Juicy Stove Top Chicken Breasts Recipe
Mar 07, 2019, Updated May 09, 2024
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One of my favorite chicken breast recipes & the easiest way to make juicy chicken right on the stove top. These pan-seared chicken breasts are cooked on the stove and bursting with flavor!
Juicy Stove Top Chicken Breasts
My all time favorite stovetop chicken breast recipe is here! Thanks to a simple method, the chicken breasts are never dry, always tender, and super tasty. After this recipe, you’ll see that chicken couldn’t be any easier to prepare for a quick and easy dinner idea.
I have talked about Oven Baked Chicken Breasts and Easy Baked Chicken Breasts, but we have yet to discuss how to cook chicken on the stove. Except for that one time when we covered the stove top method for Juicy Stove Top Chicken Thighs. 😎
I think it’s safe to say that skinless, boneless chicken breasts are the most popular cut of poultry. Am I right? I think? They’re the most searched for ingredient on my website, that’s for sure, and that’s because people always want a new way to cook chicken.
Thus, picture this: juicy, awesomely seasoned chicken breasts, pan seared in vegetable oil, and finished off with a tablespoon of butter. That’s it. That is all we’re doing.
What You’ll Need
Before we begin to discuss how to cook chicken breast in a pan, gather the following pantry ingredients to create this delicious and quick chicken dinner.
- Vegetable oil or canola oil: Used for frying the chicken. You can use any high-smoke point cooking oil, including avocado oil.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: This stove top chicken recipe will not work with bone-in chicken as bone-in meat requires a longer cooking time to cook through properly.
- Cooking spray: Helps coat the chicken breasts evenly with oil for a perfect sear.
- Salt and black pepper: Simple seasonings to enhance the overall flavor.
- Garlic powder: Adds a robust flavor to the chicken. Avoid using fresh garlic as it tends to burn.
- Onion powder: Provides a subtle sweetness and additional flavor.
- Dried basil: Infuses the chicken with freshness.
- Smoked or sweet paprika: Contributes a smoky flavor and a nice color to the chicken.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps create a flavorful, golden-brown crust on the chicken.
How to Cook Chicken Breasts on the Stove
To achieve perfectly tender and juicy results every time, follow my easy step-by-step method below to make the best pan cooked chicken!
- Start with a simple seasoning on both sides of the chicken breasts. Grease the chicken breasts with cooking spray or oil, then season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika and dried basil. This dry mix of herbs and spices adds a wonderful zing and flavor to the chicken breasts.
- In the meantime, heat up vegetable oil or canola oil in a large skillet.
- When oil is hot, add chicken breasts to the pan. Cook two chicken breasts at a time because you don’t want to overcrowd your skillet.
- Cook chicken breasts for 5 to 7 minutes without moving them around.
- Flip the chicken breasts over. Add a tablespoon of butter to the skillet, and continue to cook for 7 more minutes to a golden brown, or until a meat thermometer registers the internal temperature of the chicken breast at 165˚F. Cooking time will always depend on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
- Rest. When finished, transfer chicken breasts to a cutting board. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.
Recipe Tips for Success
- Chicken breasts should not be thicker than 1-inch, max. If your chicken breasts are thick, use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound the chicken to a smaller and even thickness BEFORE cooking.
- Why are we using vegetable oil and not our beloved olive oil, you ask? Because, vegetable-based oils have higher smoke points than olive oil. This includes avocado oil, too. Therefore, when frying, or pan searing, you need an oil that can withstand the heat.
- Cook the chicken breasts over medium-high heat.
- DO NOT stir or move the chicken breasts around while cooking. Let cook for 5 minutes or until you can easily flip them over. If there’s any resistance when trying to flip them, give it another minute before trying again.
- Chicken breasts are cooked through when the internal temperature reaches 165˚F.
How to Store Extras
- In the fridge: Store completely cooled chicken breasts in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Cooked chicken breast is ideal for meal prep, allowing you to easily add it to salads, grain bowls, and soups throughout the week.
