Precooked Chicken

I love precooked chicken. It's quick, it's easy and in a pinch I can just throw it in a recipe for a quick dinner. Many chicken recipes that are considered "Quick & Easy" or 15-minutes or less call for precooked chicken. Many times it is easy to run to the grocery store and pick up refrigerated precooked chicken or to grab a rotisserie chicken. However, with a little early planning and really not a lot of work you can have precooked chicken for a multitude of recipes in your freezer in no time.
I like to purchase my chicken in the large family packs. I typically only eat boneless, skinless chicken breast, but you can do this with boneless, skinless thighs. I like how the chicken breast shreds for sandwiches and again it's healthy and easy.

Precooked Chicken
Items you need:

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast (however much you bought or would like to cook)
Pot (Large enough to hold the chicken and water)
Water

Directions:

1. Place chicken in pot and fill with water til chicken is covered.
2. Put pot on stove and bring to a simmer. (you can do this on high until simmering and bring it down to medium-low)
3. Simmer Chicken for 25 minutes or until cooked through.
4. Drain out water.
Note: Do NOT boil the chicken and do not cover the pot, it will create too much heat and will bring water to a boil.

Now the chicken is ready to be used in a recipe OR wait until cooled down and put in an air tight freezer bag and place into freezer until you are ready to use it. I typically freeze about 3 pieces per bag because that is how much we usually need for a recipe.

One of my all time favorite recipes using precooked chicken:

Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Servings: 6
What food you'll need:
1 (10 ounce) bag of shredded coleslaw
1/3 cup coleslaw dressing
3 cups shredded precooked chicken
1/3 cup Honey Barbecue sauce (I prefer Kraft Honey Barbecue Sauce) 
6 Hamburger Buns

Directions: 
1. In a large bowl toss coleslaw and dressing together and let sit 10 minutes
2. While coleslaw is sitting mix the chicken and barbecue sauce together and divide evenly among 6 of the bottom half of hamburger buns.
3. Top chicken with coleslaw mixture and then top with the top half hamburger buns.

Note: Do not toss coleslaw and dressing too early or the coleslaw will get soggy making the sandwich lose much of the crunch that helps make this sandwich delicious.

Enjoy! These are a huge hit for picnics, tail-gates and quick & easy dinners at home!