Chicken breast is a great ingredient to use any night of the week for an instant crowd pleaser. But depending on the cut of your chicken, because both the chicken bone and skin has already been removed, it can often lack flavour when it’s cooked. So we’ve put together a list of quick and easy recipe ideas to turn a simple chicken breast into a delicious, mouth-watering meal!
1. Marinate your chicken breast
Marinating is good for flavouring and tenderising your chicken at the same time. It’s best to marinate your chicken overnight to give the flavours plenty of time to infuse. A faster way to add flavour is to simply brine your chicken in salty water prior to cooking. This will help tenderise the meat and add extra flavour.
Greek marinade:
For a classic Greek flavour combination, simply mix lemon juice, garlic, parsley, oregano with some olive oil then place your chicken breast in the marinade to infuse. It’s that easy! This marinade is perfect if you want to grill or pan-fry your chicken.
Moroccan spices:
Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure. This Middle Eastern spice rub is delicious when charred on the grill. If you want try these flavours out, then take a look at our spicy harissa chicken.
Maple glaze:
If you have a sweet tooth, then this is the marinade for you! Mix maple syrup, garlic, soy sauce and lime juice with chicken stock then cook it on a low heat and let it thicken until it becomes a beautiful, glossy glaze. Once reduced, rub the glaze over your chicken breast and let it infuse. Don’t forget to put some aside to pour over your chicken when cooking for even more flavour!
2. Bread or crumb your chicken breast
Breading or crumbing generally involves dipping your chicken breast in flour, followed by an egg wash before coating it with crumbs. This coating helps protect the chicken from drying out during the cooking process so that you have a succulent, perfectly cooked breast every time.
Chicken Schnitzel:
The dish that we all know and love when we think of crumbed chicken has got to be the classic Chicken Schnitzel. Pounded with a meat tenderiser to ensure that it’s an even thickness all over for a constant cook and fried in oil, Schnitzels have stood the test of time as a classic whether at home or the local pub!
Panko:
Panko breadcrumbs are used in many fried Asian dishes and are made exclusively from white bread without the crusts. The bread is flaked before drying to increase aeration and ultimately crunchiness when used in cooking. Your chicken breasts will have a crispier shell with a lot more crunch while the meat inside is still perfectly tender.
Coconut flakes:
This technique is the same as other crumbing methods but uses shredded coconut with the flour and bread. First, coat the chicken breast in coconut flour, then dip it into a mixture of coconut milk & eggs before finally rolling it in shredded coconut. Fry these off in coconut oil and you’ll be whisked away to a tropical paradise, even if it’s only while you’re eating dinner. Want to blend sweet at savory for your next dinner? Then try our coconut and sesame chicken – using the Added Steam function on your NEFF oven ensures that your chicken stays succulent on the inside and crispy on the outside.
3. Stuff your chicken breast
Stuffed chicken breasts adds flavour to the meat while it cooks and can be a wonderful surprise when served at dinner. Simply slice the thickest part of the chicken breast to ensure you have enough room for your stuffing, then use kitchen twine to secure it all in place while roasting in the oven.
Medjool dates and fresh herbs:
The sweetness and fragrance of the dates and herbs are what makes this stuffing so delectable that, your guests will be asking for seconds. First, cook a diced onion and set aside. Then roughly chop a handful of pitted Medjool dates, pistachio nuts, and fresh herbs such as parsley and sage. Mix together with breadcrumbs and the cooked onion and stuff into your chicken breast before baking. You can also swap the dates for a different dried fruit, like cranberries.
Brie and prosciutto with fresh tarragon:
This stuffing is so simple it’s perfect for any occasion, and it only takes a few minutes to prepare. Simply wrap a small slice of prosciutto around a piece of brie then tuck inside the chicken breast along with some fresh tarragon. The prosciutto will helps keep contain the brie as it melts so that it oozes out once your chicken breast is fully baked. Check out our prosciutto wrapped chicken recipe if you want to give this recipe a try at your next dinner party.
Ready to cook your chicken to perfection?
Our NEFF oven range has a number of functions to help you cook your chicken to absolute perfection. The best part is that you can book in a free demonstration. Our NEFF cooking experts can show you how to use a NEFF oven effectively to take your chicken to the next level.
About NEFF
NEFF is a German-engineered kitchen appliance brand, with a product range that includes ovens, cooktops, rangehoods, coffee machines and dishwashersdesigned to make life in the kitchen a daily pleasure.For people who love to cook, NEFF gives you the tools tocreative meaningful connections, express your creativity and make memories. Because real life happens in the kitchen.
Learn more about NEFFhere.
