Pan Grilled Chicken

For these pan-grilled chicken breasts you’ll need:

• Seasonings: season the chicken with a mix of garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and salt; use your favorite seasoning mix or my epic Blackened Seasoning.
• Chicken: boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
• Butter or olive oil: for cooking.
• Pan: a cast iron skillet with grill marks or without is the classic method, but a stainless or non-still pan works too!

You’ll find the measurements in the recipe card below.

Here is how step-by-step:

1. Prep the seasoning
   In a small dish, combine the seasoning ingredients or use your favorite one, like my epic blackened seasoning.
2. Season the chicken
   On a flat surface, pat dry the chicken breasts. Distribute the seasoning on both sides of the chicken breasts.
3. Cook the chicken
   Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, melt the butter. Place the chicken breasts on the pan and cook the first side for 7 minutes. Flip the chicken breasts over and cook for another 7 minutes on the other side until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Cooking time on the second side will vary by the thickness of the chicken breasts.
4. Let it cool down
   Remove the chicken breasts from the pan onto a board to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Can You Use this Method for Butterflied Chicken Breasts?

Yes! You can pan-grill butterflied chicken breasts; just don’t forget the cooking time will be shorter! Since they are half the thickness, they will cook much faster, in about 3 to 4 minutes per side. 

How Long Does it Take to Pan Grill Chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts take about 7 minutes per side to be completely cooked and safe to eat. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breast. However, butterflied chicken breasts are half as thick so they cook in about half the time, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

To be sure the chicken is cooked and safe to eat, check the internal temperature in the thickest part with a meat thermometer. When they reach 165F, they are done.

How to Know when the Pan Grilled Chicken Breasts are Done 

The best way to know that chicken is done is by using a meat thermometer. Insert it in the thickest part of the chicken breasts, and you know they are ready to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165F.

Checking doneness with a meat thermometer will also prevent chicken breasts from overcooking, which results in dry chicken breasts.

Is Pan Grilled Chicken Healthy? 

Pan grilled chicken is lean, low-carb, and high-protein meat. Grilling chicken in the pan is one of the healthiest ways to cook it since you are using skinless chicken and adding just 1 tablespoon of butter or oil per pound to cook. 

How to Serve Pan Grilled Chicken Breasts

There are so many delicious ways to enjoy this epic pan grilled chicken that you won’t know where to start! This is the kind of flavorful meat that is good enough to be eaten on its own and also makes any meal better.

Who doesn’t love adding more nutrition, texture, and goodness? These chicken breasts are great to serve over pasta, and a perfect protein to build a drool-worthy salad.

Shred chicken leftovers and you will have a terrific protein ready for filling sandwiches and wraps, add to tacos, stuff baked sweet potatoes, add to soups, over cheese pizza… possibilities are endless (and all of them super tasty)!

What to Serve with Pan Grilled Chicken

When you have such a flavorful pan grilled chicken, how can it get any better? Side dishes! Serve it with these Spicy Green Beans, this low-carb Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice, simple caramelized Sautéed Cabbage, or this Southwest Quinoa Salad for a more satisfying meal.