I enjoy investigating the range of flavors and cooking methods that can be applied to chicken breast recipes. Here, I’m sharing my all-time favorite recipes that feature my go-to protein.
They are: Lemon Garlic, Honey Mustard, Caprese Stuffed, Creamy Tuscan, Baked Parmesan Crusted, BBQ Grilled, and Teriyaki Chicken. And those are only some of the many tasty turns you can find in the world of chicken breast cookery!
The 11 Best chicken breast recipes
1. Lemon Garlic Chicken Breast
The dish Lemon Garlic Chicken Breast brings together a few simple and healthful ingredients—chicken, for one, and lots of it. Plus, there’s olive oil, which is good for the heart; and lemon, which researchers have found can boost the taste of chicken, thanks to the magic of citric acid.
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
1. Begin by flavoring the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and dried oregano on each side.
2. In a large skillet, set over medium-high heat, warm olive oil. Place chicken breasts in not quite a single layer (you may need to work in batches) and cook until not quite half the chicken is golden brown (about 6-7 minutes). Turn the chicken over and brown the other side until the chicken is cooked through.
3. In the skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté it for about 30 seconds, being careful not to let it burn.
4. Add the lemon juice and then allow it to sizzle before stirring and coating the chicken evenly with the lemon juice. Finish with garnish: Serve the chicken with some lovely slices of lemon.
2. Honey Mustard Chicken Breast
Juicy chicken makes up the core of Honey Mustard Chicken Breast, which features a sauce made from Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, and minced garlic. Perfectly seasoned with salt and pepper, it’s such an easy dish to prepare—and enjoy—that the sauce’s delightful flavor could almost be considered a well-kept secret.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Set your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) and allow to heat.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, and minced garlic to make the honey mustard sauce.
3. Season the breasts of chicken with salt and pepper. Place them in a baking dish.
4. Drizzle the honey mustard sauce over the chicken breasts, making sure they’re good and coated. Bake them for 25–30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink in the center.
3. Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breast
The dish known as Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breast combines juicy chicken with the flavors of the classic Italian Caprese salad: fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. It might seem like something you could only find at a restaurant, but this delightful dish is pretty easy to make at home.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Balsamic glaze (optional for serving)
Instructions
1. Heat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Take a sharp knife and cut a pocket into each chicken breast, being sure not to slice all the way through. Season both sides and the inside of the chicken with salt and pepper.
2. Fill each chicken breast pocket with sliced mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and a few leaves of basil. If it is necessary to keep the filling inside, secure the opening with toothpicks.
3. In a big skillet that can go in the oven, warm up some olive oil over medium heat. Each stuffed chicken breast should be placed in the skillet and seared for around 3 to 4 minutes on either side, until they are a deep gold color.
4. Move the skillet to the oven that has been preheated to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 15-20 minutes, checking that the chicken is cooked through and has no pink left, or until it has reached the FDA-mandated minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Optionally, sprinkle some goat cheese on top and return skillet to the oven for just a few minutes until the cheese melts, then serve.
4. Creamy Tuscan Chicken Breast
Tuscan Chicken Breast is a creamy and delicious dish. It features chicken breasts—boneless and skinless—cooked in olive oil and combined with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a sauce that is rich: heavy cream and Parmesan cheese.
It is easy enough to cook for a weeknight dinner, but it is also fancy and flavorful enough to serve to company.
Ingredients
Chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
Olive oil
Garlic cloves (minced)
Sun-dried tomatoes (julienned)
Heavy cream
Fresh spinach
Parmesan cheese (grated)
Instructions
1. Prepare the chicken breasts by seasoning them with salt and pepper on both sides. In a large skillet, pour in some olive oil and heat it over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts and let them sizzle. Cook the chicken for about 7 minutes on one side and then flip it over. Cook it for an additional 7 minutes and then check to make sure it is done. When the chicken is browned on both sides and fully cooked, remove it from the skillet and set it aside.
2. In the skillet, add the minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
3. Add the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
4. Put the fresh spinach in the skillet and cook until it is reduced to a wilted state. Then return the skillet’s contents to the chicken and let the whole dish simmer underneath the sauce until you’re confident that everything’s not just well-coated but also heated through. Serve hot.
5. Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast
Delicious Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast features boneless, skinless chicken breasts coated in a flavorful mixture of Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, then baked to a golden finish.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
1. Your oven should be at 400°F (200°C) when you want to bake this dish. Use parchment paper to line a sheet that you can then bake on. If you don’t have parchment paper, just grease the baking sheet. That’s it for prep.
2. In a shallow dish, combine the ingredients and the elements that make up this mixture. They are the following: the first ingredient, which is Parmesan cheese; the second ingredient, which is panko breadcrumbs; the third ingredient, which is garlic powder; the fourth ingredient, which is Italian seasoning; the fifth ingredient, which is salt; and the final ingredient, which is pepper. Together, all these elements and ingredients make up a grand total of six ingredients.
3. Coat each chicken breast with olive oil, then press firmly into the Parmesan mixture until well-coated on both sides.
4. Arrange the prepared chicken on the lined baking sheet, being sure to place any quite full pieces flat on the sheet so they cook evenly. Bake in the 375°F (190°C) oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) before serving.
