The Best Chicken Breast Recipe
Chicken breast is an extremely popular and very versatile food, but you might be wondering about the best way to prepare it. How can you make chicken breast that tastes beautifully succulent, rich, and tender every time with some great accompanying sides? It can be done; don’t worry!
We’re going to look at the best chicken breast recipe and how you can cook it, and then we’re going to cover some variations that you might want to try to get your cooking repertoire as good as it can be - and give you some flexibility in how you make chicken breast.
The Best Chicken Breast Recipe
For the sauce, you’re going to need:
➔ 4 chicken breasts (about 800 grams)➔ 2 tablespoons of olive oil
➔ 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
➔ 1 teaspoon of onion powder
➔ A pinch of salt
➔ 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper (to taste)
➔ 1 teaspoon of paprika
➔ 1/2 teaspoon of fresh oregano, chopped
➔ 1 teaspoon of chili powder
➔ 2 tablespoons of butter
➔ 3 teaspoons of fresh parsley, chopped
➔ 3 cloves of minced garlic
Method:
Step 1) Use a meat mallet to tenderize your chicken breasts. You can also use a heavy rolling pin if you don’t have a meat mallet. Pound the breasts until they are around two centimeters thick at most. Get the fillets as even as possible to make sure that they cook evenly and there aren’t thin areas that will burn.
Step 2) In a bowl, mix together your chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, oregano, sugar, paprika, and salt. Preheat the oven to 390 degrees F (for a fan or convection oven) or to 425 degrees F (for a standard oven).
Step 3) Lightly grease a glass baking dish or line it with baking paper or aluminum foil. Place the chicken in the pan, pour the seasoning over it, and lightly toss so that the meat becomes nicely covered in the herbs and spices. It will soak up the flavors as you cook it.
Step 4) Drizzle the oil over the chicken and then rub it into each chicken breast so that the meat is lightly greased and the seasoning adheres to the surface.
Step 5) Transfer the chicken to the oven once it is heated, and then bake for about 17 minutes.
Step 6) Melt the butter in a small pan on top of the stove, and then add the minced garlic. Gently fry the garlic for a minute or two so that it softens and turns fragrant, and then take the pan off the heat. Add the chopped parsley and set this aside.
Step 7) When 17 minutes have passed, remove the meat from the oven and check its internal temperature with a meat thermometer. You want it to reach 165 degrees F, so if the chicken is not yet ready, give it a few more minutes in the oven.
Pour the butter, garlic, and parsley mixture into the pan and give it a good stir to mix everything together and make sure the new flavors are soaked up by the chicken.
Step 8) When the meat has reached the correct temperature, take away the parchment paper, and turn up the oven to a high heat so that you can broil the chicken and crisp up the edges. Broil for around 2 minutes and then check on it. The chicken breasts should have crispy edges and be a lovely rich, golden color.
Step 9) Serve the chicken onto plates, and then scoop up juices from the pan and drizzle these over the top to add to the richness and succulence of the dish. Eat while piping hot. You should have a juicy, crispy dish of chicken, absolutely packed with rich flavor.
Other Ways of Preparing Chicken Breast
So, how else can you prepare chicken breast? Well, there are a lot of different things you can do, so we’re going to run through some suggestions that you might enjoy. When you have a simple recipe down, enjoy trying new twists on it and reimagine the flavors or steps that you follow.
Flavor Combinations to Try
Let’s start with a marinade for chicken breast. Marinades are a wonderful way to make sure that your meat is tender and full of juice, and as long as you have time to soak the chicken, they don’t take much work. The best marinades use olive oil for moisture, and then combine an acid (e.g. lemon juice or vinegar) to tenderize the chicken.
Combine that with something salty and flavorful like Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce, a bit of brown sugar, and your choice of herbs or spices, and you’ve got a delicious juice for your chicken to stew in, which will add to both the flavor and the texture. Yum!
Next, have you ever tried chicken wrapped in bacon? This is a gorgeous, salty, chewy combination that is extremely satisfying to eat. It looks super impressive, but it’s not hard at all. You simply season the chicken with herbs, spices, and a bit of brown sugar, and then wrap it in thin-cut bacon.
Cook in the oven, using a meat thermometer to confirm that the correct temperature has been reached, and then broil to crisp up the bacon and serve sizzling!
Casserole with chicken breast is next on our list, and you can do some fantastic things with this. Combine the chicken breasts with some garlic, onion, mushrooms, and a rich and creamy sauce, and you’ve got a very hearty meal that is just perfect for winter, and makes a wonderfully filling supper.
If you’re wondering about chicken breast Mexican recipes, you also have so many options to try. Mexican chicken tortillas can be thrown together for a quick weeknight meal, or try Mexican chicken and wild rice soup if you want some wonderful comfort food. This has a handful of tasty veggies to complement the meat and make you feel good.
Chicken breast lemon recipes are also super popular, and many people bake chicken breast with lemon slices in the oven to really infuse the zesty flavor through the meat. With an extra splash of white wine for flavor and a good helping of garlic, you have a delicious and zingy meal that has a delightful freshness to it.
You can use the above recipe, but swap the chili, oregano, and parsley for lemon juice and then place lemon slices on the chicken breasts before cooking.
What about some chicken breast low carb recipes? Well, one of the best things about these chicken recipes is that they are highly versatile, so you can easily swap ingredients in and out to suit you. Try cooking your chicken with mozzarella, tomato sauce, and a few fresh vegetables for a great low carb option.
Avoid adding breading, and focus on getting the chicken crispy by using your grill to broil. With a good marinade or sauce, you’ll have all the flavor you need.
And with all that cooking, you might also want some chicken breast leftover recipes. What can you do with leftovers? There are a ton of ideas, but try chicken soup, chicken noodles, or chicken pad Thai.
