Name: Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 2-3 med chicken breast; 4 Tbsp salted butter; 2 Tbsp minced garlic; 1 tsp garlic salt; 1/2 tso onion powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1/2 cup chicken broth (or enough to cover the bottom of your pan)

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Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast

Making cast iron skillet chicken breast allows you to make fabulous tasting chicken all in one pan. Using cast iron allows you to make delicious and healthy chicken, no matter if you want to use your stovetop or cook it entirely in the oven.

We are so excited to share with you, one of our absolute favorite recipes for cast iron skillet, chicken breast, which uses only one pan.

Can You Cook Chicken in a Cast-Iron Skillet?

Cooking chicken in a cast iron skillet is one of our favorite ways to prepare it. Not only does it make your chicken taste fabulous, but it is also simple to do, and has many health benefits for you as well.

Cast iron works well because you can use it to cook on the stovetop and bake your chicken in the oven as well. For this recipe, we are going to make use of both methods, to help you make amazing chicken.

Perfect Iron Skillet Chicken

Here’s what you’ll need to make this juicy Chicken Breast recipe in cast iron skillet:

Chicken breasts. For this recipe, we recommend using two or three thawed chicken breasts in your cast iron skillet. If desired, you may substitute chicken breasts for another cut of chicken if you prefer.

Butter. We recommend using a little bit of butter to help flavor your chicken breasts as they cook in your cast-iron skillet. We recommend using salted butter. If desired, you may substitute butter for olive oil or avocado oil.

Garlic. We like to season our chicken with a little bit of garlic. We recommend that you use freshly minced garlic for the best overall flavor.

Seasonings. Our favorite seasonings, and the ones we recommend that you use for cooking your chicken breast in a cast iron skillet, are garlic salt, salt, pepper, and a little bit of onion powder.

Chicken Broth. We suggest that you use chicken broth when baking your chicken breast in a cast iron skillet, to help keep your chicken moist. If needed, you may substitute chicken broth for chicken stock, or water, and a chicken bouillon cube.

How to Cook Chicken Breast in a Cast-Iron Skillet

To start off, preheat your oven to 375°F (190.6°C).

Then take your cast iron skillet and place it over medium heat on your stovetop. Add butter and garlic. Allow the butter to melt. As your butter is melting, add your chicken breast into the skillet, and sprinkle with your garlic, salt, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Make sure to season on both sides of your chicken breast.

Increase your burner temperature to medium-high. Sear your chicken breast on each side, then remove it from the heat. Pour the chicken broth into your cast-iron skillet, this will help to keep the chicken moist as it bakes.

Cover your cast iron skillet with an oven safe lid, and place it into the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the internal temperature of your chicken reaches 165°F on an instant read thermometer.

When your chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F, it may be removed from the oven, allow to rest for a few minutes, then serve and enjoy.

When to Flip Chicken on a Cast Iron Skillet

We recommend searing your chicken breast on the stovetop before placing it into the oven. This will allow you to brown the outside of your chicken on both sides. That typically takes between eight and 10 minutes on each side, before you flip it to the other side. After that, there is no need to flip your chicken breast as it bakes in the oven.

Does Chicken Stick to Cast Iron?

As long as your cast iron skillet is seasoned properly, your chicken should not stick to the skillet. However, if your cast iron skillet is not properly seasoned, it will likely stick. But if it is properly seasoned, then your cast iron skillet should work even better than the best nonstick pan.

To avoid having your chicken stick to the cast iron skillet while it is cooking, make sure to heat your skillet with oil so that the oil soaks into the skillet. This creates a nonstick layer and will prevent your chicken from sticking to the cast iron skillet as it cooks.

How to Know When Chicken from a Cast Iron Skillet is Done

The best way to tell when your chicken in a cast-iron skillet is done is to use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken breast.

All chicken must reach an internal temperature of 160°F for it to be safe to eat. Preferably, the internal temperature of your chicken should be between 165°F, and 180°F depending on what cut of chicken you’re cooking.

You can also tell if your chicken is done by cutting the breast open and examining the center. Make sure that there is no more pink or slimy texture in the center of the meat. As long as these are gone, your chicken is most likely done cooking.

How Long to Cook Chicken in a Cast Iron Skillet

How long it takes to cook chicken in a cast iron skillet may vary. On average, it will take between 45 minutes and one hour to fully cook your chicken breasts.

Keep in mind if you are cooking several chicken breasts at one time, you will likely need to add more time for all of them to be done.

Cooking Times for Cast-Iron Chicken

Keep in mind that the cooking times may vary, depending on how large the chicken breasts are, how thawed they are, and how many are cooking at the same time.

Below are some average cooking times.

When cooking at 350°F, your chicken breast will likely take between one hour and one hour and 30 minutes to fully cook. This is in addition to the searing time on your stovetop.

When cooking at 375°F your chicken breasts will likely take between 45 minutes and one hour to fully cook in addition to the searing time on your stovetop.

When cooking at 400°F your chicken breasts will likely take between 30 minutes and 45 minutes to fully cook in addition to the searing time on your stovetop.

How To Serve Skillet Chicken Breasts

Chicken breast that has been cooked in a cast iron skillet can be served fresh from the oven. Although you can serve it in the cast iron skillet, would you recommend that you transfer serving dishes, simply because of the cast iron skillet is so hot and you don’t want anyone to get burnt.

