Skinless Chicken Breast Recipes OvenLight and lemony chicken breast recipe with a salad of cucumber, tomatoes, and feta. Easy, light, and fresh Check out the new way I bake chicken here httpsyoutu. PQkBqrvfZ4 This is my favorite way to keep boneless, skinless chicken breast. This baked chicken breast is meltinyourmouth tender and succulent. Its the best Easy to make and very flavorful. Just follow three easy steps. How to Cook Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts. Chicken breasts are probably the most popular cut of meat sold in America today. They are quick, easy, low fat, and universally popular. What are the best ways of cooking them so you end up with moist, tender, flavorful meatRead on and learn how to cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Its nice to have a supply of cooked chicken meat on hand for many recipes, from chicken salads like Chicken Caesar Salad, to casseroles like Creamy Mexican Crockpot Chicken and Santa Fe Chicken, and sandwiches. Size Considerations. First of all, when youre buying boneless, skinless chicken breasts, beware of the size. Never buy any chicken breast halves with the bone and skin removed that weigh more than 8 or 9 ounces. Very large breasts come from stewing hens, and they will never get tender unless they are cooked in liquid. Time Considerations. Second, there are two basic methods for cooking dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat methods include baking, roasting, grilling, sauting, and deep frying. Skinless Chicken Breast Recipes Quick And Easy' title='Skinless Chicken Breast Recipes Quick And Easy' />Moist heat methods include microwaving, poaching, baking in parchment, steaming, and slow cooking. This is the rule when cooking chicken breasts with dry heat, use high heat and cook for a short period of time. When using moist heat, use low heat and cook for a longer period of time. Now when I say longer, that doesnt mean hours. Is your weekly dinner menu in serious need of a delicious makeover Get inspired with these Top 20 Best Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Recipes Lowfat and quick to cook, chicken breast is the easy option for a simple supper. Cook it in simple curries, comforting pies or filling salads. Grilled chicken breasts cook in 8 1. And heres another tip when cooking with dry heat, pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness so they will cook evenly. Chicken breasts have little connective tissue that means they can be cooked quickly because the long cooking time needed to soften those tough areas isnt necessary. They also have little fat, which means they can become dry if cooked too long. One way to ensure juicy, moist chicken is to brine before cooking. To brine chicken, place thawed chicken breasts in a solution of salt and water for about 1 hour in the refrigerator. The cells will absorb water through osmosis. Temperature. Many experts recommend that chicken breast meat must be cooked to an internal temperature of 1. F, but others say 1. F is fine. You will have moister chicken if you cook to 1. F. According to Dr. O. Peter Snyder, the chicken has to reach a temperature of 1. F for 5. 2 seconds to kill pathogens. Now the USDA is recommending that, because of bird flu fears, chicken should be cooked to a temperature of 1. F. Remember that the meat will continue to cook after its removed from the heat the internal temperature will rise about 5 1. Choose the final temperature based upon the health and risk factors of those who will be eating the meat. If you have young children, elderly persons, or those with a compromised immune system in your household, choose the higher temperature. Dr. Snyder told me that healthy people above the age of 5 have built up a tolerance to low levels of bacteria and wont get sick when served chicken cooked to the lower temperatures. Also be sure to cool the meat very quickly if youre reserving it for later use or using it chopped or shredded in another recipe, preferably in a container placed in an ice water bath. And hold the cooked chicken in the refrigerator no longer than 3 4 days. I was once asked why chicken had to be cooked through, while steaks can be served rare or medium rare. The answer lies in the physiology of the chicken. The meat is less dense than beef, which allows bacteria to travel throughout the muscle. And the way chicken is processed spreads bacteria. Finally, removing the feathers forces bacteria into the crevices and into the meat. So cook the chicken to a safe internal temperature and your food will always be safe. Any of these methods will result in juicy, moist, and tender chicken breasts. Follow the instructions carefully with a meat thermometer in your hand and youll always have success. Cooking Methods. You can season the chicken with lots of ingredients in these cooking methods. I like adding thinly sliced lemon to any method, along with fresh thyme sprigs for more flavor. Brining. Brining pulls water into the chicken flesh and helps flavor it too. I dont brine my chicken because of the food safety risk of handling the raw meat so much, and the need to rinse the raw chicken after its brined. To brine boneless, skinless chicken breasts, in a large bowl mix 4 cups of water with 3 Tbsp. Tbsp. of sugar, if desired, and stir until the salt and sugar dissolves. Bbq Chicken Recipe. Add thawed chicken breasts to this mixture, cover, and refrigerate for one hour. When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the brine, rinse under cold running water this is the only time I recommend rinsing chicken in the sink, and cook according to one of the following methods. You can brine frozen breasts as well. Mix up the brine solution and add the frozen boneless skinless breasts. Place in the refrigerator, covered, and let stand overnight until the chicken thaws. Rinse well under cold running water, pat dry, and cook. Sanitize your sink and the surrounding area with a bleach solution after you rinse the chicken. Wash your hands well, and change your clothes, since the bacteria on the chicken is probably on them. Baking in Parchment. I really like this moist heat method of cooking, as there is a greater margin of error, and the breasts cook without being rearranged. Preheat the oven to 4. F. Spread parchment paper or heavy duty foil on your work surface and arrange thawed boneless, skinless chicken breasts on them. Top with lemon slices, bay leaves, or other spices and herbs. Bring the edges of the paper or foil together and fold together making sure to keep chicken in a single layer, then crimp to hold in the steam. Bake at 4. 25 degrees for 1. Use the longer time if youre cooking more than four breasts. Frozen chicken breasts can be baked with this method too. Simply place them in paper or foil, allowing space for heat expansion, and bake according to the package directions. The two kinds of frozen chicken breasts I buy have different cooking times one cooks for 3. I test at the shorter cooking time with the thermometer. Poaching. To poach boneless, skinless chicken breasts, place them in a large skillet and add 1 2 cups of water or chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and cook for 9 1. F. about 1. 5 minutes. You can also poach in the oven. Place chicken in a single layer in a roasting pan. You can add lemon slices, peppercorns, or any other spices or herbs. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and immediately pour over chicken. Cover and bake at 4. F for 2. 0 3. 5 minutes, checking for an internal temperature of 1. F. Grill. You can grill chicken breasts, but you need to pay attention. Build an indirect fire. Grill the breasts on the hotter side of the fire first, with more coals, turning them as soon as they release easily from the grill. Move to the cooler side to cook through. Make sure you use an instant read meat thermometer you can buy at Amazon. F. For quicker grilling, pound the chicken until its about 13 thick. This will help the interior cook before the exterior gets too brown or burns. For more detailed information on grilling chicken breasts, please see Grilled Chicken Recipes. Microwave. It can be risky cooking chicken in the microwave oven because the oven cooks unevenly. The same piece of chicken can be several different temperatures at the same timeIf you have healthy people over the age of 5 in your household, this is an easy method for microwaving chicken. Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a glass dish with the thin side of the breasts in the center. Pour 34 cup buttermilk over the chicken, sprinkle with herbs and spices of your choice, cover plate with plastic wrap, and cook on high for 3 minutes. Check the chicken, then cook for 2 minutes longer. Rearrange the chicken using tongs, cover again, and microwave for 3 5 minutes longer until internal temp is 1. F. Discard buttermilk mixture. Crockpot. The crockpot is a wonderful way to cook chicken as long as it isnt overcooked.