What can I make with chicken breast?
Chicken Breast is endlessly flexible - it takes on whatever seasoning you give it, which is exactly why it gets boring when cooked the same way every week. Here are recipes using chicken breast from across our library, plus the handful of habits that keep it juicy.
12 recipes with chicken breast
Kung Pao Chicken
Sichuan stir-fry with peanuts, chiles, and tongue-tingling peppercorns.
Chinese25m4
Cauliflower Rice Bowl
Riced cauliflower topped with protein and roasted veg.
American35m4Traditional Lo Mein
A classic Chinese stir-fry noodle dish made with lo mein noodles, vegetables, and often meat or seafood.
Chinese45m4Chicken Quesadillas
A delicious and easy-to-make Mexican dish filled with chicken, cheese, and vegetables, served with salsa and sour cream.
Mexican45m4Garlic Butter Chicken
Tender and juicy chicken cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce
American60m4Lemon Herb Chicken
A flavorful and aromatic dish featuring chicken breasts infused with the brightness of lemon and the earthiness of herbs.
Mediterranean60m4Chicken Alfredo
A rich and creamy pasta dish made with chicken, fettuccine noodles, and parmesan cheese.
Italian American60m4General Tso's Chicken
A spicy deep-fried chicken dish in a savory sauce
Chinese60m4Buffalo Chicken
A spicy and savory dish made with chicken, buffalo sauce, and blue cheese.
American70m4Chicken Piccata
Tender chicken breasts with a rich, creamy sauce and a burst of citrus flavor, served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.
Italian70m4
Teriyaki Chicken Casserole
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Japanese4
Red curry chicken kebabs
step 1 Fire up the barbecue or heat a griddle pan to high.
Thai4
How to cook chicken breast without drying it out
- 1Bring the chicken breast close to room temperature and season it well; a 20-minute dry brine keeps the inside juicy.
- 2Sear over medium-high heat until deep golden, then lower the heat to finish. High heat the whole way tightens the outside before the middle is done.
- 3Pull it at 165F internal (breast) or 175F (thigh). Thighs forgive an extra few minutes; breast does not.
- 4Rest 5 minutes under foil, then slice against the grain and spoon the pan juices back over the top.
What goes well with chicken breast
Chicken Breast is at its best with lemon, garlic, butter, rice, thyme and yogurt. Any two or three of those, plus chicken breast, is already a dinner rather than an ingredient list.
Storing chicken breast
Keep raw chicken breast on the bottom shelf of the fridge and use it within 1-2 days, or freeze it flat in a bag for up to three months. Cooked leftovers keep 3-4 days and reheat best with a splash of stock in a covered pan rather than in the microwave.
Substituting chicken breast
If you are out of chicken breast, look for something that behaves the same way in the pan rather than something that tastes the same. Match the moisture level, the cooking time, and the richness, and adjust the liquid slightly if your substitute releases more water. When in doubt, describe what you actually have in the chat and Mr. Chef will rewrite the recipe around it.
Chicken Breast recipes: common questions
- What can I make with chicken breast and not much else?
- Plenty. With chicken breast plus an onion, garlic, oil, and salt you already have the base of a skillet dinner, a soup, or a simple sauce. Add a starch - rice, pasta, bread, or potatoes - and it becomes a full meal. The recipes above are ordered so the ones needing the fewest extra items come first.
- What is the quickest chicken breast recipe?
- Look for the entries above marked 20 minutes or less. As a rule, anything cut small and cooked in a hot pan beats anything roasted whole, and one-pan recipes save more time in cleanup than in cooking.
- Can I substitute chicken breast?
- In most recipes yes, as long as the replacement plays a similar role - similar moisture, similar cooking time, similar richness. Swapping across roles (a watery vegetable for a starchy one, for instance) usually needs a change in liquid or cooking time too.
- How do I use up leftover chicken breast?
- Fried rice, a frittata, a grain bowl, a soup, or a quesadilla will absorb almost any leftover chicken breast without a recipe. If you want something specific, tell Mr. Chef exactly what is in the fridge and it will build a recipe around it.
- What temperature should chicken breast be cooked to?
- Use an instant-read thermometer rather than timing: 165F for poultry, 160F for ground meat, 145F for whole cuts and fish, all measured at the thickest point away from bone. Rest larger cuts for five minutes before cutting.