How to Cook Chicken Breast in a Skillet

Cooking chicken breast in a skillet is a fast, easy way to provide high-quality, low-fat protein for your family's dinner. You can have chicken on the table 20 minutes after opening the package.

Things You'll Need

• Large skillet Olive oil Boneless chicken breasts (fresh or defrosted) Seasonings Tongs

Instructions

1. Turn on the stove to medium-high heat and pour enough olive oil into the skillet to lightly coat the bottom.

2. Rinse and pat dry your chicken. If it is very thick, cover it with wax paper and pound it with a meat mallet to flatten it a little or to even out the thickness. Sprinkle seasonings to taste on your chicken, both front and back (for an Italian flavor, try garlic and oregano; for Hispanic dishes, Adobo works well; if you are not feeling adventurous, use plain black pepper).

3. Place chicken into the skillet using the tongs. Be careful; the oil will be hot and may spatter, especially if you have not dried the chicken well.

4. Cook the chicken for 5--8 minutes (depending on the thickness) without poking at it.

5. Flip chicken breasts over (using the tongs) and cook for another 5--8 minutes. The chicken should turn golden brown when it is done. If you are not sure whether it is fully cooked, take a piece out of the skillet and cut into it at the thickest part. If it is no longer pink, it is finished.

Tips & Warnings

• It is also possible to cut chicken breasts into chunks or strips for faster cooking. Prepare and cook them using the same method, but cook them for a shorter time.

• Chicken breasts are easy to overcook, so if the breasts are thin, watch them closely for signs of readiness.

References

• Knox's Spice Co.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• For more boneless skillet chicken recipes, try Cooks.com.