Best way to cook chicken breasts

Citygirl1

Hi all, I live alone and am wondering what the best way is to cook chicken breasts? If I use the oven I will burn them as I have to make sure they are cooked right through, I don't fry anything, I have a slow cooker. I just want to cook one chicken breast per meal, not batches of them to freeze etc.


I am currently having the Birds Eye chicken chargrills which are lovely and can be cooked straight from frozen, but are they classed as ready meals? Are they as healthy as fresh chicken?

HappyMJ

Citygirl1 wrote: »

Hi all, I live alone and am wondering what the best way is to cook chicken breasts? If I use the oven I will burn them as I have to make sure they are cooked right through, I don't fry anything, I have a slow cooker. I just want to cook one chicken breast per meal, not batches of them to freeze etc.


I am currently having the Birds Eye chicken chargrills which are lovely and can be cooked straight from frozen, but are they classed as ready meals? Are they as healthy as fresh chicken?

They are high in salt. As long as you only have the one and do not add any more salt they aren't too bad.

They would be best done in the oven. If you're worried about burning then turn the oven down by another 10 degrees and add a few mins to the cooking time. Maybe 160 deg fan oven and 25 minutes.

krlyr

Chicken isn't hard to cook in the oven, and you can cut to check if cooked through, or invest in a meat thermometer if you're that worried.

I cook chicken breasts for around the 25-30 minute mark, that is well enough to cook them through.

Another option to look at could be a grilling machine like a George Foreman, you'd only need a small one and as (unlike a frying pan) it cooks on both sides of the grill, you're less likely to find it's not cooked through.

Citygirl1

Thanks for your replies. When I've cooked chicken breasts in the oven before they have been dry, that's why I like the chargrills as they come out juicy and can be cooked from frozen.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Chop up an onion.
Bit of garlic.

Heat pan to hot. Brown onions and garlic.

Chop up chicken breast. Add to pan.

Pack of noodles in pan of water, boil, drain.

Add sachet of Chinese sauce to chicken.

Add drained noodles.

Add glass of wine.

Serve.

krlyr

Citygirl1 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. When I've cooked chicken breasts in the oven before they have been dry, that's why I like the chargrills as they come out juicy and can be cooked from frozen.

How long do you cook for? If you're worried about undercooking and you're leaving there there too long, then yes, they will dry out.

Cooking for just the right amount of time to cook through should leave them moist. Other options include wrapping in foil or cooking in roasting bags to retain moisture, or cooking in a sauce to add moisture.

It can sometimes help to butterfly or flatten (with a meat hammer) chicken too, if it is thinner then there is less chance of it being underdone in the middle.

SailorSam

I cook everything i can in the slowcooker. Is it worth heating the whole oven for one chicken breast. I'd wrap it in foil and put whatever you want to give extra flavour .......... garlic ..... honey ....... lemon ...... herbs......whatever you like.

sooty&sweep

Hi

I'd marinade & fry on a griddle pan.

You can check if the chicken is done by cutting so you can see the middle.
Or bash the chicken breast to make it thinner so it cooks faster.

Alternatively buy a George Foreman grill.

Jen

Linda32

From memory I would put two breasts on a baking tray. Probably drizzle some oil over and roll over to coat then cover with foil and pop in the oven. It is along time since I cooked a chicken breast but I would estimate 40 minutes at gas mark 6

I wouldn't expect them to burn so long as you cover them with foil or use a roasting bag.

Carrot007

I always cook chicken breasts like this:

Boil Kettle.

Fill pirex type dish with water. add chicken breast(s) add chopped onion. Optional add some sort or garlic (I either use proper garlic in the good ikea crusher or garlic power (not garlic salt)) or stock stuff.

Cook in oven for 20-30 mins. (with lid on)

Nice.

Citygirl1

SailorSam wrote: »

I cook everything i can in the slowcooker. Is it worth heating the whole oven for one chicken breast. I'd wrap it in foil and put whatever you want to give extra flavour .......... garlic ..... honey ....... lemon ...... herbs......whatever you like.

I now have a mini oven so I don't mind cooking one chicken breast in it. I have tried cooking them in the slow cooker but its a big size just for one breast.