Basic Broiled Chicken Breasts Recipe

Name: Basic Broiled Chicken Breasts
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 4 bone-in chicken breast halves with skin; 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Broiled Chicken Breasts

Servings: 4

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 bone-in chicken breast halves with skin
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the broiler to high.
Rub olive oil evenly over each chicken breast, ensuring both sides are coated.
Season both sides of the chicken breasts with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Place the chicken breasts skin-side down on a broiling pan.
Broil in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, flip the chicken breasts so the skin-side is facing up.
Continue broiling for another 10 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink at the bone, and the juices run clear. The internal temperature should reach 165F (74C) when measured with an instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone.
Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe Tip

If desired, you can add 1/4 cup of water to the bottom of the broiling pan. Stir to dissolve any browned bits from the chicken juices and use this mixture as a light sauce to drizzle over the chicken.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories	389
Total Fat	22g
Saturated Fat	5g
Cholesterol	127mg
Sodium	1067mg
Total Carbohydrate	0g
Dietary Fiber	0g
Protein	45g
Calcium	23mg
Iron	2mg
Potassium	376mg

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Recipe by: Always Cooking Up Something

Origin of Broiled Chicken

Broiled chicken has long been a popular dish across various cultures. The concept of broiling, which involves cooking food directly under high heat, can be traced back to the early days of the human kitchen, with influences from ancient civilizations such as the Romans and Greeks who would cook meat over open flames. The simplicity of broiling chicken makes it a timeless recipe, favored by home cooks for its ease and ability to retain the natural flavor of the meat. Today, broiled chicken is found in a variety of culinary traditions, from the Mediterranean to the American South.

Regional Variations

While the basic technique of broiling chicken remains consistent, the seasonings and accompaniments can vary widely depending on the region. In Mediterranean countries, broiled chicken might be marinated with olive oil, lemon, and herbs like oregano and thyme. In the American South, its not uncommon to season the chicken with a robust blend of spices, such as paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper, before broiling. Some regions even serve broiled chicken with rich sauces like BBQ or creamy dressings, adding their own flair to the dish.

What Sets It Apart

Broiled chicken differs from other grilled or roasted chicken recipes primarily due to the cooking method. Unlike grilling, where the meat is cooked over an open flame, broiling uses radiant heat from above, typically in an oven or broiler pan. This results in a crispy exterior while maintaining a juicy interior. Compared to roasted chicken, broiling cooks the meat faster, making it a more convenient option for those with limited time. Additionally, broiling requires minimal ingredients, which lets the natural flavors of the chicken shine without the need for heavy sauces or seasoning.

Where It's Commonly Served

Broiled chicken is often served in casual dining settings, from family dinners to backyard barbecues. It's a popular choice in restaurants that focus on comfort food or healthy eating, especially in places where quick, nutritious meals are in demand. In American households, its commonly featured as a weeknight dinner, paired with sides like vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a crisp salad. Broiled chicken also makes a great addition to sandwiches, wraps, or salads, providing versatility to suit different tastes and occasions.

Interesting Facts

The technique of broiling is one of the oldest methods of cooking, with evidence of broiling dating back thousands of years.
Chicken is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, making dishes like broiled chicken incredibly popular in many cuisines.
Broiling is a healthier cooking method compared to frying, as it allows excess fat to drip away while keeping the chicken tender and juicy.
To achieve a perfect broiled chicken, an instant-read thermometer is essential to ensure the meat reaches the proper internal temperature of 165F (74C).
While broiled chicken is commonly made with bone-in, skin-on pieces, boneless, skinless breasts can also be broiled successfully with minor adjustments to the cooking time.

FAQ about Basic Broiled Chicken Breasts Recipe

Leftover broiled chicken breasts can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Make sure to let the chicken cool down to room temperature before refrigerating it to preserve its texture.

Yes, you can freeze broiled chicken breasts. Place the cooled chicken in a freezer-safe bag or container, ensuring it's well-wrapped to avoid freezer burn. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat broiled chicken breasts, you can use the oven, microwave, or stovetop. For the oven, preheat to 350°F (175°C), cover the chicken with foil, and heat for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. In the microwave, cover with a damp paper towel and heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, checking the temperature each time.

Broiled chicken breasts are versatile and can be paired with a variety of sides like roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, rice, a fresh salad, or steamed greens. You can also add a simple sauce or drizzle olive oil over the chicken to enhance flavor.

Yes, the cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts. If using thinner breasts, they may cook faster, around 6-8 minutes per side. For thicker breasts, you may need to broil for 12-15 minutes per side. Always check the internal temperature to ensure it's 165°F (74°C).

Yes, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but adjust the cooking time. Since there's no bone, they will cook faster, about 6-8 minutes per side. Keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking.

Letting the chicken rest after broiling helps the juices redistribute within the meat, making it more tender and flavorful. Cutting into it immediately may cause the juices to run out, resulting in drier chicken.

While the recipe keeps it simple with just olive oil, salt, and pepper, you can definitely experiment with additional seasonings or marinades. If you prefer a more flavorful chicken, consider adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, or garlic powder, or marinating the chicken for a few hours before broiling.

If your chicken breasts are drying out, consider reducing the broiling time slightly or using boneless, skinless breasts for faster cooking. Additionally, you can add a small amount of water to the broiling pan to help retain moisture or cover the chicken loosely with foil for part of the cooking time.

If the chicken skin isn't crispy enough, you can broil it for a few additional minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning. Alternatively, you can turn the chicken skin-side up for the last few minutes of broiling to get a crispier finish.

