Cast-Iron Chicken Breast (Under 20 Minutes)

This Cast-Iron Chicken Breast is an easy, healthy way to cook chicken breast for dinner in less than 20 minutes. Plus, this recipe requires only five ingredients, and it’s easy to make by anyone.

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I am a big fan of cooking food in a cast-iron skillet for so many reasons. I also love chicken, so try my other recipes like Moo Shu Chicken, Blackened Chicken, or Keto Chicken Nuggets. Not only the flavor it adds to meat or vegetables, but also the color and added iron that transfers from the pan is a plus.

The full recipe is just below but don’t miss my ingredient selection tips, storage instructions, and detailed step-by-step tips.

Why Should You Cook Chicken Breast In A Cast Iron Skillet?

This Cast Iron Chicken Breast Recipe is exactly what it says on the label! Chicken breasts cooked in a cast iron skillet. The secret to a perfect chicken breast is in the marinade and the cooking temperature.

This is one of my favorite easy chicken dinner recipes. A cast-iron skillet chicken breast recipe with delicious Mediterranean spices.

Ingredients and Substitutions

It’s very easy to cook chicken in a cast iron skillet as soon as you follow some simple tips. First, let’s see the ingredients you need for this cast iron recipe. Below are the ingredients you need to marinate the chicken. Of course, you can also use different spices or my lemon pepper chicken marinade or Greek Chicken Marinade for a different flavor.

• Chicken Breast – The thicker, the longer it takes to cook through, so make sure both breasts have the same weight and thickness, so they cook evenly. I prefer boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can also make the recipe with skin-on breasts.
• Salt and Pepper
• Dried Paprika
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Italian Seasoning
• Olive Oil
• Fresh Rosemary or other fresh herbs.
• Butter or dairy-free butter or coconut oil for a dairy-free option

How To Make Cast Iron Chicken Breast

The trick to making the best cast-iron meat is to pop the cooked chicken breast in the oven at the end on grill mode.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) on the grill heat mode so the meat will grill but still cook in your oven.
2. Prepare the chicken by placing it on a paper towel and pat drying it to remove excess moisture.
3. The first step to cooking any meat in a cast iron skillet is seasoning.
4. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Rub the chicken breast with the mixture on both sides.
5. Now that the meat is ready to be cooked, pre-warm the skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes with half a tablespoon of olive oil rubbed all around.
6. Next, add the marinated chicken breast to the well-seasoned cast iron skillet and bake it for about 2 minutes before turning the meat. If you have seasoned the cast iron skillet properly, the meat should not stick at all.
7. Repeat this step on the other side, cooking the breast for 2 more minutes.
8. Now that meat is grilled on both sides, reduce to low, medium heat, foil the skillet or add a lid and cook until the meat is no longer pink in the middle.
9. The best way to make the perfect chicken breast in a cast iron skillet is to use a meat thermometer. Insert in the center of one of the breasts, it should be around 165°F (74°C).
10. When it reaches this temperature, stop the heat and remove the pan from the burner.
11. Finally, remove the foil from the skillet and add a teaspoon of butter on top of each chicken breast.
12. Pop the cast-iron pan on the top rack of the in the preheated oven and broil for 6 to 8 minutes.
13. Check often, as you want the breast to be grilled on top but not burn. The butter should melt and help the meat grill.

Tips To Prevent Sticking

Your chicken can sometimes stick to cast-iron pans and leave many strands of meat, breaking the chicken breasts apart. To avoid that, follow my tips:

• Ensure your cast-iron skillet is seasoned to perfection. You know it’s seasoned when it has a dark, almost glossy finish while not being sticky or greasy to the touch. It shouldn’t be rusty or with dry spots as the meat would stick to dry or rusty areas.
• Temperature is essential, and adding oil and the chicken makes it drop. To avoid that, make sure the meat is at room temperature and give oil time to heat up on the pan.
• You can jiggle the chicken regularly to prevent it from sticking.
• If it starts sticking early in the cooking, refrain from lifting or moving the meat, as it would almost certainly tear a large chunk off.

Serving Suggestions

This taste like grilled chicken breast with lovely Italian seasoning, so they marry very well with some vegetable side dish like:

• Cauliflower Rice
• Ratatouille Recipe
• Zucchini Fries
• Squash Casserole
• Smoked Cauliflower
• Cauliflower Casserole
• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Smoked Mac and Cheese
• Baked Potatoes
• Greek Fries
• Oven Roasted Potatoes
• Roasted Zucchini

But also, you can use these chicken breasts in slices and serve them as a filling for sandwiches, my homemade flour tortilla recipe, or tacos.

This chicken breasts recipe is also delicious served with some dipping sauce like:

• 4-Ingredient Guacamole
• Homemade Ketchup
• 3-Ingredient BBQ Sauce
• Keto Mushroom Sauce

Storage Instructions

This chicken breast recipe is perfect for the meal prep of a week of healthy lunch or dinner. In fact, you can store the cooked cast iron chicken breast in a sealed container in the fridge along with your favorite sides for up to 3 days. Or, you can freeze the container and thaw it in the fridge the day before serving.

It makes a convenient on-the-go lunch for work, and you can easily rewarm in a microwave, on a plate, or microwave-safe container.

Allergy Swaps

If you have some allergy to any of these ingredients, you can try some of the alternatives below:

• Olive Oil Swap – Any high smoke point oil works, including avocado oil or grapeseed oil.
• Dairy-Free – You can replace the butter with coconut oil, refined coconut oil won’t add any coconut flavor to the meat. Or, pick your favorite dairy-free butter.
• Spice Swaps – Feel free to swap the Italian seasoning for dried herbs you love, like oregano, thyme, and marjoram. You can also swap the paprika for smoked paprika to add a smoky flavor to your meat or use an Indian curry powder for a curry flavor like turmeric, curry powder, or garam masala.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most common answers about this easy cast iron skillet recipe:

More Chicken Recipes

Below I listed some more chicken recipes for you to try.