Mia Patel
Cooking chicken on a stovetop is a great way to ensure it stays moist and tender. This method is perfect for a quick and easy dinner, and you can top it on a salad, eat it in a sandwich, or add it to pasta. There are several ways to cook chicken on a stovetop, but the most important step is to ensure that the chicken is cooked through and there is no pink in the middle. You can use a meat thermometer to check—the chicken should be at least 165°F.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken | Boneless, skinless chicken breasts |
| Quantity | 1 pound of chicken breasts |
| Preparation | Flatten the chicken breasts to an even thickness |
| Seasoning | Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried basil, Italian seasoning blend, steak seasoning |
| Cooking oil | Olive oil, butter, cooking spray |
| Cooking instructions | Heat the pan, cook chicken breasts over medium heat for 1 minute without moving, flip the chicken breasts, turn the heat down to low, cover the pan and cook on low for 10 minutes, turn off the heat and let sit for an additional 10 minutes |
| Serving suggestions | Salads, pasta, sandwiches, bowls, rice, avocado, roasted vegetables, mashed cauliflower, mashed sweet potatoes, homemade coleslaw, broccoli slaw |
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What You'll Learn
Flatten the chicken breasts
To flatten chicken breasts, you can use a mallet, the bottom of a wide jar or glass, a rolling pin, or the bottom of a small frying pan. The goal is to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness, which will help the chicken cook more evenly and quickly.
If your chicken breasts are on the larger or thicker side, it is especially helpful to flatten them. However, if you are in a rush, you can skip this step.
Before flattening your chicken breasts, you may want to consider placing them between sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper. This will help prevent the chicken from sticking to your kitchen tools and make cleanup easier.
Once your chicken breasts are flattened, you can proceed to the next steps of your recipe, such as seasoning, heating your pan, and cooking the chicken.
Remember, flattening chicken breasts is not a mandatory step, but it can help ensure even cooking and juiciness. Whether you choose to flatten your chicken or not, there are plenty of ways to cook delicious and tender chicken on a stovetop.
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Season the chicken
Seasoning your chicken is a key step in ensuring your stovetop chicken is moist and tender. Seasoning adds flavour to your chicken, and can also help to tenderise the meat.
First, you should coat your chicken with a cooking spray or oil. This will help the seasoning stick to the chicken. You can use a high-heat cooking oil, or olive oil.
Next, you can add your seasoning. A simple option is to season your chicken with salt and pepper. You can use fine salt, or seasoned salt, and black pepper. You can also add dried basil for freshness.
If you want to add more flavour, you can add garlic powder and onion powder. You can also add smoked or sweet paprika for a smoky flavour and a nice colour.
For a more complex flavour, you can combine chilli powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper to make a spice rub. You can also add Italian seasoning, or a classic smoky seasoning.
Finally, you can add a coating of sour cream to your chicken. This will add flavour and the acidity will help to tenderise the chicken.
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Heat the pan
To cook moist and tender chicken, you'll need to heat a frying pan large enough to fit the chicken in a single layer. The pan should be heated over medium-high heat. When heating the pan, it is important to ensure that the pan is hot enough before adding oil or butter. This helps to create a good sear on the chicken.
For a large skillet, a tablespoon of oil is enough to cover the surface. You can also use cooking spray to coat the pan. The oil should be hot and shimmery before adding the chicken. A good indication that the pan is hot enough is when the oil starts to smoke lightly.
If you are using butter, it should be added after the chicken has been placed in the pan. The butter will melt and combine with the chicken juices, creating a flavorful liquid. This liquid will help to steam the chicken, ensuring it remains moist and tender.
For boneless chicken breasts, a medium-low to medium heat setting is recommended. Thinner cuts may require a slightly higher heat setting to seal in the juices and create a golden crust.
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Sear the chicken
To achieve a good sear, heat a frying pan large enough to fit the chicken in a single layer over medium-high heat. Add a cooking spray, oil, or butter to the pan to prevent the chicken from sticking. You can also use olive oil, which will give the chicken a nice golden-brown colour. Once the oil is hot and shimmery, add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 to 3 minutes without moving them, allowing them to get a nice golden crust. If you are using thin-cut chicken breasts, cook for 1 minute on each side to get a light golden colour.
For seasoning, you can use a simple combination of salt and pepper, or get creative with Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, or dried basil. You can also coat the chicken with sour cream to add flavour and help tenderize it. Alternatively, try a classic smoky seasoning by combining steak seasoning, smoked paprika, and sweet paprika. Coat the chicken breasts liberally with your chosen seasoning on all sides.
Now you are ready to sear the chicken. Place the chicken breasts in the hot pan and cook for about 8 minutes without flipping for boneless chicken breasts (5 minutes for thin-cut breasts). If you are using bone-in chicken breasts, it is recommended to use an oven to ensure thorough cooking without burning the outside.
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Poach the chicken
To poach chicken breasts on a stovetop, you will need a frying pan with a lid that fits tightly, or a sheet of aluminium foil if your pan doesn't have a lid. You will also need a meat tenderiser, a mallet, or a rolling pin to pound the chicken to an even thickness.
First, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and season on both sides with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, or dried basil.
Next, heat a tablespoon of oil in the pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden. Then, flip the chicken breasts, reduce the heat to low, and add a few tablespoons of water or broth to the pan. Cover the pan with a lid or aluminium foil and cook on low for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, turn off the heat and leave the chicken in the covered pan for another 10 minutes. Do not remove the lid or foil during this time.
Finally, after the second 10 minutes, remove the lid or foil and check that the chicken is cooked through with no pink inside. Your chicken is now ready to be used in your favourite recipes!
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