Comments

ellenmoriah

10/06/2025 01:52:54 PM

This is one of those recipes you might read and pass by because, hey, what could olive oil, salt, and pepper do for some pieces of chicken. Well, here's what they can do: they'll jet-pack you back to when your mom made chicken for a weekday night (even though it's flavorful and divine enough to serve to guests). It will also let the cooked chicken speak pretty much for itself, without smothering it in a sauce. I confess I was leery. I wanted to add rosemary, or oregano, or (good grief) even Lawry's Seasoned Salt. But I resisted and, I must say, it was worth it. The ingredients are simple, and that makes it an easy dish to make. If you use organic chicken breasts, it's going to be moist in any case. But adding the olive oil, salt, and pepper, blend in a way that might make you swoon in the way I swooned when I ate it. Simple, homey, cozy, and (in so many ways) perfect. Next time you're in a hurry for a knock-'em-dead meal, serve this up as the main player. I'm pretty sure you'll wow whoever's eating. This is one fine recipe.

Jack Mitchell

02/24/2015 02:10:05 PM

This is officially my new go-to.

TB

07/18/2011 12:09:42 PM

Delicious! I love flavor, and often fall victim to overspicing dishes in search of the flavor I want. This dish just goes to show you that a few simple ingredients can absolutely be enough. I ued boneless/skinless that were cut extremely thin, and took 3-4 minutes of total broiling time -- crispy outside, and juicy inside. Thank you!

KSKMAMA

03/09/2012 04:39:31 PM

You know, this chicken IS actually that good. I had my doubts, but trusted the reviewers and gave it a try. I grabbed some IQF boneless, skinless chicken breasts from the freezer and broiled them up. They were varying thicknesses, so some took 3 minutes per side, some 6 minutes per side. But no matter what, they were delicious! Sometimes simple really is better!

elaine

11/05/2012 03:11:31 PM

It's a wonderful recipe: my husband and I are using this broiled chicken for our lettuce salad. I had 3 boneless skinless breasts and broiled them on smooth side down (first) for 12-14 minutes on Low, then on the other side for about 5 minutes, and it turned out great: slightly browned and juicy. I cannot have the pepper, so I almost omitted it completely, and we both loved the taste of our chicken very much anyway ! A word of caution: always follow your oven's guide and leave the oven door slightly open at an angle, so it would'not catch a fire ! Thank you for a great and easy recipe ! We do not grill and this method is bringing almost same taste results.

Kimberly Maycock

04/01/2012 07:44:35 PM

More moist than anticipated, I also added some "herbed poultry" spice and lemon. Easy and 12 minutes on each side with frozen chicken

Jeff Lum

10/31/2018 05:05:35 PM

I made it plain to use for a chicken sandwich. Turned out great. You'll want to lower the cooking time if you're using thin sliced chicken breasts

MariaB

10/05/2020 03:17:33 AM

Not sure how this could be so simple and still so good but it was. Family loved it, will be cooking chicken this way from now on. I used quite big boneless skinless breasts and broiled for about 14 minutes, they were done perfectly, tender and juicy.

realsimple13

03/13/2013 06:24:46 PM

I'd never broiled chicken before. It was delicious! I pounded two boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cooked on 8 minutes each side and it was perfect! I did have a lot of smoke the first time and found a good trick online that worked well for me: fill bottom of broiler pan with a small amount of water (just enough to cover and catch any drippings so they don't burn). Worked like a charm. Quick and yummy!

edorsey

01/11/2012 12:04:55 PM

I forgot how good plain quality chicken was! I am always looking for something "different". Turns out my family was thrilled w/this basic recipe. I also made the pan gravy w/ a little flour, broth and lemon juice. It was delicious over the chicken. Served w/ baked potatos and a big green salad. 5 stars rom my family

megg

07/04/2025 12:30:33 AM

So good and simple. For boneless, cooked ugly side up 7 minutes then smooth side up 5.

Christina

08/04/2024 07:56:23 PM

Super simple prep with minimal ingredients and delicious results! Cooking times could vary depending on your ovens broiler, so always keep that in mind. Thanks for sharing!

Happyfatman

08/28/2021 01:15:05 AM

Easy and elegant. I happen yo be one of those rare creatures who think that chicken tastes great without being marinated, coated, dusted and otherwise tortured to serve as a vehicle for spices and rubs. This recipe lets the chicken stand alone. I did have to adjust the timing a bit. My oven runs a bit hot. Using an instant read thermometer helps.

Steve Hrdlicka

07/02/2021 01:42:18 PM

This recipe is simple to make and ridiculously good. The only thing I did differently is, I did it in my air fryer.

Brenda Reed

02/12/2020 01:10:09 AM

I did make the recipe and it was so easy and I did make a change I marinated in honey teriyaki marinade my husband said it was the best chicken he’s ever had.

salmama

01/14/2020 12:17:11 AM

I made this for my daughter and I and it was absolutely fabulous. She is mostly a vegetarian so is very picky about what meat dishes she will eat. I used organic chicken breasts. It was so simple and so tasty.

Overseer

08/04/2019 08:58:15 PM

cut the salt because, you know.. heart health. but SUPER useful. Thank YOU.

kurono87

09/05/2018 11:15:24 PM

This was a great, easy to use recipe. I added lemon garlic seasoning for added flavor.

MirandaC

07/23/2018 12:14:58 AM

I added some thyme, rosemary, parsley, & garlic. Nice & Simple Recipe :)

Vernon Williford

07/14/2018 04:04:31 PM

I forgot to flip it and burnt it a little, internal temp was only 150. Flipped and cooked for another 10 minutes. Was a little dry but I think that’s my fault. The pan drippings made a nice dipping sauce though. I will try again.

audio version

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Basic Broiled Chicken Breasts Recipe