The Juiciest Stove Top Chicken Breasts - An Easy Chicken Recipe! (2024)

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Katerina

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One of my favorite chicken breast recipes & the easiest way to make juicy chicken right on the stove top. These pan-seared chicken breasts are cooked on the stove and bursting with flavor!

The Juiciest Stove Top Chicken Breasts - An Easy Chicken Recipe! (2)

Juicy Stove Top Chicken Breasts

My all time favorite stovetop chicken breast recipe is here!

Thanks to a simple method, the chicken breasts are never dry, always tender, and super tasty. After this recipe, you’ll see that chicken couldn’t be any easier to prepare for a quick and easy dinner idea.

I have talked about Oven Baked Chicken Breasts and Easy Baked Chicken Breasts, but we have yet to discuss a stove top method. Except for that one time when we covered the method forJuicy Stove Top Chicken Thighs. 😎

The Juiciest Stove Top Chicken Breasts - An Easy Chicken Recipe! (3)

I think it’s safe to say that skinless, boneless chicken breasts are the most popular cut of poultry. Am I right? I think? They’re the most searched for ingredient on my website, that’s for sure, and that’s because people always want a new way to cook chicken.

Thus, picture this: juicy, awesomely seasonedchicken breasts, pan seared in vegetable oil, and finished off with a tablespoon of butter. That’s it. That is all we’re doing.

The Juiciest Stove Top Chicken Breasts - An Easy Chicken Recipe! (4)

How to Cook Chicken Breasts on the Stove

  • Start with a simple seasoning on both sides of the chicken breasts. Grease the chicken breasts with cooking spray or oil, then season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika and dried basil. This dry mix of herbs and spices adds a wonderful zing and flavor to the chicken breasts.
  • In the meantime, heat up vegetable oil or canola oil in a large skillet.
  • When oil is hot, add chicken breasts to the pan. Cook two chicken breasts at a time because you don’t want to overcrowd your skillet.
  • Cook chicken breasts for 5 to 7 minutes without moving them around.
  • Flip the chicken breasts over. Add a tablespoon of butter to the skillet, and continue to cook for 7 more minutes to a golden brown, or until a meat thermometer registers the internal temperature of the chicken breast at 165˚F. Cooking time will always depend on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
  • Rest. When finished, transfer chicken breasts to a cutting board. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.

The Juiciest Stove Top Chicken Breasts - An Easy Chicken Recipe! (5)

Tips for Success

  • Chicken breasts should not be thicker than 1-inch, max. If your chicken breasts are thick,use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound the chicken to a smaller and even thickness BEFORE cooking.
  • Why are we using vegetable oil and not our beloved olive oil, you ask? BECAUSE, vegetable-based oils have higher smoke points than olive oil. This includes avocado oil, too. Therefore, when frying, or pan searing, you need an oil that can withstand the heat.
  • Cook the chicken breasts over medium-high heat.
  • DO NOT stir or move the chicken breasts around while cooking. Let cook for 5 minutes or until you can easily flip them over. If there’s any resistance when trying to flip them, give it another minute before trying again.
  • Chicken breasts are cooked through when internal temperature reaches 165F.

How to Store Extras

  • In the fridge: Store completely cooled chicken breasts in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Cooked chicken breast is ideal for meal prep, allowing you to easily add it to salads, grain bowls, and soups throughout the week.
  • To freeze cooked chicken: Wrap completely cooled chicken breasts with plastic wrap and add a layer of aluminum foil over the plastic wrap. Place the wrapped chicken breasts in a freezer bag; seal the bag and place in the freezer. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

The Juiciest Stove Top Chicken Breasts - An Easy Chicken Recipe! (6)

Serving Suggestions

  • Instant Pot Creamy Brussel Sprouts
  • Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
  • Grilled Asparagus
  • Radish and Cucumber Salad with Garlic Yogurt Dressing

More Chicken Recipes to Try

  • Creamy Garlic Sauce Chicken
  • Cheesy Asparagus Stuffed Chicken
  • Creamy Tuscan Chicken
  • 12 Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas Your Family Will Love

ENJOY!

