This Split Chicken Breast recipe delivers juicy, tender roasted bone-in chicken breast with minimal prep and simple, inexpensive ingredients.
You will love how flexible this cheap split chicken breast recipe is. It can be used in a recipe that calls for cooked chicken or served with twice-baked potatoes and roasted broccoli.
How to Cook Split Chicken Breast on the Stove Top A Step-by-Step Guide
Cooking split chicken breasts on the stovetop is a simple and delicious way to prepare a quick, protein-packed meal With just a few basic ingredients and techniques, you can have juicy, flavorful chicken breast ready in under 30 minutes
Split chicken breasts refer to chicken breast halves that have been cut in half lengthwise, leaving the breast bone in. This results in a thinner cut of chicken that cooks fast while remaining moist and tender. Plus, the bone adds extra flavor.
Here is a step-by-step guide to cooking perfect split chicken breasts on the stove top
Choose Your Chicken
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Opt for fresh, skin-on, bone-in split chicken breasts. The skin helps keep moisture in during cooking.
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Look for breasts that are evenly sized with the skin intact and no tears. Avoid any with discoloration.
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Plan on 6-8 ounces of chicken per person. Larger breasts may need slightly longer cook times.
Prepare the Chicken
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Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Trim off any excess fat or skin.
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Loosen the skin from the meat gently without fully detaching it. This helps the seasoning penetrate.
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Generously season under the skin with salt, pepper, herbs, garlic, etc.
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You can also pound the chicken lightly to evenly flatten for quick cooking.
Heat the Pan
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Use a sauté pan or skillet that is heavy and can handle high heat. Cast iron or stainless steel works best.
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Heat the pan over medium-high heat until very hot. Add just enough oil to lightly coat the bottom.
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Test the pan temperature by adding a drop of water. It should sizzle on contact when hot enough.
Sear the Chicken
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Place the chicken skin-side down once the pan and oil are heated.
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Resist moving the chicken so the skin gets crispy and golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
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Flip and cook the other side for 2 minutes until lightly browned.
Finish Cooking
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Turn heat to medium and cook about 5 more minutes, flipping once halfway through.
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Chicken is done when internal temperature reaches 165°F. Insert a meat thermometer to check.
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The total stovetop cooking time is 10-15 minutes for boneless breasts.
Optional Additions
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For extra flavor, add minced garlic, fresh herbs, sliced lemon, etc. in the last few minutes.
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You can make an easy pan sauce by deglazing with chicken broth or wine after cooking.
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Melt in a tablespoon of butter or olive oil to finish.
Serving Suggestions
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Allow chicken to rest 5 minutes before slicing so juices redistribute evenly.
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Slice thin against the grain of the meat for tenderest bites.
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Pair with roasted veggies, pasta, salads, grains, potatoes – options are endless!
Helpful Tips
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Avoid overcrowding the pan, which steams rather than sears. For more than 3–4 breasts, use two pans or cook them one at a time.
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Let chicken sit at room temperature 20 minutes before cooking for more even results.
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Use a meat thermometer for perfectly cooked chicken every time. Don’t rely on eyeballing it.
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Save time by pounding the chicken to an even 1⁄2 inch thickness so it cooks fast.
With this easy stovetop method, you can transform humble chicken breasts into a quick, flavorful meal. Adjust herbs, spices, pan sauces, and sides to customize the dish. Enjoy juicy, tender split chicken breast straight from your kitchen in under 30 minutes.
Flavor Variations for Roasted Chicken Breast
- Nice Delicious served with barbecue sauce as well.
- Garlic-Mixed: Add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt to the chicken along with the olive oil. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
- Replace the Salt: For a simple but more complex flavor, use Homemade Seasoned Salt or Adobo Seasoning instead of the salt.
- Bird Seasoning: Before baking, add the split chicken breasts to a baking dish along with olive oil and salt. Season with 1 to 2 teaspoons of bird seasoning.
- Lemon Garlic: Mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and 2 minced garlic cloves with the zest of 1 lemon. Use to rub all over the chicken bake as directed.
- Put the chicken in the fridge. Let it cool down, and if you want, take it off the bone and shred or dice it into small pieces. Put the chicken in a container that won’t let air in. You can keep it in the fridge for up to three days.
- Freeze: Put the chicken that has been diced or shredded into freezer-safe bags that won’t let air in. You can keep this in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow frozen cooked chicken to defrost overnight in the fridge. You can also add frozen chicken directly to casseroles before baking or to soups that are simmering.
How to Roast Split Chicken Breast
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Rub the chicken breasts with your hands to mix the oil and spices. For the seasonings to stick to the chicken better, this is what you should do. Now, season the whole chicken breast.
- Bake with an oven-safe thermometer. There is a digital meat thermometer that can go in the oven now. Make use of it. Set the temperature to 165 degrees F, which is the ideal temperature for chicken. Put the probe into the thickest part of one split chicken breast. The chicken will always be perfectly cooked and juicy because the alarm will go off when it’s done.
- Rest before serving. Let the roasted chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This will help the juices spread out and keep the chicken juicy.
PERFECTLY BAKED BONE IN CHICKEN BREAST
FAQ
How long should I cook a split chicken for?
Put the chicken in the oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast and thighs reads 165 degrees F (or May 3, 2023).
What’s the difference between a chicken breast and a split chicken breast?
SPLIT CHICKEN BREASTS — Split chicken breasts are simply chicken breasts left on the bone. They are often available at your grocery store for cheaper than boneless chicken breasts. Because they have bone split chicken breasts will take longer to cook than boneless chicken breasts.
How to cook chicken breast on the stove top without drying it out?
InstructionsFlatten the chicken breasts. Season the chicken breasts. Heat the pan. Cook the chicken breasts over medium heat for 1 minute without moving. Flip the chicken breasts. Turn the heat down to low. Cover the pan and cook on low for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit for an additional 10 minutes.
How do you cook a split chicken breast?
It’s cheap and easy to roast baked split chicken breasts, and they turn out juicy, moist, and just right. Check out these 3 different seasoning blends to flavor this chicken in different ways! Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean up.
Can you cook chicken breast on the stove top?
Cooking chicken breast on the stove top is an efficient way to prepare this lean meat. Unlike baking or grilling, stove-top cooking often results in a quicker meal—perfect for busy weeknights. However, the key to juicy, flavorful chicken lies in mastering cooking times and techniques.
Are baked split chicken breasts good?
Baked split chicken breasts are so affordable and easy to roast and come out so juicy and moist and perfectly cooked. Check out these 3 different seasoning blends to flavor this chicken in different ways! Anyone else feel like they eat chicken ALL. THE. TIME. ? I know we do!.
How to cook chicken breast in a pan?
Pan-searing is one of the most popular methods for cooking chicken breasts. To make the outside crispy, the chicken is cooked in a hot pan with a little oil. Here’s how to do it: Prep the Chicken: Start by patting the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. This step is crucial as removing moisture helps achieve a nice sear.
How do you cook a whole chicken breast?
Split chicken breasts – bone-in, skin-on chicken breast halves. Two halves make a whole chicken breast, or the complete front of a chicken. Olive oil – just a little olive oil to help the skin brown. Lemon juice – used to deglaze the pan after roasting. Unsalted butter – is melted into the lemon juice to create a delicious sauce.
Are split chicken breasts worth it?
Split chicken breasts are super affordable at the store – I load up when they are on sale – and they are easy to prep and roast. They come out so juicy and moist and flavorful and make a great versatile main dish to serve for dinner any night of the week. And because I make them so much, I wanted to share 3 different ways you can season them.