- To freeze cooked chicken: Wrap completely cooled chicken breasts with plastic wrap and add a layer of aluminum foil over the plastic wrap. Place the wrapped chicken breasts in a freezer bag; seal the bag and place in the freezer. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
- Instant Pot Creamy Brussel Sprouts
- Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
- Grilled Asparagus
- Radish and Cucumber Salad with Garlic Yogurt Dressing
More Chicken Recipes to Try
- Creamy Garlic Sauce Chicken
- Beer Can Chicken
- Cheesy Asparagus Stuffed Chicken
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken
- 12 Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas Your Family Will Love
ENJOY!
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Juicy Stove Top Chicken Breasts Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or canola oil,, divided
- 4 (1 pound total) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- cooking spray
- salt and fresh ground pepper,, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter,, divided
Instructions
- Heat 1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet; use a 10-inch or 12-inch skillet.
- Pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels.
- Drizzle just a bit of oil over each chicken breast, or spray with cooking oil, and rub it all over.
- In a small mixing bowl combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and paprika.
- Season both sides of each chicken breast with the prepared seasoning; rub it all around.
- Add 2 chicken breasts to the hot skillet.
- Cook chicken breasts for 5 to 7 minutes without moving them around.
- Flip both chicken breasts over, add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet; swirl butter around and continue to cook the chicken for 7 more minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165F. Cooking time will always depend on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
- Remove chicken breasts from skillet; set aside and keep covered.
- Repeat the same method with the remaining 2 chicken breasts.
- When finished, transfer chicken to a cutting board; let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.
Video
Notes
- Chicken breasts should not be thicker than 1-inch, max. If your chicken breasts are thick, use a meat mallet to pound the chicken to a smaller and even thickness BEFORE cooking.
- If there’s a chicken seasoning blend that you absolutely adore, go ahead and use that in place of the one I have given here.
- Why are we using vegetable oil and not olive oil? Because, vegetable-based oils have higher smoke points than olive oil. When frying, or pan searing, you need an oil that can withstand the heat.
- Cook the chicken breasts over medium-high heat. DO NOT stir or move the chicken breasts around while cooking. Let cook for 5 minutes or until you can easily flip them over. If there’s any resistance when trying to flip them, give it another minute before trying again.
- Store completely cooled chicken breasts in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Hello! I’m not sure if I have ever went back to a website/blog/recipe to leave a review before, but I absolutely had to today. I have been making chicken breasts for 10+ years and have made hundreds of Pinterest/blog recipes, and this recipe by far produced the juiciest skillet chicken breast ever. I just wanted to leave a note to say thank you and let others know how wonderful it really is. I work in EMS, and am used to a pretty bare bones kitchen. We try not to turn the oven too much because of superstition. I cooked one breast for myself and had all of the seasonings on hand. I used your exact cooking method, but didn’t measure the seasonings. As I mentioned, it resulted in a wonderfully moist chicken breast with great seasoning and great crunch on the outside. It’s not just the piece of chicken, bc I cooked a breast from the same package earlier today and basically did the opposite of all of your tips and it turned out rubbery and dry (I made that one with olive oil, chicken broth, too hot skillet, too thick chicken, crowded pan, etc). Once following your recipe with the second breast, world of difference! I paired the wonderful chicken breast with a simple sweet potato with butter and a side of sautéed squash that I seasoned with paprika and salt and cooked in some butter and veg oil. Thank you so much!
Thank you SO much for your kind words, Kylie!! I am very happy you enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
I understand how you feel! I get so nervous every time I cook chicken. So scared it will either be undercooked or overcooked. The struggle is REAL!!
So easy to make and so delicious my family and I loved it
already had marinated the breasts but used your cooking method and they came out PERFECT!!!!!
My husband is a great time fan of chicken and he loves having chicken every Sunday, maybe this time I will try something different with using this weekend and try surprising him, thank you for sharing such great recipe with us.
This chicken looks so moist and juicy, can’t wait to make it.
This method alone makes plain, simple chicken breasts — a blank slate to be used on top of salads, rice dishes, and tacos. But you can season the breasts any way you like; make them spicy, or flavor them with fresh herbs.
I didn’t have all the ingredients but I had taco seasoning which had a few of them and then some.
Excellent!!! Family approved! 🙂
Omg!!!!!!!!!!!!
The absolutely best chicken I’ve tasted. Truly restaurant quality. My whole family including myself are in Awe!! Thank you for sharing!! My life is forever changed