One of the most frustrating things to me is cooking a breast of chicken in a pan, believing that it is perfectly cooked, cutting in, and BAM you’ve got a little pink in the center. Oh! That just drives me crazy. Here is how to cook chicken in a pan. When I first started cooking I would slice into one piece to make sure it was done, but I hated to do that because I could see the juices running out and who wants to serve a half cut breast of chicken, especially to guests?
I believe I’ve already posted this, but I cannot seem to find it, so sorry if you’ve already read this.
First of all, it’s easiest to cook a breast of chicken that is even. If you have a large breast of chicken that is quite thick at one end and very thin at the other, I’d grab a little wax paper and a meat mallet or rolling pin and just pound it out a little to make it a little more uniform. This will help you to cook the breast evenly without one end finishing and drying out way before the other end is done.
Bring a little oil, butter, spray or whatever you’d like to heat over high heat in a skillet. Add the chicken once the oil starts to shimmer and smoke a little. You should hear an immediate pop and sizzle (psshhhhh) when you add the chicken. Now quickly turn the heat down to low and let cook for about 5-7 minutes. BUT!! The most important thing you are looking for, as pictured above, is to get down and look at the side of the chicken. Once it is white, and cooked through halfway up the chicken, flip it over. Cook an additional 5-7 minutes, and the rest of the white should rise up and meet the already cooked portion. When there is no longer a pink rim around the edges of the chicken it’s thoroughly cooked and you can remove it to rest on a cutting board for 1-3 minutes to redistribute juices.
Think two halves make a whole, once both whites have met in the middle you know that no pink remains.
You can also touch the chicken, and when there is no longer a jiggle you know it’s done.
Trust yourself, everything takes practice, but the more you do a little finger prod and watch the white meat touch you will learn exactly when your chicken is cooked and it will be far more moist and flavorful.
How to Cook Chicken in a Pan
Ingredients
- 4 Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 2 Tbsp Oil, or butter or cooking spray
Instructions
- Using a meat mallet, place the chicken between pieces of wax paper and pound out each chicken breast so they are an even width.
- Bring the oil (or butter or cooking spray) to heat over high heat in a skillet.
- When the oil starts to shimmer and smoke, add the chicken. It should pop and sizzle.
- Immedieatly turn the heat down to low and cook for 5-7 minutes. *See note
- When the chicken is white halfway up the chicken breast, flip it and cook an additional 5-7 minutes. *See note
- Remove the chicken to a cutting board for 1-3 minutes to rest.
Notes
Nutrition
Emma
The same works for a perfect medium-rare steak! Once all sides are sealed the juices are sealed in and can rest!
Joy
May I have the recipe for the potato roll? No yeast?
Sweet Basil
Here is the link to the potato roll recipe: https://ohsweetbasil.com/potato-rolls-recipe/
But there is yeast in it.
Glenda
Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Sweet Basil
Thanks Glenda! Enjoy!
Jacqueline
I also find cooking chicken in a pan to be very challenging. As much cooking as I do, this remains a problem. Thanks so much for posting this. I’m sure I’ve almost got it!
Sweet Basil
Thank you!
Leona LaBine
Sorry I would like to add that when I said flip the breast and cover the chicken, use a lid from another pan that is just slightly bigger than the breast to cover, makes it more like a mini oven.
Leona LaBine
the never fail way I cook a chicken breast is to heat a pan on high heat, as high as the pan will take without burning the chicken. Cook the chicken breast on high heat for 5 minutes. Flip the breast add spices and cover the chicken breast and turn off the heat under the chicken and let it sit for 10 minutes. The result is a juicy moist fully cooked chicken breast.
Sweet Basil
Leona, I have heard a few people say that a juicy chicken breast weirds them out and they prefer it dry. SOOOOO glad you and I are on the same page! Who wants overcooked chicken?