One of the most popular proteins to cook is chicken, and rightfully so. It is less expensive than red meat, is familiar, and there are many different cuts, whether it’s chicken wings, bone-in, skin-on thigh, or boneless skinless to choose from.
However, it is easy to fall into a rut when it comes to cooking chicken, especially if you’re trying to cook it healthy. Salt, pepper, and olive oil on skinless, boneless chicken breast can get boring, very quickly.
But don’t fret, there are many different ways to cook chicken healthy without sacrificing flavor, and the first step in doing so is getting a Non Stick Pan that can deliver a great sear and retain heat, all while needing minimal cooking fats to do so.
Marinade for Flavor
Marinading your chicken is a fantastic way to add flavor. With three simple components consisting of oil, acid, and seasoning, you can marinade your chicken any way you’d like. We recommend olive oil, an acid such as fat-free yogurt (yes, yogurt is an acid), citrus juice, or vinegar, and then seasoning. Seasonings can consist of fresh herbs, spices, or chilis.
Marinade your chicken for up to 24 hours in the fridge and then cook it in your Non Stick Frying Pan or Saute Pan until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
Make a Stir Fry
Another great way to cook chicken healthy is to make stir fry, which can be put together in under 30 minutes from prep to finish.
Simply dice up your chicken breast and any veggies you’d like to include (broccoli, snap peas, bell peppers, onions, etc.) and then sear your chicken. A great way to avoid cooking with oil is by using a tablespoon or two of chicken stock or oil.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper, add it to the pan and once it is cooked, remove, and add in your veggies, cooking them until they are nice and charred. Incorporate cooked noodles, leftover rice, and the reserved chicken, then add in your sauce of your choice and you’re good to go.
Boil Your Chicken
Yes, we are aware this doesn’t sound the sexiest, but it is a great way to cook chicken for various applications like meal prep, tacos, or salads. Fill your Non Stick Stock Pot with water and add in some aromatics like lemon, thyme, an onion, and some garlic.
Bring it to a boil and then place your chicken in the water and cook it until it is done and reaches 165F. The cooking time should only be 20 minutes.
Remove the cooked chicken breasts or thighs from the liquid and using two forks, shred it. You can now season it with salt and pepper, or spices like garlic powder or lemon pepper, and use it on salads. You can mix it with olive oil, lemon juice, celery, and some mayo for a chicken salad, or stew it in tomatoes and spices for a taco filling.
When it comes to healthy chicken recipes, there are many different routes you can take, but it all starts with using the right cookware, where you don’t need to add in any excess cooking oil.
Made In’s Non Stick Cookware
When cooking protein, it is imperative to get a wonderful sear, as this is where a lot of the flavor comes from. In order to get this sear, you need a pan that can get hot and retain the heat, which is why we built our Non Stick Cookware with 5-Ply Stainless Clad Construction.
The heat conductivity of our Non Stick Cookware combined with our high-performance PTFE coating means that you can get that sought-after sear on your proteins without having to use excess oil and butter since our Non Stick coating has best-in-class releasability.
So now that you have (or just bought) the right pan, here are a few tips to keep the flavor top of mind with the excess cooking fats bottom of mind.
