31 Chicken Breast Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to cook chicken breast without drying it out? ›

Her suggestion: Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a pan in a single layer, cover with a few inches of liquid (water, broth, etc.), add flavorings (spices, salt, herbs, soy sauce, etc.), then bring the liquid just barely to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat so the liquid simmers.

Brines and marinades help tenderize the meat by bringing more moisture in the protein. With that extra moisture, you lose less when you cook. The simplest way to do this is with a dry brine — unwrap the chicken breasts, salt them on both sides and let them sit in the fridge for at least an hour.

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern recommends the average person eat 26 ounces of poultry (including chicken) per week. Per day, this would be roughly the same as eating 3.5 ounces of chicken breast.

Getting a good sear through medium high heat, then reducing the heat to LOW and COVERING the chicken while it cooks. The butter, oil, and chicken juices create a super flavorful liquid that acts as a way to steam the chicken at a low temperature, ensuring that it is moist & tender on the inside.

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

High heat, marinate it or brine it first, finish with butter and pull it at like 155-158. Let it sit for a few (both to kill off all bacteria and to let juices properly reabsorb) and you'll get juicy chicken breast.

Marinate them.

If you're cooking chicken breasts without skin or fat, infuse them with some extra flavor and liquid to keep them tender. Choose your favorite marinade and throw them in a ziploc bag with the marinade. Marinate them overnight before grilling, baking, or searing. The difference is uncanny.

According to the American Heart Association, eating lean poultry, like chicken breast, can be a part of a heart-healthy diet. And data shows that a high intake of poultry does not adversely affect cardiovascular disease risk, per a 2021 review published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.

How much is 1 lb of chicken breast? ›

Bake chicken breasts uncovered at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer shows the chicken is heated to 165°F. To store: Let chicken stand 30 minutes to cool. Individually wrap chicken breasts in waxed or parchment paper ($4, Target).

Moist Heat Cooking: Consider simmering the tough chicken in a liquid-based recipe, such as a stew, soup, or curry. Moist heat cooking methods can help break down the fibers in the meat, making it more tender.

Overcooking or cooking at too high a temperature can result in tough, dry chicken. Undercooking can leave chicken undercooked and chewy. Proper cooking techniques, such as roasting, grilling, or braising, can help maintain moisture and tenderness.

Incorrect temperature and cooking time are the main culprits behind why your chicken gets dry when you cook it. The key to cooking chicken without drying it out is finding the sweet spot between temperature and cooking time.