The Juiciest Stove Top Chicken Breasts - An Easy Chicken Recipe! (7)

Juicy Stove Top Chicken Breasts Recipe

Katerina | Diethood

Tried and true method for preparing the most tender and juicy chicken breasts right on the stove top.

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Servings : 4 serves

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Resting Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or canola oil, divided
  • 4 (1 pound total) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • cooking spray
  • salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

Instructions

  • Heat 1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet; use a 10-inch or 12-inch skillet.

  • Pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels.

  • Drizzle just a bit of oil over each chicken breast, or spray with cooking oil, and rub it all over.

  • In a small mixing bowl combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and paprika.

  • Season both sides of each chicken breast with the prepared seasoning; rub it all around.

  • Add 2 chicken breasts to the hot skillet.

  • Cook chicken breasts for 5 to 7 minutes without moving them around.

  • Flip both chicken breasts over, add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet; swirl butter around and continue to cook the chicken for 7 more minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165F. Cooking time will always depend on the thickness of the chicken breasts.

  • Remove chicken breasts from skillet; set aside and keep covered.

  • Repeat the same method with the remaining 2 chicken breasts.

  • When finished, transfer chicken to a cutting board; let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.

Video

Notes

RECIPE NOTES

  • Chicken breasts should not be thicker than 1-inch, max. If your chicken breasts are thick, use a meat mallet to pound the chicken to a smaller and even thickness BEFORE cooking.
  • If there's a chicken seasoning blend that you absolutely adore, go ahead and use that in place of the one I have given here.
  • Why are we using vegetable oil and not olive oil? Because, vegetable-based oils have higher smoke points than olive oil. When frying, or pan searing, you need an oil that can withstand the heat.
  • Cook the chicken breasts over medium-high heat. DO NOT stir or move the chicken breasts around while cooking. Let cook for 5 minutes or until you can easily flip them over. If there’s any resistance when trying to flip them, give it another minute before trying again.

HOW TO STORE COOKED CHICKEN BREASTS

  • Store completely cooled chicken breasts in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 4 ounces | Calories: 273 kcal | Carbohydrates: 0 g | Protein: 24 g | Fat: 19 g | Saturated Fat: 12 g | Cholesterol: 87 mg | Sodium: 182 mg | Potassium: 419 mg | Fiber: 0 g | Sugar: 0 g | Vitamin A: 330 IU | Vitamin C: 1.3 mg | Calcium: 8 mg | Iron: 0.6 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken breast recipes

Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

Categories:

  • Chicken Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Freezer Friendly Meals
  • Lunch
  • One Pot Meals
  • Quick Dinner Ideas
The Juiciest Stove Top Chicken Breasts - An Easy Chicken Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to juicy chicken breast? ›

Brines and marinades help tenderize the meat by bringing more moisture in the protein. With that extra moisture, you lose less when you cook. The simplest way to do this is with a dry brine — unwrap the chicken breasts, salt them on both sides and let them sit in the fridge for at least an hour.

How do you cook chicken breasts and keep them moist? ›

  1. Flatten the chicken breasts. ...
  2. Heat the pan. ...
  3. Cook the chicken breasts over medium heat for 1 minute without moving. ...
  4. Flip the chicken breasts. ...
  5. Turn the heat down to low. ...
  6. Cover the pan and cook on low for 10 minutes. ...
  7. Turn off the heat and let sit for an additional 10 minutes. ...
  8. Remove lid and take temperature.

How do you keep chicken breast from drying out on the stove? ›

Her suggestion: Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a pan in a single layer, cover with a few inches of liquid (water, broth, etc.), add flavorings (spices, salt, herbs, soy sauce, etc.), then bring the liquid just barely to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat so the liquid simmers.

