How to Prepare Seared Chicken Breasts
Pan-seared chicken breasts are first cooked to a golden brown in a hot frying pan and then baked in the oven to finish cooking. They can be made with simple seasoning such as salt and pepper, or with cloves of garlic, a rosemary and oregano rub, or a marinade. Once you have seared your chicken breasts, you should let the rest for five minutes to allow the juices to settle in the meat before slicing and serving them. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Oven-safe frying pan
- Olive oil, 1 tbsp.
- Metal spatula
- Oven mitts
- Meat thermometer
- Aluminum foil
Instructions
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1
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Apply 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper to the chicken breasts. Evenly season the meat so that both sides of the breasts are covered in a fine layer of seasoning.
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2
Place the frying pan on your stove top burner. Drizzle 1 tbsp. olive oil around the pan. Turn the burner on and let the oil heat for three minutes or until it shimmers or starts to sizzle.
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3
Set the chicken breasts in the frying pan by slowly lowering the breast down into the pan from one side to the other, starting with the side of the breast that is closest to you as you stand at the stove. Sear the chicken breasts for three minutes on one side or until it is golden brown. Pick up the chicken with a metal spatula and flip it over onto the other side. Cook the other side for three minutes or until golden brown. If you find that the meat is sticking to the pan when you attempt to turn it over, let it cook for one minute longer to get the meat to release from the pan.
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4
Put on your oven mitts. Insert the frying pan into the oven, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the frying pan from the oven.
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5
Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast. The chicken is done when the temperature reads 160 degrees F. Remove it from the pan and place it on a plate, and then cover with aluminum foil. Let the chicken sit for five minutes to let the juices settle before serving.
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Tips & Warnings
Add 1/2 cup of chicken broth to the pan before putting it in the oven. This will deglaze the pan and make a nice sauce to spoon over your seared chicken breasts.
Always wear oven mitts or heat resistant gloves when handling hot pans.
