How To Cook Chicken Breasts (So Juicy & Tender!)

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (aka BSCBs) — is there anything more boring? They are all too often overcooked until dry and chewy, and I generally prefer more succulent boneless, skinless thighs.

But for lunch and dinner favorites like chicken Caesar salad and chicken pasta, sliced juicy chicken breasts can’t be beat. They’re a great staple for make-ahead lunches, too.

Fortunately I have one method that makes unfailingly juicy and tender boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Simply heat the chicken breasts quickly on the stovetop then let them poach from the inside out in their juices in a covered pan. Need some chicken for a salad, or to top some pasta? This is the method. It takes some trust, but believe me — it works flawlessly every single time.

• Tried-and-true-method. I learned this cooking method from an old edition of Joy of Cooking, which gives this method its special label: Cockaigne, reserved for only their personal favorite and best recipes.
• Simple and perfect. Simply seasoned with salt and pepper, they’re the perfect blank slate to be used on top of salads, rice dishes, and tacos. But you can season the breasts any way you like; make them spicy, or flavor them with fresh herbs.

This method takes trust; you can’t check the chicken breasts or watch them cooking. It heats the chicken breasts quickly on the stovetop then lets them essentially poach from the inside out in their juices in a covered pan. So you can’t peek, and you have to trust us. But I promise that if you follow this method exactly, you won’t be disappointed.

1. Flatten the chicken breasts. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness with the bottom of a wide jar or glass.
2. Season the chicken breasts. Lightly season the chicken with kosher salt and black pepper.
3. Heat the pan. Heat a frying pan large enough to fit the chicken in a single layer over medium-high heat. When it is quite hot, add the olive oil. Swirl the pan so it is lightly covered with the olive oil.
4. Cook the chicken breasts over medium heat for 1 minute without moving. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chicken breasts. Cook undisturbed for just about 1 minute to help them get a little golden on one side.
5. Flip and reduce the heat. Flip each chicken breast over. Reduce the heat to low.
6. Cover the pan and cook on low. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and walk away. Do not lift the lid; do not peek.
7. Turn off the heat and let sit. After 10 minutes have elapsed, turn off the heat. Reset the timer for 10 minutes and leave the chicken breasts in the pan.
8. Remove lid and take temperature. After the 10 minutes are up, uncover and use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken – it should be at least 165°F.

• Dredge in seasoned flour: You can also dredge the chicken breasts in flour before cooking. Season the flour with spices or fresh herbs and make sure the chicken is golden on one side before you flip it over. This will give your chicken a very subtle crust.
• Quick brine: You can make your boneless skinless chicken breasts even juicier and more flavorful with a super-quick brine. Even just 15 minutes in a simple brine will make them juicier. If you use a brine, make sure to pat the chicken very dry before proceeding with the cooking method below.

• Caesar Butter
• Honey Gold Sauce
• Sunshine Sauce
• French Onion Butter
• Cajun Honey Butter Sauce

Since we originally published this a few years ago, I’ve been surprised at the number of people who have written or commented to say they really love it. It’s truly reliable!

There have been questions about it too — for instance, do you adjust the cooking time if the chicken breasts are extra big?

I don’t; I find that this works across a spectrum of size and weight, provided the breasts are separated into individual halves and they are flattened to even thickness during the prep.

I also originally published this very close to Joy of Cooking‘s method, which calls for you to dredge the breasts in flour. I’ve found this is unnecessary, and also undesirable for those who eat gluten-free. I’ve adjusted the method below to not include flour — just salt and pepper.

But you are free to tweak and adjust; there are some great suggestions in the comments for dredging in alternative flours like chickpea, and seasoning with all kinds of spices or herbs.

This is truly just a blank slate method; it makes nicely cooked and juicy chicken breast for topping salads and other dishes. I usually make about one pound of chicken breasts at a time, which gives me enough chicken for a few days of salads and lunches. But if you want to turn it into a meal on its own, get creative! No matter how you season them, you’ll have juicy, tender chicken breasts. — Faith Durand, September 2025

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• Roasted Broccoli

Updated from post originally published February 2011.