How to cook chicken breast without drying it out? ›

If you're baking it, keep it covered with a baking sheet or with the pan-top for about 80% of the total baking time, uncover it only when the breast is cooked and tender but there's juices in the pan. Once uncovered, the juices will evaporate quickly in the oven, and you'll have a juicy chicken breast to eat.

What can I add to chicken breast to make it taste better? ›

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

How do you get the most flavor out of chicken breast? ›

Whip up a yogurt- or olive oil-based marinade with your favorite spices, some minced garlic, ginger, chiles, and a squeeze of lemon or drizzle of vinegar. Letting your chicken sit in a marinade like this for at least 15 minutes can make a huge difference — but if you can let it go for 24 hours, that's even better.

How long to pan fry a chicken breast? ›

Pan-fried chicken breast recipe

Take off the cling film and season well. 2. Heat the oil in a frying pan then add the chicken breasts (skin-side down, if they have skin) and cook for 2-3 minutes or until browned. Then turn over, cover and cook on the other side for 7-8 minutes or until cooked through.

Does boiling chicken breast keep it moist? ›

Cooking in boiling liquid is ideal for preparing chicken breasts, which can quickly dry out when roasted or grilled if we turn our heads for just one minute. Skin-on, bone-in breasts are ideal for boiling if you want the cooking liquid to become a tasty broth.

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400? ›

You can roast or bake anywhere between 325 and 450 degrees F. When roasting a whole chicken, a nice rule of them is to start at 400 to 425 degrees F and then turn the oven down to 350 after 15 minutes and cook until the internal temp of the chicken is 165 – 175 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.

How long to cook raw chicken on the stove? ›

Add 2 chicken breasts to the hot skillet. Cook chicken breasts for 5 to 7 minutes without moving them around. Flip both chicken breasts over, add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet; swirl butter around and continue to cook the chicken for 7 more minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165F.

How to make chicken soft like restaurants? ›

For every 250g/8oz chicken breast strips or pieces, toss with 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carb) Marinate for 20 minutes. Rinse well under running water, pat with paper towel to remove excess water. Cook per chosen recipe and marvel at the most tender chicken breast you've ever had, just like at Chinese restaurants!!!

Why are my boneless chicken breasts tough? ›

Overcooking chicken and buying woody chicken breast are two of the main causes behind rubbery chicken. You can stop this from happening by: buying “slow-growing” chicken. cooking your chicken in moisture.

What dries out chicken breast? ›

Checking the temperature is really the only surefire method for doneness, as sometimes fully cooked chicken can still retain a pinkish tinge. If you keep cooking it past 165°F, the meat will most definitely dry out, so always use that as your best indicator.

Does chicken breast get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Close-up of a woman slicing raw chicken breast meat on a cutting board. Chicken becomes more tender the longer it cooks. Unfortunately, most cooking methods produce extremely dry meat when the chicken is cooked long enough to become tender.

What liquid tenderizes chicken? ›

We recommend marinating your chicken in buttermilk or yogurt overnight, but if it's urgent, then an hour will do. However, the texture of the chicken won't be as even as chicken marinated overnight. The process is simple: you only have to immerse the chicken in a container with enough yogurt or buttermilk and seal it.

How to prepare chicken breast before cooking? ›

1: Prep the Chicken 15 Minutes Before Cooking

Next, season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Allow the chicken to come to room temperature for 15 minutes; this ensures even cooking results, plus, it gives the salt and pepper time to permeate the skin.

Does covering chicken make it juicy? ›

When chicken is covered while baking, it traps steam and moisture within the dish, resulting in juicier results. The covering helps prevent excessive evaporation and keeps the chicken moist throughout the cooking process. Preventing dryness. Chicken tends to dry out more quickly when exposed to direct heat.

Why is my chicken tough but juicy? ›

Why is my chicken breast rubbery? Overcooking chicken and buying woody chicken breast are two of the main causes behind rubbery chicken. You can stop this from happening by: buying “slow-growing” chicken.

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