How To Cook The Perfect Chicken Breast

I’ve had a few people ask me lately when I have mentioned my “House Seasoning” in dishes that I’ve shared (like my perfect chicken breast),”What exactly IS my House Seasoning?” Well, the reason I usually put it in quotation marks is because I’m saying it somewhat “tongue-in-cheek”. I personally think of a “house seasoning” as some exotic blend of complicated-sounding (possibly in a foreign language) spices, herbs and seasonings.

Mine is not really like that. :-)  But, it is the result of lots of years of using basic spices and finally coming up with a combination that we all like. So I’ve kind of stuck with it.

So in all its’ grandeur…I present to you…..

Jillee’s House Seasoning

• Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Dried Parsley Flakes

I don’t premix this. I just add each individually. And I almost always start by rubbing in a small amount of cooking oil or extra virgin olive oil so the mixture will “stick”.

A few tips about cooking chicken breasts in a skillet on the stove:

I have cooked a LOT of chicken over the years. A LOT!!!  So I kind of have it down to a science…at least to have it turn out the way WE like it. We like it nice and browned on the outside and thoroughly cooked but moist on the inside.

This is how I do it.

Oil and season one side of the chicken while on a plate. Put a small amount of oil in a skillet. Place chicken seasoning side down into the pan….season OTHER side….THEN turn on the pan. (I do this because I HATE putting chicken into a HOT pan and having it spit oil all over the place.) Put a lid on but leave about a 1 inch opening. We are trying to prevent the oil splattering everywhere, but we don’t want to STEAM the chicken.

Turn the burner up to HIGH.  As soon as you’ve got a good sizzle going on….turn it back down to medium and cook the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes (depending on size/thickness). DON’T TOUCH IT! Resist the urge to move it around or flip it or keep checking underneath it…you will mess up the browning process. After 4 to 5 minutes check for color, if it’s to your liking, flip it.

Cook another 4 to 5 minutes. Check that side for color and when it’s where you want it, turn the burner off, but keep the lid on the chicken for another 5 to 10 minutes. This allows the chicken to continue to cook a little longer and “rest” at the same time.  That way when you cut into it the juice won’t go running all over your cutting board or plate.

Hopefully this little step-by-step will help someone who likes their chicken like we do. :-)

The perfectly cooked and seasoned chicken breast.

Today’s Lunch.  (I’m kind of on a chicken/lime/cilantro kick lately.I can be a BIT obsessive about food.)

The Perfect Chicken Breast + Jillee’s House Seasoning

Jill Nystul

How do you make a simple boneless, skinless chicken breast into a perfectly seasoned masterpiece? Jillee’s house seasoning! Give this recipe a try and you’l see what I mean.

4.08 from 25 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 158 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Dried Parsley Flakes
• 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1 tbsp Cooking oil

Instructions

 

• Oil and season one side of the chicken (one ingredient at a time) while on a plate.
• Put a small amount of oil in a skillet. Place chicken seasoning side down into the pan….season OTHER side….THEN turn on the pan.
• Put a lid on but leave about a 1 inch opening.
• Turn the burner up to HIGH. As soon as you’ve got a good sizzle going on….turn it back down to medium and cook the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes (depending on size/thickness).
• After 4 to 5 minutes check for color, if it’s to your liking, flip it.
• Cook another 4 to 5 minutes. Check that side for color and when it’s where you want it, turn the burner off, but keep the lid on the chicken for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 158kcalProtein: 24gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 133mgPotassium: 418mgVitamin A: 35IUVitamin C: 1.3mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.4mg

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