70 Easy Chicken Recipes for Dinner

How to Cook Chicken:

1. Regardless of the chicken cut (wing, thigh, drumstick, or breast), remove the chicken from the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before cooking and place it in a bowl on the counter so the chicken can cook evenly.
2. Otherwise, some parts will cook faster than others. NOTE: Do not wash the chicken as it will not only contaminate the sink and nearby surfaces but will also remove some of the flavors from the meat itself.
3. After removing the chicken from the fridge, dry it well with a paper towel and season to taste. Use at least one teaspoon of salt for every pound of chicken and enough ground black pepper to taste, as well as other seasonings.
4. In these 20 or 30 minutes out of the fridge, the seasonings will penetrate the chicken meat, making it tastier.
5. Choose the proper cooking method for the chicken cut or follow the recipe. Smaller cuts like wings and thinner cuts like chicken fillets cook faster than breasts and drumsticks.
6. Bone-in pieces usually take longer to cook than boneless pieces. The chicken is ready when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F (71°C), measured with a meat thermometer that does not touch the bone part. If it is overcooked, it will be dry!
7. After cooking, let the chicken meat rest for at least 3 to 5 minutes before slicing so that it retains its natural juices and redistributes them after cooking.
8. During the resting time, the meat will continue to cook and increase the internal temperature. Chicken meat is safe to eat when it reaches 165 degrees F (74°C). This is how you make easy chicken recipes for dinner!

How Long to Cook Chicken:

1. The cooking time will depend on the chicken cut and its weight as well as the cooking method and its temperature. But independently of those factors, chicken is cooked and safe to eat when it reaches the internal temp of 165 degrees F.