How to Cook Chicken Breasts: 9 Easy Ways

When you cook chicken breasts, the flavor explodes? Does the idea of ​​sitting down to a nutritious, protein-packed meal excite you? If your answers to these questions are “not really” and “well,” it might be time to learn how to cook chicken breasts the right way.

If you’re a meat eater, chicken breast is likely a staple in your healthy eating plan. But if not prepared properly, it can turn out to be dry, flaky, and…well, bland.

But when you learn how to cook chicken correctly, it becomes tender and juicy—and the perfect base for experimenting with different herbs, spices, sauces, and marinades. (Even just a squeeze of lemon or a pinch of salt and pepper will make it delicious!)

Since chicken cooks quickly, you can have dinner on the table quickly or have a week’s worth of lunches ready in minutes.

Which cooking method should you choose?

How you cook chicken breasts comes down to personal preference. The cooking method you choose affects the texture and juiciness of the meat. Chicken cooked quickly over higher heat will have a firmer texture.

Depending on the cooking method, it can be golden and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Slow-cooked chicken will be tender and even shred easily with a fork.

Jump to these tips on how to cook chicken breasts in a skillet, oven, pot, pressure cooker, or grill.

Bake | Grill | Grill | Boil | Stir-fry | Pan-fry | Bread | Braise | Instant Pot

What type of chicken should you buy?

For each cooking method below, choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts. A 4-ounce serving of chicken breast contains about 170 calories and 32 grams of protein, and is lower in saturated fat than thighs and drumsticks.

“Protein helps us stay full longer, which is great for anyone trying to lose weight,” says Kelly Plowe, MD, RD. “When we lose weight, some of that weight inevitably goes into muscle mass, and eating enough protein helps minimize this.”

Pay attention to the size of the chicken breasts you buy—some chicken breasts weigh eight ounces or more, so you could accidentally double your serving size (and calories) if you’re not careful.

Pullo warns that some brands of chicken are infused with brine to plump up the meat and keep it moist. Scan nutrition labels to make sure you’re not eating salty food.

Ideally, chicken breasts should be even in size so they cook consistently. If one end of the breast is thinner than the other, use a frying pan or mason jar to flatten the thicker part.

How to tell if chicken is cooked

No one wants undercooked chicken, but how do you prevent chicken from overcooking and drying out? No matter which cooking method you choose, you can test doneness by inserting a food thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken.

The USDA recommends cooking raw poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F.

How to Roast Chicken Breasts in the Oven

When you hear the term “roast chicken,” it’s referring to roasting—that is, cooking the chicken in the oven. This is an easy skill to master, even for beginners, and it will open up a world of simple meal prep possibilities.

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
3. Coat an ovenproof baking pan with oil or nonstick cooking spray. Place the chicken on a plate, making sure the chicken pieces are not touching.
4. Drizzle the chicken breasts with a little olive oil (a teaspoon or less will do) and season as desired.
5. Place baking sheet in oven. Cook 15 to 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Expert Tips: Chop vegetables such as onions, bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus or Brussels sprouts. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and place them on separate baking sheets in the oven. The chicken is done and so are the side dishes!

How to Grill Chicken Breasts

Grilling is a high-heat cooking method and one of the fastest ways to prepare chicken breasts. If done right, the chicken will be slightly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside – but high temperatures can easily overcook the chicken.

To prevent chicken from drying out, marinate it in a healthy vinaigrette or drizzle it with olive oil and lemon juice before cooking. Keep a close eye on the chicken as it cooks.

1. Preheat broiler and position oven rack six inches from heat.
2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Place on a baking sheet or baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
3. Place it under the broiler for four to five minutes, or until the chicken starts to brown. Turn chicken and cook until internal temperature reaches 165°F, four to five minutes more.

How to Grill Chicken Breasts

Chicken cooked on the grill has a unique smoky flavor. A word of caution: There’s some evidence that grilling or grilling meat can lead to elevated levels of heterocyclic amines, chemicals that may be linked to cancer risk, so enjoy grilling in moderation.

1. Grill over medium heat.
2. Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Lightly brush both sides of each breast with olive oil and season to taste.
3. Use long metal tongs to place each chicken breast on the grill so the pieces of meat are not touching.
4. Cover the grill and let the chicken cook for six to eight minutes, then use tongs to turn each piece. Grill for another six to eight minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Expert Tips: If you plan to season the chicken with barbecue sauce or another sweet sauce, wait until the meat is almost cooked. Most sauces contain natural or added sugars that can burn quickly, creating a burnt mess.

