How to cook chicken breasts

Chicken has a gentle flavour which makes it easy to pair with a range of different cuisines and recipes. You can cook with many different parts of a chicken, but one of the most common is the chicken breast. This tasty cut of white meat stays juicy and succulent after cooking, which is why it is so popular for many dishes. It’s important to know how to properly cook chicken breasts, not only to emphasise the delicate taste but to also avoid undercooking. Learn everything you need to know about chicken breasts: how to cook them properly in a variety of ways, what to serve them with and some of the most popular HelloFresh chicken breast recipes.

How to prepare chicken breasts

When preparing chicken breasts for cooking, there are steps you should follow to get a good result and also uphold food safety at all times. When handling raw chicken, make sure to either wear gloves or wash your hands well before touching other ingredients. You should also thoroughly clean any utensils and workspaces that have touched the raw meat to avoid cross-contamination. Recipe development manager, Mimi Morley, suggests that when preparing chicken breasts, you may want to season or marinade the meat by leaving it in sauce for a few hours. This ensures that the meat is already packed with flavour when cooking.

How to cook chicken breasts

Chicken is a versatile meat and can be cooked in several ways, from roasting to frying, boiling and grilling. Regardless of the method, one of the biggest challenges with cooking chicken breasts is the variation in size at different points of the breast. It’s important to know how long to cook chicken breasts so they’re cooked evenly and stay tender.

How long to cook chicken breasts

To ensure chicken breasts are properly cooked, it’s important to cook them thoroughly until there is no pinkness in the middle and the meat appears white throughout. When roasting chicken breasts, cook them for around 18-20 minutes. On the grill, chicken breasts take around 9-10 minutes, cooking for 5 minutes on each side. Boiling a chicken breast takes around 15 minutes, while turning the breast to ensure it cooks evenly. Check if your chicken is cooked by piercing a skewer into the breast at different points to ensure the juices run clear or cut into the meat with a knife to see if the meat is cooked all the way through.

How to fry chicken breasts

Chicken breasts can be easily cooked in a pan with a drizzle of oil and a sprinkle of seasoning, or pan-fried with a delectable crispy coating, leaving the centre of the breast juicy and flavourful.

How long to pan-fry chicken breasts

When pan-frying chicken breasts, it is important to cook them long enough, while still keeping them juicy and succulent. Heat a frying pan over high heat and drizzle with a touch of olive oil. Cook both sides of the chicken breasts for approximately 10 minutes or until no traces of pink remain when cutting into the meat. Let the meat rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow all the juices to sink through.

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of a chicken breast. If the core temperature (where the breast is thickest) is 76°C for 30 seconds, then it has reached its perfect temperature and is ready to be eaten.

What to serve with chicken breasts

Chicken breasts are incredibly versatile and are able to work with a variety of meals and side dishes. Pair your juicy chicken breasts with a serving of mashed potatoes or even chunky-cut chips. Add a side of mixed vegetables, some green beans or a colourful salad.

Chicken breast recipes

HelloFresh offers an abundance of chicken breast recipes that are not only perfect for the whole family, but are also incredibly convenient and time-saving.

• Crispy Skin Chicken Breast with Mushroom Vin Sauce, Roasted Carrots and Roasted Garlic Mash
• Roast Chicken Breast with Mushroom Vin Sauce, Roasted Carrots and Garlic Mash
• Thai Spiced Chicken with Coconut, Rice and Spinach
• Creamy Rosemary Chicken Spaghetti with Courgette Ribbon Salad
  

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