of my list.
Once or twice a week, I make a large batch of cooked chicken and then divide it up into meals. With chicken legs being such a cheap cut of meat, I boil chicken drumsticks for an affordable and fast option.
For more chicken leg recipes, be sure to check out my Chicken Leg Sheet Pan Dinner and Stuffed Chicken Legs.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- You can make a meal from them. Want a meal instead of prepping shredded meats for later? Add some seasoning or broil the chicken with sauce in the oven (after they're boiled) for a fast dinner solution. Shredded chicken is great for meals like Cheesy Salsa Chicken and Rice and Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti.
- You make your own broth. One of the best things about this recipe is that you're creating your own chicken broth while you cook the legs, so you get meat and broth for the price of one! Perfect for homemade soups like Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup or meat pies like Ground Beef Pot Pie.
- Minimal effort. Add the chicken to a pot and let it cook. There's hardly any effort needed and the clean up is pretty simple too. This is about as simple as making Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks, but without a large appliance on the counter.
🛒 Ingredients
Chicken drumsticks- You will need some raw chicken drumsticks for this recipe. Frozen is okay, but it will take a little longer to cook.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Want to boil chicken leg quarters instead? Here's how to do it:
Boiling Process: Prepare the pot of water and add in your chicken quarters. Fresh quarters will take about 20-25 minutes to cook, whereas frozen ones may take 25-35 minutes.
Finishing Touch: Then pop them in the oven or air fryer (like our Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters) until the skin is golden in color.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy family packs. Learning how to boil chicken legs is an easy way to stretch your grocery budget, and buying in bulk makes it even better. Chicken legs are already one of the most affordable cuts of meat, but family-size or value packs cost less per pound. Separate and freeze portions for later to save both time and money.
Don't discard the cooking liquid. The broth left after boiling chicken is full of nutrients and flavor. Strain and save it for soups, rice, mashed potatoes, or gravy instead of using boxed stock.
Stretch the meat across meals. Shred leftover chicken for tacos, casseroles, sandwiches, fried rice, or chicken salad. One pot of boiled chicken can create several different dinners.
🥄 Instructions for How to Boil Chicken Legs
Step 1: Add your chicken to a large pot of water. The water should be high enough to cover at least 1 inch over the chicken. Set over medium-high heat.
Step 2: Bring to a boil and cook for about 25 minutes or until the meat is tender and the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Skim and discard the foam off the top of the pot with a large spoon, as needed.
Step 3: Remove the chicken from the broth. Save the broth for future meals or discard it.
Step 4: Allow the chicken to cool and shred the meat from the bones for meal prep, or if you wish to eat them, lay them on a foil lined baking sheet and add seasonings or BBQ sauce as desired. Broil on high in the oven for 3-4 minutes, flip over and continue cooking until the skin is crispy.
Serve warm, or store leftovers in the fridge.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Cooking times. When learning how to boil chicken legs, remember that the cooking time depends on the size of the drumsticks and whether they're fresh or frozen. Colder meat takes longer to heat and cook thoroughly. Fresh drumsticks usually take 20-25 minutes, while frozen ones may need 25-30 minutes to fully cook.
- Chicken Safty Warning. You'll know your chicken is cooked through when an instant-read food thermometer is inserted into the meat registers at 165°F. While the meat and juices may retain a slight pink color, they should not appear raw.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Store cooked chicken legs in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. If freezing, separate pieces with parchment or wrap individually for easier reheating later.
Reheating: Reheat chicken legs in a skillet with a splash of broth or water over medium heat until warmed through, or microwave on a microwave-safe plate for 2-3 minutes, flipping halfway. For crispier skin, reheat in a 375°F oven for 10-15 minutes.
Make Ahead: Boil chicken legs in advance and store the meat and broth separately. Use the meat for quick meals like soups, casseroles, or tacos throughout the week, and save the broth for future recipes.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Boiled chicken legs pair well with simple, comforting sides that soak up the flavorful broth. Serve them with mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles for a hearty base. Add steamed or roasted vegetables like carrots, green beans, or broccoli for balance. For a lighter meal, pair with a fresh salad or coleslaw.
You can also use the leftover broth to make soup, gravy, or rice pilaf for an easy, budget-friendly companion dish.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
You should boil your chicken for about 20-25 minutes or until they reach 165 degrees F internally on an instant read thermometer.
You will know that your chicken has finished boiling when you can pierce or slice into it and see clear (or almost clear) juices running from it. The internal temperature will reach 165 degrees F.
Yes! You can boil frozen chicken drumsticks if you don't have fresh. They'll take a little longer to cook but as long as they reach the proper internal temperature then they will be completely safe to consume.
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📖 Recipe
How to Boil Chicken Legs
Equipment
Instructions
- Boil chicken. Place chicken drumsticks in a large pot and add enough water to cover them by at least 1 inch. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook about 25 minutes, skimming and discarding foam as needed, until chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove and cool. Remove chicken from the broth. Reserve broth for future use or discard. Let chicken cool slightly.
- Finish or shred. Shred meat from the bones for meal prep, or place drumsticks on a foil-lined baking sheet, season or brush with BBQ sauce if desired, and broil on high for 3 to 4 minutes per side until the skin is crispy.
- Serve or store. Serve warm or store for later use.
Notes
- Variations. Chicken quarters cook in about 20 to 25 minutes if fresh or 25 to 35 minutes if frozen.
- Cooking Tip. Doneness is reached when juices run clear or the internal temperature hits 165°F.
- Storage. Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Nutritional Information
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