How to Poach Chicken Breasts

Poaching is a convenient and almost foolproof way to cook chicken. Because the chicken is cooked in liquid, it stays juicy and is less likely to burn.

1. Place the chicken in the pot and pour in cold water (just enough to cover the chicken).
2. Add salt and aromatic ingredients such as chopped onions, sliced ​​carrots, garlic, peppercorns and fresh herbs to the liquid.
3. Over medium heat, bring the pot to a simmer. Do not boil.
4. When the liquid begins to boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, 10 to 12 minutes.

Expert Tips: Reserve the cooking liquid – it can be used to cook seasoned rice, or as a delicious base for soups.

How to Sauté Chicken Breasts

Sautéing involves cooking diced or sliced ​​chicken breasts in a skillet or skillet over medium-high heat. If you’re in a hurry, this is hands down the fastest way to cook chicken.

1. Cut chicken into one-inch cubes. Pat dry with paper towels and season as desired.
2. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium-high heat. While hot, coat with a small amount of cooking oil or non-stick spray.
3. Add the chicken to the pan and let sit for two to three minutes. Stir and cook for another three to five minutes, stirring as needed, until the chicken is lightly browned on all sides and cooked through.

Expert Tips: When the chicken is no longer pink on the outside, add some chopped onions, peppers, and broccoli to the pan and continue cooking for an easy one-pot dinner.

How to fry chicken breasts

This isn’t your grandma’s greasy fried chicken—pan fried chicken uses a small amount of fat and medium heat to fry the chicken until it’s golden on the outside and juicy on the inside.

To make the best fried chicken, use a pan large enough to give each chicken breast plenty of room, and be patient—if you flip it too quickly, it will stick to the pan.

1. Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, spread a teaspoon on the bottom of the pan. Olive oil or non-stick spray.
3. Place each chicken breast into the pan, making sure they are not touching. Do not move them for six to eight minutes.
4. Use tongs or a spatula to turn the chicken. Continue cooking for 8 to 10 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

How to Make Breaded Chicken Breasts

Breading the chicken takes a few minutes of extra work, but it’s worth it! The meat stays juicy, while the crispy crust adds extra flavor—especially if you season it with herbs and Parmesan cheese.

1. Preheat oven to 425° F.
2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
3. Beat two eggs in a shallow bowl. (For extra flavor, add a tablespoon or two of Worcestershire sauce or Tabasco sauce.) Place four chicken breasts in a bowl and turn to coat. Set aside.
4. Combine a cup of bread crumbs (we like whole wheat bread crumbs) with salt and pepper in a resealable plastic bag. Set aside.
5. Use tongs to lift a piece of chicken breast from the egg mixture. Let the excess liquid drip back into the dish, then place the chicken in the breaded bag. Seal bag and shake to coat.
6. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces. (Adding each piece of chicken individually prevents them from sticking together, so each piece is well coated with the breading mixture.)
7. Place each piece of chicken on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Turn chicken breasts and cook until browned on both sides and internal temperature reaches 165°F, 10 to 12 minutes more.

How to braise chicken breasts in a slow cooker

This low-and-slow method will make even the toughest meat melt-in-your-mouth tender. Teriyaki adds a lot of flavor and moisture to the chicken, and it shreds easily.

Braised chicken is slow cooked in liquid. Get creative – choose broth, tomatoes, milk, wine or beer (but not all at once!) and add onion slices, garlic, herbs and spices to complement the dish.

1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add a small amount of cooking oil or apply non-stick spray. (If your slow cooker has a sauté setting, you can do this step without dirtying an extra pan!)
2. Add two to four boneless, skinless chicken breasts to the pan and cook for two to three minutes on each side, until the chicken begins to brown but is still pink in the center.
3. Transfer meat to pan. Add a cup of broth or other liquid and season with salt and pepper. If using chopped onions or other spices, add them immediately.
4. Turn the pot to low heat and cook for three to four hours.

How to cook chicken breasts in the Instant Pot

Get juicy whole chicken breasts easily with the Instant Pot’s steamer insert.

1. Season raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts with salt and pepper and any desired seasonings and place them in the steamer basket of the Instant Pot.
2. Pour a cup of chicken broth (or water) over the chicken and seal the lid. Make sure the pressure valve is closed.
3. Using the cooker’s manual mode, adjust the pressure setting to “High” and set the time to 10 minutes. (Remember, it takes another 10 minutes or so to build pressure before you actually start cooking.)
4. When the cooking time is up, quickly release the pressure and remove the chicken from the pan.

Expert Tips: This cooking method also works with frozen chicken! Just give the cooker more time to come to pressure and cook for 15 minutes.