How To Cook Chicken Pieces in a Pan

Have you ever cooked chicken pieces for a casserole or other dish only to have some of the pieces turn out dry, chewy and barely edible while others seemed hardly cooked at all? That’s why my friend asked me about this main dish and today I’m sharing with you how to cook chicken pieces in a pan.

How To Cook Chicken Pieces in a Pan for PERFECT Chicken Every Time!

Everyone wants tender, soft, juicy chicken pieces for their recipes and there is no one in the world who enjoys dry, chewy and nearly undigestible chicken!

Today we will review how to cook chicken pieces to the point of perfection so that you’ll be commanding your kitchen like a rockstar in no time at all!

When You Cook Diced Chicken In A Pan…

Color – You’ll have some slight color to your chicken.

Seasoning – There will be layers of seasoning to make it taste perfectly.

Juicy – The chicken will be done and juicy!

Here’s What You’ll Need

• Boneless Chicken – for beginner cooks, I recommend starting with boneless skinless chicken thighs. They are much more forgiving than the white meat cuts, but you’ll need to choose what is right for your recipe.
• Non Stick Skillet – Personally, I like to use cast iron, but you may have a favorite non-stick skillet.
• Spatula – I usually prefer a wooden spoon or a thin metal spatula.
• Stovetop – A heating eye that you have control over the heat.
• Oil – Vegetable oil is preferred for the beginner (forgiving with temperature control), but any cooking oil will work as will butter or bacon grease.
• Salt and Pepper or Other Seasonings

Here’s A Step By Step Guide for Perfect Pan Cooked Chicken Every Time

Key Steps

1. Cut the Chicken into Similar Sizes First.
2. Preheat the Skillet
3. Add the Chicken Pieces so That They Have Space Between Them.
4. Allow to Brown on One Side Then Flip.
5. Remove when Cooked Through and Add Remainder of The Chicken.

Insert Slick Stories and change this heading

Tips and Tricks For Perfect Chicken

• Always cut all of the chicken up first before adding any to the pan. It’s easy to think, “I’ll just throw it in the pan as I cut so that I avoid any extra mess”, but the truth is that this will cause some chicken to be overcooked while some will barely get done at all.
• Preheat your pan before starting. It’s a common myth that you can just put your food into a cold pan and allow it to heat with the food. This will cause uneven cooking of the meat and a poor result with no browning.
• Use the smallest amount of oil necessary. If you are using a non stick pan, you will need very little oil, if any at all. Don’t use more than 1 tbs on your non stick surface.
• This recipe is best done with a non stick skillet. I prefer to use cast iron which is non stick if seasoned correctly. You’ll find that as a beginner cook, stainless will want to stick until you are really practiced with using it.
• Season the meat by sprinkling with your fingers from up fairly high. You do this so that the seasoning spreads out well and has an even coating.
• Allow the meat to cook for a bit on one side before stirring. This allows the browning to develop (which adds flavor!).

PRO TIP: If you want to make sure that your chicken is perfect every single time, you’ll want to invest in a quick read thermometer. I use and recommend the Thermoworks series. The chicken is done at 165 degrees! Perfect every single time!

If You Enjoyed This Chicken Dish, You Might Also Enjoy….

• Easy Cheesy White Chicken Enchiladas
• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Granny’s Poppy Seed Chicken

Watch Me Make This Dish

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A Verse To Share

I’ve been studying on something for a few weeks and I wanted to share. I’m wondering about this passage.

I’ve got more studying to do.

Since childhood I have phrased this as “He died for my sins”, meaning that there was a debt to be paid, i.e. my own death for my own sins and that Jesus himself took that away by dying on the cross.

But here in 1 Peter 2, we find that “He bore our sins in his body” so that we might die to sin (turn away from it) and live righteously. That’s kind of a different concept. I’m going to think on it some more, but here is a verse on that topic. I recommend reading the entire passage.

1 Peter 2:24

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”