Recipe Serving Suggestions

You can enjoy your cast iron skillet chicken breast, directly from the oven, along with a side dish or two. These chicken breasts can also be made into other dishes, such as chicken salad, or even used as shredded chicken.

Our favorite is to enjoy these chicken breasts made in the cast iron skillet, fresh from the oven and served alongside a few of our favorite side dishes.

Expert Tips & Variations

Cast Iron Chicken Breasts with Garlic Herb Butter

Instead of preparing these chicken breasts with regular salted butter, you can substitute the regular butter for garlic and herb butter for additional flavor.

This is a delicious way to mix up this recipe, so that it is a simple variation, and still tastes fabulous.

Skillet Chicken with Lemon Garlic Sauce

Another way you can mix up this recipe is to prepare a lemon and garlic sauce for your cast iron skillet chicken breasts.

The lemon and garlic sauce is made by simmering together, cornstarch chicken broth, heavy cream, nothing butter, and minced garlic, over medium-low heat until the mixture begins to thicken.

Then add your seared chicken breast, and bake in the oven until the chicken is done.

Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts on the Stove

You can also cook the chicken breasts in your cast iron skillet completely on the stove rather than searing it on the stovetop, and baking it in the oven.

To cook your chicken breast in the cast iron skillet on the stovetop completely, you will want to cook it over medium heat, flipping halfway through.

Make sure that you cook on the stovetop until the internal temperature of your chicken reaches 165°F. Once your chicken is fully cooked, you can remove it and enjoy.

Please note that, although this method can easily be done, it may tend to dry out your chicken more than when it is seared and baked in the oven.

Storage

Room temperature. You are cooked chicken breast should be left at room temperature for no more than two hours before they are stored in the fridge, or must be thrown away.

In the fridge. After your cooked chicken breast has cooled, we recommend that transfer them to an airtight container or seal them in a plastic storage bag. Place in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.

In the freezer. If you wish to keep your leftover chicken breast for a longer amount of time, we recommend that you freeze them.

First, allow the chicken breast to cool, then transfer them to an airtight container or seal them in a plastic freezer bag.

Place it into the freezer for up to three months.

Reheating

There are several different ways you can reheat your leftover chicken breast if desired.

You can reheat them on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat with a little bit of water to help keep them moist, in the oven at 350°F until warmed through, in the microwave for a minute or two on a microwave, safe plate, or bowl, or even in the air fryer at 350°F until the chicken is warmed through.

What to Serve with Roast Chicken!

There are many different things. You can enjoy with your roast chicken breast in a cast iron skillet. Here are a few of our favorite side dishes.

Recipe FAQs

Do you put oil in a cast iron skillet when cooking chicken?

We recommend that you season your cast-iron skillet with oil before adding the chicken to the cast iron pan. However, for this recipe the recommend that you cook the chicken with butter rather than oil.

Should I pan sear chicken before baking?

Although not required, we do you recommend a pan sear the chicken on the stovetop before baking it in the oven.

Is it better to fry or bake chicken breast?

Our preference is to do a mixture of searing the chicken on the stovetop and then finish baking it in the oven.

How do you pan brown chicken breast?

If you want to brown your chicken in a skillet, the best way to do it is on the stovetop. However, when you do that you want to be careful that you do not cook it hot and fast because it may cause the chicken to dry out.

How do you keep chicken from sticking to cast iron?

The best way to keep your chicken from sticking to cast iron is to make sure that your cast iron skillet is well seasoned before using it. This means coating your cast iron skillet with a coating of a high smoke point oil so that it creates a non-stick layer.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs With This Recipe?

Absolutely, if you wish to switch out the chicken breast for chicken thighs, this recipe will make a delicious, tasty chicken thigh and cast iron skillet recipe as well. You don’t need to change anything other than the cut of chicken you are using.

What Cast Iron Size Should I Use?

You can use any size of cast iron skillet to cook your chicken breast. You will want to make sure that you have enough room in the skillet for your chicken breasts as well as your broth to keep the chicken moist. Otherwise, any will work.

Can I Skip The Oven Step?

Yes, if you wish to completely cook your chicken on the stovetop, you may do so. We do recommend if you are going to do this, that you cook your chicken, low and slow on the stovetop in your cast iron skillet.

Why Is Chicken Sticking To My Cast Iron Skillet?

If your chicken is sticking to the cast iron skillet, this is likely because the skillet is not seasoned well enough.

Before you begin, you may want to give your pan a good coating of a high smoke point oil, such as grapeseed oil, canola oil, or avocado oil.

This will help season your pan and make it have a lovely nonstick coating.

BEST EVER Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast

Cooking chicken in a cast iron skillet will help to give it an additional flavor that you do not achieve using any other kind of pan. Cast iron is a durable type of pan that allows you to cook on your stovetop as well as in the oven, all while using the same pan.

If you want to make a delicious tasting chicken breast, then we highly recommend that you use a well seasoned cast iron skillet for an amazing dish.

Cast-Iron Chicken Breast

Making cast iron chicken breast is easy, and it allows you to make the best ever tasting chicken breast all in one pan. No matter if you choose to cook it entirely on your stovetop, or a mixture of your stovetop, and oven, this recipe will walk you through our recommended step-by-step instructions for how you can easily make the best ever cast iron skillet chicken breast.

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The Best Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast