Skillet-Fried Chicken (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to fry chicken in a frying pan? ›

Pan-fried chicken breast recipe

Take off the cling film and season well. 2. Heat the oil in a frying pan then add the chicken breasts (skin-side down, if they have skin) and cook for 2-3 minutes or until browned. Then turn over, cover and cook on the other side for 7-8 minutes or until cooked through.

Can you cook chicken with butter instead of oil? You have to cook chicken at a lower temperature if you bake or pan-fry chicken using butter instead of oil. This is because butter has a lower scorching temperature. Your chicken will cook more slowly, but it's also likely to be juicier and full of more flavor.

Checking temperature is easiest with an instant-read thermometer. For the most flavorful Skillet-Fried Chicken, make sure to completely coat the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour.

How to Cook Chicken Breasts in a Pan. Cook a boneless, skinless chicken breast over medium-high heat in a pan that's wide and deep to accommodate the chicken and keep splatter to a minimum. Flip the chicken after 5 minutes (don't poke, prod, wiggle, or try to flip).

As the chicken cooks, cover the pan with a lid to trap the heat. This helps render the fat and water from the chicken for a crisp crust and evenly cooked meat.

FLOUR + CORNSTARCH + BAKING POWDER

My not-so-secret tip to the best fried chicken is a combination of FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, and BAKING POWDER. When mixed with the flour, the cornstarch makes the flour coating crispier and gives it that golden brown color! (It has to do with prevention of gluten development.)

If your oil temp is too high, your fried chicken will be scorched on the outside with meat that is undercooked. If the oil is too cool, your chicken will be greasy and will lack the golden-brown crispy exterior you want.

Overcooking might play a role in your chicken's tire-like texture. Leaving chicken in a pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

How high should I cook chicken on the stove? ›

Cooking chicken on the stove is the fastest way to get both a perfectly cooked AND seared chicken breast. After testing endless thickness and doneness combinations at countless temperatures, we concluded that the best temperature for pan-seared chicken is 375ºF / 190ºC, or "medium" on your stovetop.

Think vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil. Don't use olive oil or butter—they both have lower smoke points. The ideal temperature for frying chicken is 350˚ to 365˚, and you'll want to make sure that you bring the oil back to temperature between batches.

You should always start with a layer of flour. This helps absorb moisture on the surface of the chicken, which would keep the breading from sticking and make a mess in the hot oil. The flour also gives the egg something to cling to—otherwise it would slide right off the chicken.

Don't just dredge it in the flour and fry away. Let this sit overnight, 8-12 hours preferably, or 4 hours minimum. It allows the flour coating to get hydrated from the chicken and adhere to develop a better outer crust.

This usually equates to around 10 minutes for wings and 12 minutes for breasts, thighs and legs. For the best tasting fried chicken with a beautifully even golden crumb, turn your chicken pieces with tongs (being careful not to splash yourself with hot oil) every 1 – 2 minutes.

Chicken breasts must be at room temperature before going in the pan as cold chicken can cook unevenly and tends to be tough. Allow the chicken breast to sit out for 20 minutes. That should do the trick.

Cooking in a Cold Pan

Instead of searing or sauteing, you're effectively steaming it. Your chicken breast will come out pale, white, and overcooked rather than with a flavorful brown crisp exterior. The easy solution is to let your pan (or grill) get hot before you add the chicken.