Cast Iron Chicken Breast

This Cast Iron Chicken Breast recipe is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal, or serve it as a special main course for guests. Chicken breast cooked in cast iron is seasoned with simple spices and cooked until it is tender and juicy.

I love cooking chicken breasts in cast iron pans, it makes a flavorful outside crust on the chicken and cast iron keeps an even temperature to help with even cooking. It is so easy to make perfectly juicy chicken every time when using a cast iron pan.

You are going to love this recipe for chicken breasts because it is easy to learn how to make, takes just a few ingredients and you will come back to it every time you want to make chicken breasts. Your friends and family will love it because it is not dried-out, leathery chicken, but tender and juicy.

What You Will Need:

Here is what you will need to pick up from the grocery store to make chicken breasts in a cast iron skillet:

• Chicken Breasts– pick up some boneless skinless chicken breasts. Try to find some that are equal in thickness so they will cook in the same amount of time.
• Sea Salt– this is a bigger grain of salt than regular table salt, but table salt will work as well, you will just need to use a bit more.
• Black Pepper– a little bit goes a long way with this common spice
• Garlic Powder– finely ground garlic that really adds great flavor
• Onion Powder– also used to add a ton of flavor to this chicken recipe
• Cooking Oil– use a good cooking oil like avocado oil, vegetable oil, or extra virgin olive oil.

⭐️ Full ingredient measurements and recipe instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Level Up This Recipe

This recipe is absolutely delicious if prepared as written, but if you want to switch things up a bit here are a few ideas for you to try:

• Add in some additional spices: try adding in 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, red pepper flakes, cayenne powder (just a little bit of this), or even some Italian seasonings.

Recommended Equipment For This Recipe:

• 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
• Spatula
• Kitchen Tongs
• Instant Read Thermometer

How to Cook Chicken Breast in a Cast Iron Skillet

This is such a simple chicken dinner recipe for any day of the week, you can even cook up a few extra to eat throughout the week in other meals like this Chicken Pot Pie. This recipe comes together quickly and easily with just a few simple steps. Let’s walk through how to make cast iron chicken with a few tips and tricks:

1. Prepare the Chicken– combine the spices in a small bowl and season the chicken breasts on both sides with the spice mixture. You do not need to rinse your chicken before cooking, in fact, I never recommend washing chicken. If the chicken is wet when you get it out of the package, pat it dry with a paper towel before seasoning.
2. Heat the Cast Iron Pan– Place the cast iron skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Allow to heat for a little before pouring in the oil.
3. Cook Chicken Breasts– place the seasoned chicken breasts into the cast iron pan and cook for 4-5 minutes on one side, flip over and cook an additional 4-5 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165º F. Checking the temperature is the best way to ensure that your chicken is cooked through and not overcooked and dry.
4. Rest Chicken Breasts– don’t skip this step! Place the cooked chicken breasts on a clean plate or cutting board and cover with a piece of foil for 5-10 minutes. This will allow the juices to settle in the chicken so they won’t all flow right out when you slice it keeping the chicken juicy.

Skip to the bottom of this post for the full recipe instructions and the printable recipe card.

Storage and Leftovers

To store any leftovers of chicken breasts, place them into an airtight container or zip top bag and refrigerate for up to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months, according to the USDA.

Leftover chicken breast is great for use in other recipes. We like to make extra to use in chicken soup, topping salads, or even pasta dishes.

What to Serve with Cast Iron Chicken Breasts

We like to have this simple skillet chicken recipe with easy sides like garlic butter asparagus, spinach apple salad, or even a crusty Dutch oven bread.

More Cast Iron Recipes to Try:

• Cast Iron Flank Steak
• Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
• Chicken Salad Recipe
• Cast Iron Pizza