Cooking Methods To Try
Of course, the cooking method matters too and you don’t have to only do a chicken breast recipe in oven. What about chicken breast on Traeger? Try smoking your chicken breast on the Traeger for a healthier alternative to roasting it, and pair it with some vegetable sides like mushrooms or peppers.
Alternatively, try out chicken breast on BBQ, with some BBQ sauce slathered on top. Marinade your chicken before barbecuing to maximize the juiciness, and then cook on a hot grill for about 10 minutes on each side, basting it with the marinade to keep it deliciously tender.
For non-barbecue weather, how about a chicken breast recipe in pan? This can be as simple or as complicated as you like. If you want totally plain chicken, simply cook in olive oil for 10 minutes per side, and then rest for 5 minutes before eating. It could not really be any easier than that, and you can add anything you like!
Top Tips For Making Chicken Breast
So, what are our top suggestions for making great chicken breast every time?
The most important thing is the sauce. Alone, chicken is pretty plain, which means you can pair it with anything that takes your fancy. Experiment with marinades and basting sauces, and keep experimenting until you find recipes you love.
A second tip is to marinade if your chicken is a bit dry or tough.
The acids in the marinade will break down the flesh and soften it (but don’t leave it for too long, or you’ll get mushy chicken). The flavors will revitalize the flesh. Make use of marinades any time you think the meat is low quality, and you’ll have a much better experience with chicken.
Thirdly, always check that your meat has reached a high enough temperature (165 degrees F) to ensure food borne bacteria has been killed, and handle raw chicken according to best practice. Store chicken – both cooked and uncooked – in the fridge or freezer when not cooking or consuming it.
A Few FAQs About Chicken Breast Recipes
What are some of the top questions about chicken breast? We’re going to cover some quick answers for you here!
Calorie Count
Well, one of the major questions is how many calories chicken breast contains. Let’s do a quick rundown:
roasting it, and pair it with some vegetable sides like mushrooms or peppers.
Alternatively, try out chicken breast on BBQ, with some BBQ sauce slathered on top. Marinade your chicken before barbecuing to maximize the juiciness, and then cook on a hot grill for about 10 minutes on each side, basting it with the marinade to keep it deliciously tender.
For non-barbecue weather, how about a chicken breast recipe in pan? This can be as simple or as complicated as you like. If you want totally plain chicken, simply cook in olive oil for 10 minutes per side, and then rest for 5 minutes before eating. It could not really be any easier than that, and you can add anything you like!
Top Tips For Making Chicken Breast
So, what are our top suggestions for making great chicken breast every time?
The most important thing is the sauce. Alone, chicken is pretty plain, which means you can pair it with anything that takes your fancy. Experiment with marinades and basting sauces, and keep experimenting until you find recipes you love.
A second tip is to marinade if your chicken is a bit dry or tough.
The acids in the marinade will break down the flesh and soften it (but don’t leave it for too long, or you’ll get mushy chicken). The flavors will revitalize the flesh. Make use of marinades any time you think the meat is low quality, and you’ll have a much better experience with chicken.
Thirdly, always check that your meat has reached a high enough temperature (165 degrees F) to ensure food borne bacteria has been killed, and handle raw chicken according to best practice. Store chicken – both cooked and uncooked – in the fridge or freezer when not cooking or consuming it.
A Few FAQs About Chicken Breast Recipes
What are some of the top questions about chicken breast? We’re going to cover some quick answers for you here!
Calorie Count
Well, one of the major questions is how many calories chicken breast contains. Let’s do a quick rundown:
➔ Chicken breast 3 oz calories: 203➔ Chicken breast 6 oz calories: 407
➔ Chicken breast 8 oz calories: 542
Obviously, the more chicken you include in your meal, the more calories it will have. If you’re looking to cut back, try using smaller pieces and pairing them with a vegetable side dish.
What Sides Should I Include?
Another common question is what can be served with chicken breast. Well, your options are pretty limitless! There is an absolute plethora of sides to choose from.
Potatoes are a common option, but do you boil and mash, roast, bake, or turn them into potato salad? All are great choices and will complement your chicken breast beautifully. Opt for a cold potato salad in summer, or a buttery and creamy mash for the winter months.
If you aren’t a potato fan, try something like a quinoa salad, which is wonderfully refreshing and nice when paired with chicken. Toss in feta, olives, and some fresh vegetables for a very healthy side dish.
Alternatively, broccoli makes a light side, and you can roast it, steam it, or boil it depending on your preferences. Add a little sprinkle of Parmesan or some crushed garlic for extra flavor.
If that doesn’t appeal to you, what about garlic fried mushrooms? Again, this is a nice, light side to have along with chicken, and mushrooms are very healthy!
How Long Should Chicken Breast Be Cooked For?
The chicken breast cooking time will vary depending on the cooking method used and the size of the chicken, but the meat must reach 165 degrees F to be safe and kill off bacteria like salmonella. The chicken breast oven temp makes a big difference to how fast the meat will reach temperature.
If you have a 4-ounce chicken breast, bake it at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes to be safe. Some people find that turning up the temperature and decreasing the time leads to a better, juicier chicken that is still well cooked.
In general, you will be cooking chicken breasts for no less than 10 minutes per side, even if you are frying, smoking, or barbecuing your chicken. Remember, use a meat thermometer, or cut the chicken open to make absolutely sure the meat is cooked throughout before consuming it. You don’t want food poisoning!
So, you’ve seen our best chicken breast recipe and hopefully picked up a few handy tips on how to cook the best chicken, as well as chicken variations you can make, and sides that chicken can be paired with. If you’re feeling inspired, it’s time to hit the kitchen!
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