6. BBQ Grilled Chicken Breast
A delightful dish, BBQ Grilled Chicken Breast consists of juicy, grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts. These are not just any old chicken breasts, though; they’re seasoned with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Then, they’re brushed with your choice of BBQ sauce. And here’s the thing: When I say “BBQ sauce,” I’m using that term to refer to a broad category of sauces.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (your choice of flavor)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
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Instructions
1. Prepare your medium-high heat grill, which should be in the range of 375-400°F (190-200°C).
2. Using a brush, apply olive oil to both surfaces of the chicken breast. Next, use the following spices to season: garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Put the chicken breasts on the grill and cook for 6-7 minutes on one side. Turn the chicken and baste with the BBQ sauce. Cook for another 6-7 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165°F (75°C).
4. Take the food off the grill and let it sit for a few minutes. Brush the meat with a bit more BBQ sauce before serving.
7. Teriyaki Chicken Breast
A savory dish features boneless, skinless chicken breasts marinated in a delightful mixture of soy sauce, mirin, honey, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, then grilled to perfection. These great ingredients come together to form a unique marinade that cannot be replicated.
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 1/4 cup honey or brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
Instructions
1. Combine in a bowl the soy sauce, mirin, honey (or brown sugar), minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil to create the teriyaki marinade.
2. Put the chicken breasts in a shallow dish or a sealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over them. Place in the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, but preferably 1 hour.
3. Prepare the medium heat grill or stovetop grill pan. Take the chicken out of the marinade, letting the excess drip off, and place it on the grill for 6-7 minutes on each side. You want it to achieve a nice grill mark and a fully cooked internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
4. Alternatively, while the chicken is cooking, you can transfer the leftover marinade into a saucepan, bring it to a boil, and then let it simmer for about 5-7 minutes until it’s slightly thickened. This makes a great glaze for the chicken right before serving.
8. Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast
Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach is a delicious dish that features boneless chicken birthed by a creamy mixture of fresh spinach, cream cheese, and garlic powder and then seared in olive oil and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
1. Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to warm up. In a bowl, blend together the spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan, garlic powder, and a dash each of salt and pepper until you’ve got a nice mix. These are the filling ingredients.
2. Make a pocket in each chicken breast by slicing through the thickest part without cutting all the way through. Stuff each pocket with the spinach mixture and secure with toothpicks if necessary.
3. Olive oil needs to be heated in a pan that can go in the oven over medium-high heat. Each chicken breast should be seared for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. The pan should then be transferred to the oven where it should stay for 20-25 minutes. This cooking method will yield perfectly done chicken with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Toothpicks should be removed before serving.
9. Pesto Chicken Breast
Baked Pesto Chicken is a savory dish where chicken breasts are coated in pesto sauce mixed with olive oil and seasonings of salt and pepper. It is baked alongside cherry tomatoes and grated Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup pesto sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
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Instructions
1. Set the oven to 400°F (200°C) to warm it up.
2. Coat the chicken without skin, boneless breast, with extra virgin olive oil. Then, add some salt and freshly ground pepper. This is your rub.
3. Cover the chicken breasts with pesto sauce, and arrange them in a baking dish.
4. Put the cherry tomatoes, cut in half, around the chicken, and sprinkle the Parmesan over the top. Bake it for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and the cheese is melted and super bubbly.
10. Sriracha Lime Chicken Breast
Sriracha Lime Chicken Breast takes the fiery Sriracha sauce and pairs it with zesty lime juice, honey, and olive oil, to create a tenderizing, flavor-infused marinade for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. And just plain marinating chicken in this stuff isn’t enough; the chicken has to be cooked under the broiler so it gets charred and bubbly.
Ingredients
Sriracha sauce
Lime juice
Olive oil
Honey
Garlic, minced
Salt
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Instructions
1. Create the marinade by whisking together Sriracha sauce, lime juice, olive oil, honey, minced garlic, and salt in a bowl.
2. Put the chicken breasts in a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade on top. Make sure the chicken is covered well with the marinade and then refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours. You can even marinate the chicken overnight. It will be nice and juicy! 30 minutes is going to give you FLAVOR; 4 hours is really ideal!
3. Get your grill or skillet ready at medium-high heat. Take the chicken out of the marinade and place it on the grill or skillet. Cook for around 6-7 minutes on each side, or until it is no longer pink inside and the internal temperature hits 165 degrees F (too low and it’s unsafe; too high and it’s dry).
4. Let the chicken rest for a couple of minutes before you serve it. Enjoy!
11. Coconut Curry Chicken Breast
Coconut Curry Chicken Breast is a delicious dish featuring boneless chicken cooked with curry powder and coconut milk. A meal that is both simple and fragrant is perfect served with either steamed rice or naan.
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 can coconut milk (about 14 ounces)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, chopped, and garlic, minced, and sauté until the onion is translucent.
2. Add the curry powder to the skillet, stirring well to coat the onions and garlic. Cook for about 1 minute until the spices are very fragrant.
3. In the skillet, arrange the chicken breasts, and pour the coconut milk over them. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to a low simmer; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
4. Take the chicken breasts out of the skillet; cut them into pieces, and serve them with the coconut curry sauce. Your Coconut Curry Chicken Breasts are great served with steamed rice or naan.
