Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast

Juicy Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast is so simple to make with a classic blend of herbs and a delicious coating of parmesan cheese. A perfect chicken recipe to make on a weeknight or for your weekly meal prep!

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

• 4 medium chicken breasts
• 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp of oregano
• 1/2 tsp of paprika
• 1/4 tsp of salt
• 1/4 tsp of fresh ground pepper

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

Yes, especially for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Because the chicken breasts have such a small amount of fat, they need some oil in the pan to prevent sticking in the cast iron skillet. It’s important to use an oil with a higher smoke point, like a vegetable oil. Best choices are canola oil, sunflower or safflower oil. Some vegetable oils are a blend of these too. I recommend staying away from olive oil as it has such a low smoke point, it can’t take the higher temperatures.

Should I pan sear chicken before baking?

Yes! This is where you seal in the juices, preventing the chicken breast from drying out and you create a lot of flavour with the initial browning of the chicken that happens. It also, of course, partially cooks the chicken breast, which reduces the amount of time needed in the oven.

Is it better to fry or bake chicken breast?

If you’re looking to get a flavourful chicken breast, without the extra grease that comes from frying, this cast iron skillet chicken breast will give you the best of both worlds! It’s got sealed in juices and flavour from getting seared first and it’s not dried out, which can easily happen with chicken breasts because they’re so naturally lean.

How do you pan brown chicken breast?

To pan brown chicken breast, heat an oven safe skillet (either non-stick or cast iron) over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp of oil (canola or vegetable oil.) Season chicken breasts as desired. Once the oil becomes shiny in the pan, add the chicken breasts and cook undisturbed for 3 minutes per side. Then, place the whole pan into the pre-heated oven to finish cooking them for about 13 minutes in a 350 degrees F oven.

How do you keep chicken from sticking to cast iron?

If your chicken breasts stick in your cast iron pan, you probably don’t have enough oil or the pan hasn’t had a chance to heat up enough, or both! To make sure your chicken breasts don’t stick in the cast iron skillet, add an oil with a high smoke point, like canola or a vegetable oil. Make sure to allow the cast iron skillet to heat up. The pan is ready when the oil becomes shiny. When you place the chicken breast into the cast iron skillet, don’t touch them for about 3 minutes! This lets the chicken cook on the outside, creates a lot of flavour and prevents the chicken breast from sticking.

Hope you love this recipe for Cast Iron Skill Chicken Breast!

~April

More gluten-free and healthy recipes here:

• Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Pomegranate Seeds
• Sheet Pan Maple Dijon Chicken and Broccoli Bake
• Ground Beef with Beans and Quinoa Meal Prep
• Spinach and Citrus Salad with Sweet and Spicy Almonds
• Easy Weeknight Hamburger Soup with Sweet Potatoes

Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast

April

Juicy Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast is so simple to make with a classic blend of herbs and a delicious coating of parmesan cheese. A perfect chicken recipe to make on a weeknight or for your weekly meal prep!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Equipment

• Large cast iron skillet

Ingredients

  

• 4 medium chicken breasts, skinless, boneless
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 2 Tbsp fresh grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

 

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat 1 Tbsp of canola oil in a cast iron skillet over medium.
• Mix all the spices and parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
• Coat each chicken breast in the spice mixture. Simply sprinkle the mixture over each side of the chicken breasts and press the mixture in, coating each side.
• Once the cast iron pan is hot, place the chicken breasts into the pan and cook for 3 minutes on each side. Do NOT turn the chicken breasts during this time, let it cook.
• Flip them over and cook on the other side for another 3 minutes.
• Then, place the whole pan into the oven, cook for 13 minutes until an inserted meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F.

Notes

Leftover chicken will be good for up to 3 days in the fridge.

If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can also use any oven-safe skillet. Just be sure to check the directions for the pan that it says "oven safe". 

And don't forget to keep that oven mitt standing by to get it out of the oven safely!

Keyword baked chicken, chicken breast