How to Cook Chicken Breast in a Pan

$7.29 recipe / $1.82 serving

Side view of cooked chicken in a skillet, title text at the top

Cooked chicken breast in a skillet, title text at the bottom

cooked chicken breast in a skillet, title text at the top

The last two times I bought chicken breast at the grocery store, the cashiers asked me how to cook them (I had to wonder if they secretly knew what I did for a living 😅). While information technology can seem like a elementary process, it can definitely go wrong if not done properly. And I'm not about to let you waste product big $$$ on dry, tasteless chicken breasts. So hither is my full tutorial on how to melt chicken chest in a pan so that it stays juicy, flavorful, and tender.

Two chicken breasts in a skillet garnished with parsley

Why I Dear Pan Seared Chicken Breasts

This has become my go-to method for cooking chicken breasts. Not only is it super fast and like shooting fish in a barrel, just you get a lot of delicious browning on the outside of the meat, which is something that doesn't happen in the gentle oestrus of an oven. Plus, you tin modify the seasoning and brand it taste like something new every time!

I've begun cooking a couple of chicken breasts at the beginning of each week, slicing them up, and then storing them in the refrigerator to add to salads, pasta, sandwiches, and bowls over the side by side few days. It'southward just a few minutes of prep and and then I've got an easy protein ready to add to any meal. Here is a roundup of flexible recipes that are perfect for adding whatsoever protein, similar pan-seared chicken breasts. You tin also merely add a couple of veggies on the side and make it a repast prep!

Cooking Boneless vs. Bone-in Chicken Breasts

The cooking technique below is for boneless chicken breasts (with or without skin). Os-in craven breasts take much longer to cook through, so you'll desire to employ the oven to make sure the breast heats through completely without burning on the outside. For bone-in chicken breasts, I suggest using the method outlined in my Herb Roasted Chicken Breast recipe.

How Long to Cook Craven Breasts in a Skillet

The corporeality of time needed to cook a craven chest in a pan will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breast, the amount of heat used, and the type of cookware used. To take the guesswork out of how long to melt the craven breasts, I propose using an instant-read meat thermometer to make certain the internal temperature of the craven breast has reached 165ºF.

Thick Chicken Breasts

Thick chicken breasts take longer to cook through than thin chicken breasts, and then I like to employ lower estrus (medium-low) and a longer cook time, which allows time for the meat to heat through without the outside called-for. For a boneless chicken breast that is about 1 inch thick, I cook for well-nigh 8 minutes per side over medium-low heat.

Thin Chicken Breasts

If y'all purchase thin cut breasts, fillet the craven breasts yourself, or utilize a mallet to pound the craven breasts to ½-inch thick, they will melt much faster. Y'all'll want to increase the heat to medium so yous tin even so achieve some browning on the exterior with a shorter cook fourth dimension. For thinner breasts, I cook for about 4-5 minutes per side.

How to Season Chicken Breasts

I used a very archetype smoky seasoning for the craven breasts in the recipe beneath, but there are and so many other delicious options. Here are some other ways you can season your pan-seared craven breasts:

  • Lemon Pepper Seasoning
  • Cajun Seasoning
  • Taco Seasoning
  • Montreal Steak Seasoning
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Garlic Herb Seasoning
  • Garam Masala
  • Tajín
  • Greek Seasoning
side view of chicken breasts in a skillet

Pan Seared Chicken Breasts

Learn how to cook tender, juicy, and flavorful boneless chicken breasts in a pan. Perfect for quick dinners and repast prep!

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: fifteen mins

Full Time: 20 mins

Servings: 4

  • 2 tsp steak seasoning ($0.twenty)
  • 1/ii tsp smoked paprika ($0.05)
  • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika ($0.05)
  • 2 boneless, skinless craven breasts (i.3 lbs. total) ($6.79)
  • ane Tbsp cooking oil ($0.08)
  • 1 Tbsp butter (optional) ($0.10)

  • Combine the steak seasoning, smoked paprika, and sweet paprika in a bowl. Coat the chicken breasts liberally with the seasoning on all sides.

  • Add the cooking oil to a big skillet and heat over medium-low (or medium for sparse-cut breasts). In one case hot, swirl the oil to coat the skillet.

  • Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and melt for nearly eight minutes without flipping (v minutes for sparse-cut breasts). Flip the chicken so cook on the second side until well browned and cooked through (internal temperature of 165ºF).

  • For actress luscious chicken, add a tablespoon of butter to the skillet, allow it to melt, then flip the chicken a couple of times to coat in the melted butter.

  • Transfer the chicken to a clean cut lath and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

See how we summate recipe costs hither.

Serving: 1 serving ・ Calories: 229 kcal ・ Carbohydrates: one g ・ Protein: 31 chiliad ・ Fat: 10 g ・ Sodium: 197 mg ・ Cobweb: i m

Nutritional values are estimates only. Encounter our total nutrition disclaimer hither.

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close up side view of sliced chicken breasts

How to Make Cook Craven Breasts in a Pan – Stride by Step Photos

Seasoned chicken breasts on a cutting board

Brainstorm past seasoning the chicken breast liberally on each side. I used a mix of 2 tsp steak seasoning, ½ tsp smoked paprika, and ½ tsp sweetness paprika. The steak seasoning contains salt, and so no extra salt was needed in my mix.

oil being added to the skillet

Add together a tablespoon or so of your favorite cooking oil to a large skillet. Rut the skillet over medium-low (or medium estrus for sparse cut breasts).

Cooked Chicken breasts in the skillet

Once hot, swirl the oil in the skillet to coat the surface, then add the craven breasts. Let the craven breasts cook for viii minutes without flipping (or 5 minutes for thin cut breasts). Flip once and melt until well browned on the 2nd side and cooked through.

Butter added to the skillet

To make the chicken breasts extra luscious, add a tablespoon of butter to the skillet, permit it to melt, and then flip the chicken a couple of times to glaze. The butter will aid deliquesce some of the season off the bottom of the skillet to further coat the chicken.

Sliced chicken breasts

Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean cutting board and allow it to residual for five minutes earlier slicing and serving.

close up of cooked chicken breasts in the skillet