Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts
These cast-iron skillet chicken breasts are juicy and tender, seasoned with Italian herbs, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Butter, smashed garlic, thyme, and rosemary add a rich, fragrant finish, while optional lemon wedges bring a bright note at serving. Serve this straightforward main course for a weeknight dinner or alongside roasted vegetables and grains.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 69 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 14 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 57 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 70
- Heart Health
- 54
- Metabolic
- 10
- Digestive
- 35
- Inflammatory
- 15
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Gather all ingredients.
- 2
Season the chicken all over with Italian seasoning, salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
- 3
Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the chicken, rounded side down, and cook undisturbed until the bottom is browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and continue cooking undisturbed until the second side is browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
- 4
Add butter, garlic, thyme, and rosemary, and cook until the butter melts, about 1 minute. Carefully tilt the pan toward you so the butter pools, and spoon the herb butter over the top of each breast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the breast registers 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 3 to 5 minutes.
- 5
Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve with the pan drippings and lemon wedges, if desired.
- 6
Cook’s Note: A good rule of thumb for seasoning chicken breast is 1 teaspoon of seasoning per pound of chicken.
- Calories 347.11 kcal Moderate 17%
- Protein 39.76 g Good Source 80%
- Carbohydrate 1.93 g 1%
- Total Fat 19.9 g High 26%
- Saturated Fat 7.3 g High 37%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 134.59 mg High 45%
- Sodium 116.72 mg Moderate 5%
- Dietary Fiber 0.63 g Low Source 2%
- Total Sugars 0.06 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 19.84 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 1.56 mg Low Source 9%
- Potassium 33.6 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 100.41 mcg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin C 4.12 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Milk 🥛
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts is made with 11 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 25 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Canola Oil, Chicken Breast, and Fresh Rosemary. Each serving provides about 347.11 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Canola Oil, Chicken Breast, Fresh Rosemary, Fresh Thyme. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts?
- About 25 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 347.11 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 11 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts healthy?
- Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breasts has an easyChef Pro health score of 50/100. Per serving, it provides 347.11 calories and 39.76 g of protein, or 80% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 116.72 mg (5% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.3 g (37% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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