FAQs
Marinating is good for flavouring and tenderising your chicken at the same time. It's best to marinate your chicken overnight to give the flavours plenty of time to infuse. A faster way to add flavour is to simply brine your chicken in salty water prior to cooking.
How can I add more flavor to my cooked chicken? ›
Make a Rub
Just because the chicken is already cooked doesn't mean it can't benefit from a rub. Before reheating, make a custom blend of your favorite spices like paprika, cayenne, onion or garlic powder. Mix in dried herbs or a bit of sugar for beautiful caramelization, then sprinkle it evenly over the skin.
How to infuse flavor in chicken? ›
Marinating or brining chicken is a great way to infuse more flavor. You can use a variety of ingredients such as citrus juices, soy sauce, yogurt, buttermilk, herbs, spices, and even beer or wine to create a flavorful marinade or brine for your chicken.
How to spice up cooked chicken breast? ›
A simple yet flavorful way to season oven-baked chicken breasts is to rub them with a mixture of olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and your choice of herbs like thyme, rosemary, or parsley. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice for extra brightness.
How do you get seasoning to stick to chicken breast? ›
Lightly drizzle olive oil over the chicken to act as a binder, sprinkle your seasoning on top, then gently press it in and let your chicken dry-marinate for about 45 minutes.
How to add flavor to bland chicken? ›
Marinating not only adds flavor, but the combination of healthy fat and acid in most recipes also helps tenderize the meat. A good marinade is roughly three parts oil to one part acid, plus salt and other seasonings like spices, crushed garlic, or a little natural sugar.
What enhances chicken flavor? ›
Brining your chicken is a foolproof way to not only add flavour to your roast but also to ensure you don't overcook the meat. Essentially a mix of salt, sugar and water, we love adding herbs, garlic or whole spices such as fennel and cumin to flavour the brine.
How do you season chicken like a pro? ›
If you are seasoning it with more than salt and pepper, combine your spice mixture (I love the simplicity of freshly minced garlic and a mix of herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme) in a bowl, then rub all over. Again, don't forget about the inside of the bird! Feel free to season in advance to boost flavor.
How do chefs get chicken so tender? ›
Low and slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or smoking are most effective when trying to create tender, succulent chicken.
How to make your chicken more flavorful? ›
Just sprinkling a little salt on top of your chicken right before cooking it will only season the surface. But seasoning the chicken with salt well ahead of time or brining it in a salt-water solution will draw salt deep into the meat, resulting in a very tasty piece of chicken.
Chicken extracts are commonly used in soups, sauces, and various culinary applications to enhance the overall flavor of dishes. Chicken extracts are rich in umami, enhancing the dishes' overall flavor.
What makes chicken breast taste better? ›
We love a base of olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and fresh herbs. You can place the chicken breasts in a freezer bag with the marinade and allow to sit (refrigerated of course) for at least 30 minutes (or even overnight) prior to cooking.
What is the secret to cooking chicken breast? ›
Chicken breasts must be at room temperature before going in the pan as cold chicken can cook unevenly and tends to be tough. Allow the chicken breast to sit out for 20 minutes. That should do the trick.
How to fix bland chicken? ›
Spoon a thick layer of pesto onto chicken breasts, nestle cherry tomatoes around them, then roast everything for 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the tomatoes caramelize and burst.
Should you season chicken breast? ›
Yes, you should always season your chicken before cooking when it's raw. You can even do this up to 24 hours before if you have the time. Why? Because leaving the seasoning on your chicken overnight in the fridge will help it start to trap moisture in the chicken, which will make it nice and juicy once cooked.
Do you put olive oil on chicken breast before seasoning? ›
Start with a light coat of olive oil (adding too much will allow the seasonings to drip off on the grill) and then graciously season both sides with your selected spice blend. Then, rub those spices in with your hands, ensuring they are well-attached to the exterior of the chicken.
How to season bland cooked chicken? ›
You can enhance the flavor of already cooked chicken by adding fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or basil, a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. These additions can elevate the taste of the chicken and make it more flavorful.
How to bind spices to chicken? ›
Dried herbs work perfectly for seasoning chicken, especially if you want something that highlights the flavor of the meat. Combine equal parts brown sugar, salt, oregano, dried basil, and dried parsley in a mixing bowl and whisk them together to form your rub.
How do you add flavor to dry chicken? ›
some moisture and my go tos are always lemon juice. and good olive oil, i then add flavor with grated garlic, some seasoning, salt and pepper and I like a little. Dijon or coarse mustard because it kind of helps hold.
How to make chicken breast more juicy? ›
With that extra moisture, you lose less when you cook. The simplest way to do this is with a dry brine — unwrap the chicken breasts, salt them on both sides and let them sit in the fridge for at least an hour. However, I find that a wet brine makes for a much moister cut of meat.
"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.
