QUESTION: “Hi there! I just came across your blog this morning and have marked SO many recipes as favorites. Many of the recipes I’ve bookmarked used “cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast.” Can you post on how you prepare this? I hate cooking chicken (or any meat) because I never know when it’s done. Should I do it in a grill or frying pan, bake it, roast it, broil, what temperature, how long, high heat, medium, etc.! What are the basic steps for how you cook chicken breast for the recipes that use it? Thanks so much! And keep up your good blogging work!” from Sonia P. in New Jersey.
ANSWER: Yes! I can totally relate. A quick a fool-proof method for cooking chicken breasts is certainly a must-have tool for the kitchen. Here’s one method I have adapted for many recipes and that has served me excellently.
HOW TO PREPARE BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS
Serves 3-4
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon herbs or seasoning
1/2 tablespoon butter
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
Trim any fat from chicken breasts and season with salt & pepper. Mix together flour and herbs on a plate or shallow bowl.
Coat chicken lightly in flour mixture. In a skillet over medium high heat, melt olive oil and butter. Lower heat to medium and add chicken breasts to pan. Cook on each side for 1 minute, so the exterior is lightly golden. Turn heat to low and cover pan with lid for 10 minutes. No peeking or lifting the lid during this time! This is very important.
After 10 minutes, remove chicken from heat and allow to sit (with the lid still on!) for 10 minutes. And voila! You will have tender, tasty, and versatile cooked chicken breasts.
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 tablespoon herbs or seasoning
- ½ tablespoon butter
- Olive oil
- Salt & pepper
- Trim any fat from chicken breasts and season with salt & pepper. Mix together flour and herbs on a plate or shallow bowl.
- Coat chicken lightly in flour mixture. In a skillet over medium high heat, melt olive oil and butter. Lower heat to medium and add chicken breasts to pan. Cook on each side for 1 minute, so the exterior is lightly golden.
- Turn heat to low and cover pan with lid for 10 minutes. No peeking or lifting the lid during this time! This is very important.
- After 10 minutes, remove chicken from heat and allow to sit (with the lid still on!) for 10 minutes.
Adapted from The Kitchn.