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Grilled, seasoned chicken breasts on a white plate garnished with fresh basil, next to a gold fork and knife, set on a white cloth background.
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4.83 from 17 votes

Juicy Chicken Breast

There are three key tricks for Juicy Chicken Breast: tenderizing, marinating, and controlling cooking time. When you use all three of these methods, you will have succulent, moist chicken every time.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time13 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken breast, chicken recipe, easy chicken
Servings: 3 breasts
Author: The Modern Nonna

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
  • 1 teaspoon salt to taste
  • lemon pepper seasoning to taste
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil

Instructions

  • If using refrigerated chicken, let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes.
    A white plate with two raw chicken breasts is placed on a marble surface. Nearby are small bowls containing olive oil, black pepper, salt, and a yellow seasoning blend.
  • Place the chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Using a meat mallet (aka tenderizer), gently pound the meat, making sure you flatten it to an even thickness throughout.
    A raw chicken breast seasoned with black pepper and spices sits on a white plate against a light marble background.
  • Remove the wrap or paper and season the chicken on both sides with salt and seasoning of choice. Add a bit of oil and massage it really well into the chicken.
    A raw, seasoned chicken breast sits on a white plate. The chicken is sprinkled with black pepper and other spices, and the plate rests on a light-colored marble surface.
  • Heat up a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat and add a touch of oil. Place the seasoned chicken in the pan and make sure it sizzles. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F (74C).
    A raw, seasoned chicken breast is cooking in oil in a black skillet with a white handle, set on a light marble surface.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest, loosely covered with foil, for at least 5 minutes. Enjoy.
    A seasoned, cooked chicken breast sits in a black skillet with oil, viewed from above on a light marble surface.

Video

Notes

  • Seasonings: You can use any seasonings you like, so feel free to experiment. I also like to use an Italian seasoning blend sometimes instead of the lemon pepper. You could also add a bit of lemon zest to this recipe to really add some bright fresh flavors. 
  • Cooking tip: Do not place your chicken directly from the packaging into the hot pan without letting it come to room temperature. Cold chicken can result in uneven cooking, with the outside done while the inside remains undercooked.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 breast | Calories: 340kcal | Protein: 48g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1037mg | Potassium: 836mg | Vitamin A: 68IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
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