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

Diethood » Recipes » Dinner Recipes » Chicken Recipes » Juicy Stove Top Chicken Breasts Recipe

Jump to RecipeRate This Recipe

Katerina

4.66 from 183 votes

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

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.

Rate this Recipe!

Servings : 4 serves

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

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? ›

Step 1: Brine

This will boost the natural flavor and moisture of the chicken breasts and will leave you with a super tender piece of meat. This is the one step that will really ensure your chicken won't be dry or tough. If you're still not convinced, check out everything you need to know about brining.

What's the best way to cook chicken breast so it doesn't dry out? ›

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 do you keep chicken moist and juicy? ›

Consider brining your chicken breasts before baking. Soak them in a solution of salt and water for about 30 minutes to an hour. This helps the chicken retain moisture during the baking process, resulting in juicier and more tender meat.

How do you make chicken soft and juicy? ›

  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.

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? ›

Flavor Trick #1: Marinate Whole or Sliced Chicken Breasts for 30 to 90 Minutes Before Cooking
  1. Lemon-Garlic: ¾ cup olive oil + ¼ cup lemon juice + 4 cloves crushed garlic + 1 teaspoon paprika + pinch of salt.
  2. Balsamic: ¾ cup olive oil + ¼ cup balsamic vinegar + 2 teaspoons fresh oregano + pinch of salt.
Oct 13, 2023

How to cook boneless 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.

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.

How long should chicken cook on the stove? ›

Instructions
  1. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. ...
  2. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. ...
  3. Carefully add the chicken to the hot pan and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. ...
  4. Flip the chicken and cook until it reaches 165°F, 5 to 7 minutes more. ...
  5. Slice and serve.

How long does it take 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.

What should you season chicken with? ›

Aside from classics like salt, pepper, basil and garlic, you could try using chilli powder, ginger, cumin, cayenne, paprika, oregano, sage, rosemary and thyme.

What makes chicken more juicy? ›

It's a basic technique—simply use your spoon or spatula to pick up hot oil or butter from the pan, then pour it over the meat as it cooks. This helps distribute the fat and juices, keeps moisture intact as the meat cooks, enhances flavor, and results in a more even cook.

How do you cook chicken breast so it falls apart? ›

Place the seasoned chicken in an approximately 4 quart Dutch oven, breast side down, cover, and place it in the preheated 250°F oven. Let it cook until it literally falls apart when you try to lift any part of it, about 4 hours. Take off the the lid, and let it sit until it's cool enough to handle.

What makes chicken soft when cooking? ›

Marinating your chicken in something overnight can help make it all the more juicier and tender. You can use a gluten-free, acidic marinade (like olive oil and lemon juice) or something breadier (like baking soda, egg whites, and buttermilk).

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.

What makes chicken breast tough? ›

“Woody breast” describes a quality issue stemming from a muscle abnormality in a small percentage of chicken meat in the U.S. This condition causes chicken breast meat to be hard to the touch and often pale in color with poor quality texture.

How do you prepare chicken breast before cooking? ›

1: Pound and Season the Chicken Breasts

Cover 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts with plastic wrap or place in a large resealable bag. Pound the chicken to an even thickness with a meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy skillet. Season both sides of the chicken liberally with salt and pepper.

How long do I need to brine chicken breast? ›

Brine the chicken.

Fill a large bowl with 1 quart of warm water and 1/4 cup kosher salt. Stir to combine until most of the salt is absorbed. Add the chicken breasts and let them sit in the mixture to brine for 15 minutes, or you can also also cover the bowl and refrigerate for up to 6 hours.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Allyn Kozey

Last Updated:

Views: 5730

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Allyn Kozey

Birthday: 1993-12-21

Address: Suite 454 40343 Larson Union, Port Melia, TX 16164

Phone: +2456904400762

Job: Investor Administrator

Hobby: Sketching, Puzzles, Pet, Mountaineering, Skydiving, Dowsing, Sports

Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.