Cast-Iron Chicken Breast

I am a big fan of cooking food in a cast-iron skillet for so many reasons.

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.

How To Make Cast Iron Chicken Breast

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.

Ingredients

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

Preheating The Oven

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.

So preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) on the grill heat mode so the meat will grill but still cook in your oven.

Prepare the chicken by placing it on a paper towel and pat drying it to remove excess moisture.

Season Chicken Breasts

The first step to cooking any meat in a cast iron skillet is seasoning.

In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Rub the chicken breast with the mixture on both sides.

Warming The Cast Iron

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.

Cooking Chicken Breast

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.

Repeat this step on the other side, cooking the breast for 2 more minutes.

Reducing The Heat

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.

Testing Temperature

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).

When it reaches this temperature, stop the heat and remove the pan from the burner.

Broiling

Finally, remove the foil from the skillet and add a teaspoon of butter on top of each chicken breast.

Pop the cast iron pan on the top rack of the in the preheated oven and broil for 6 to 8 minutes.

Check often, as you want the breast to be grilled on top but not burn. The butter should melt and help the meat grill.

Serving Chicken Breast Cast Iron Recipe

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.

Best Sauces For Chicken

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

• 4-Ingredient Guacamole
• Homemade Ketchup
• 3-Ingredient BBQ 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Can I Use Chicken Thighs With This Recipe?

Absolutely but use a skinless, boneless chicken thigh and watch the cooking time closely as they cook faster than breasts.

What Cast Iron Size Should I Use?

It really depends on how many chicken breasts you want to cook at once.

Mine is an 8-inch skillet (20cm), and I can fit 2 chicken breasts. You can double or triple this recipe and use a large skillet with the same great results.

Can I Skip The Oven Step?

You don’t have to broil the chicken in the oven, but it’s highly recommended for crispy skin on your chicken breast.

If you don’t have an oven, keep cooking on the stove, but the meat will be softer and won’t be as crispy on the top.

Why Is Chicken Sticking To My Cast Iron Skillet?

This can happen for a few reasons.

It can be that your skillet is not properly seasoned, and you don’t have enough seasoning layers in the pan.

Should I Pan Sear Chicken Before Baking?

No, it’s not necessary. You’ll get all the taste and texture from oven baking as long as the internal temperature reaches 165-180°F (73-82°C).

Is Cast-Iron Chicken Breast Gluten-Free?

Yes, this cast iron chicken breast is made with no gluten-containing ingredients.

What Is The Secret To Juicy Chicken Breast?

There are a few secrets to making perfectly juicy chicken breast.

First, the marinade is essential. It moisturizes the chicken and some of the juices penetrates the meat.

Then, adding butter on the meat before broiling keeps the moisture tucked in.

Is There Iron In Chicken Breast?

One 3.5-ounce serving of chicken breast contains 1mg of iron, or 6% of the recommended daily value.

However, cooking anything in a cast-iron skillet has been found to naturally bring iron and increases blood hemoglobin (source).