The quickest way to cook chicken breasts (boneless, skinless).
Boneless chicken breasts – oven 1
Season the chicken with just salt and pepper. But you can use any spices you want.
Heat the oven to 400°F with the rack on the middle position. Rub the pan with butter or olive oil so the chicken doesn’t stick. Tear off a piece of parchment paper big enough to cover the dish and butter one side. Skip this step if you don’t have parchment paper.
Pat the chicken dry and rub with a bit of butter, olive oil or vegetable oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and any other seasonings.
Put the chicken breasts in the baking dish with a bit of room between them. Cover the chicken breasts completely with parchment paper. Start checking at 20 minutes, until chicken is done, between 30 – 40 minutes.
Boneless chicken breasts – oven 2
Chicken breasts – pounded to 1″ thick
Salt & pepper or other spices
1 – 2 tsp olive oil or vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 400°F. Dry the breasts with paper towels. Rub the chicken breasts with oil. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
Lightly grease a baking dish or pan or cookie sheet. If you have parchment paper, tear off a piece large enough to cover the bottom and skip the grease.
Put the chicken breasts in the dish or on the pan or cookie sheet, with a little space between
Bake for 22 – 26 minutes. Start checking at 22 minutes to see if cooked through (no pink inside). If you have a digital thermometer, cook to internal temperature of 165°F
Remove chicken to a cutting board. Let it rest for 3 to 5 minutes before eating
Boneless chicken breasts – pan fried
Chicken breasts – pound thin to 1 inch, directions below
Salt
Pepper
1-2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
As many chicken breasts as you need or that will fit into the frying pan with a bit of space between them.
Put the breasts in a plastic freezer bag or between two pieces of saran wrap or wax paper. If you don’t have a meat mallet, use a rolling pin, saucepan, skillet, can of tomatoes, a heavy book or a small cutting board, a hammer (cleaned) or a water bottle filled with water.
Salt & pepper both sides of the chicken. Heat a skillet/ frying pan with a lid over medium high heat. Add enough olive oil to just coat the bottom of the pan and heat for one minute. Add the chicken breasts in a single layer. Cook for one minute and turn over. Put the lid on the pad and turn heat down to low. Cook for 10 minutes. Do not take the lid off!!
Turn off the heat and leave the lid on for another 10 minutes. Do no take the lid off!! After the second 10 minutes, remove the lid, check to see if the chicken is cooked through (no pink inside). You’re done.
Source: How to Bake Chicken Breasts in the Oven, thekitchn.com