When was the last time you turned on your oven broiler? A little confession here, ever since I started using the air fryer, I could count how many times, on one hand, I’ve used my oven broiler. It’s just so much easier to set the air fryer timer and forget about it until it beeps. But sometimes, you just can’t beat the flavor of chicken that has been cooked under a flame. This easy 30-minute recipe for broiled chicken breast is juicy, and succulent, and ticks all the boxes for a quick chicken breast dinner. This chicken recipe is versatile as you can customize the seasoning to taste. If I don’t marinate my chicken breast using my all-purpose seasoning, I go for my 4 ingredient chicken marinade or a simple blend of lemon pepper seasoning. Use this recipe as a starting point or experiment with your own favorite seasonings. You can never go wrong with it! It is an easy and quick dinner option, serve it with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple salad for a complete meal. Some useful tips before you begin cooking, it is important to cut the chicken breast into cutlets when broiling. Not only will the cutlet cook evenly, but it will also cook faster. You can even butterfly the chicken if you want, but make sure that the thickness of the meat is about the same. Another tip is to use a meat thermometer when cooking chicken breast under the broiler. I highly recommend investing in one as it will help you cook the chicken to perfection without any dryness. Simply insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F/73C Now let’s get to cooking!
Ingredients
Boneless chicken breasts cut into cutlets: substitute with skinless boneless chicken thighs All-purpose seasoning: I used my homemade all-purpose seasoning to flavor the chicken. You can use any other seasoning of choice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice Brown sugar: this is optional but it helps caramelize the outer part of the chicken nicely. Olive oil Salt and pepper to taste
How to cut chicken breast into cutlets
Pat the boneless chicken breast dry and place it on a sturdy chopping board, Place one hand on the chicken breast to secure it. Using a sharp knife cut the chicken breast horizontally through the center in half from the thickest part all the way down to the thinnest part. You should now have two thin chicken cutlets. Place each chicken cutlet between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper and use a meat mallet or a rolling pin to gently flatten the chicken until it’s about ½-inch in thickness. Remove the top plastic or wax paper and season both sides of each chicken cutlet with your favorite seasoning and cook.
How to make broiled chicken breast
Cut each whole chicken breast into cutlets, pat dry with a paper kitchen towel, and transfer to a large Ziploc bag or bowl Add all purpose seasoning, lemon juice, brown sugar, olive oil, salt, and black pepper to the Ziploc bag or bowl. Massage the bag with the chicken so that all of the cutlets are coated in the marinade. You can marinate the chicken for about 30 minutes if time is not of the essence. Otherwise, carry on to the nest stage. Arrange the chicken on a greased foil-lined baking sheet or an oiled griddle pan in a single layer and broil the chicken on high for 6-8 minutes. Flip chicken over and broil on the other side for an additional 8 minutes or until fully cooked and the internal temperature of the chicken breast reaches 165F/73C. Remove the tray from heat and transfer the cooked cutlets to a plate to rest for about 5 minutes for the juice to redistribute back into the chicken. Serve and enjoy!
How to store and reheat
To store: Allow the chicken to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. To reheat: Reheat in preheated oven at 350F/180C oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through. You could also reheat in the microwave on high heat for about 1-2 minutes. PS: you may need to sprinkle some water on the chicken or spray it with oil to aid in reheating so that the chicken doesn’t dry out.
Tips
When using the oven broiler, always keep the oven door open and keep an eye on your food as it can burn quickly.
Place the baking tray about 4-5 inches away from the broiler element/flames to allow for even cooking.
If you find that your chicken is cooking too quickly on the outside but not cooked through, you can lower the broiler setting to ’low’ and cook for a little longer.
When in doubt if the chicken is cooked or not, use a meat thermometer to check. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you don’t have all-purpose seasoning, you can use any of your favorite chicken seasonings. Some popular options are 4 ingredient chicken marinade, Fajita seasoning, or Herbs de Provence, or Peri peri seasoning.
How long do you broil chicken breast
This will depend on the brand of your oven and the thickness of the chicken breast. For chicken breasts cutlets that are about ½-inch in thickness, broil on high for about 6 minutes before flipping over to the other side for another 8 minutes or until fully cooked through.
Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe
If you’re using frozen chicken, be sure to thaw it completely before cooking. You can either thaw it in the fridge overnight or use the microwave.
How can I tell if the chicken is cooked through
The best way to tell if the chicken is cooked is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165F/73C.
Can I marinate the chicken longer than 30 minutes
Yes, you can marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours in the fridge if you wish. However, anything longer than that and the acid in the lemon juice will start to cook the chicken so it’s best to not marinate for too long.
Can I broil the chicken in a cast iron pan
Yes, you can broil the chicken in a cast iron pan. simply swap the baking sheet or griddle pan for a cast iron pan. For a better result, preheat the cast iron in the oven or the stovetop before adding the chicken. Then, cook the chicken according to the recipe instructions.
More chicken recipes you will love
Check out this collection for boneless chicken breast recipes for dinner or these 20+ boneless chicken thighs recipes. BBQ chicken thighs Creamy garlic chicken breast recipe Easy baked chicken drumsticks I hope you enjoy this easy broiled chicken recipe. Please let me know how it turns out for you if you try it! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
