5.0 from 6 votes
How to Butterfly Chicken Breasts
Learn how to butterfly chicken breasts, a simple technique for splitting chicken so it cooks quickly or holds a filling. Or, cut chicken breasts all the way through to make cutlets.
Cook Time
mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 4 servings (6 ounces each)
Calories: 129 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4 large, see note 1)
Instructions
- Cover a cutting board completely with a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Add chicken breasts. Working with one breast at a time, place your palm on top of the breast and slice in half horizontally taking care to not slice all the way through. Repeat with the second breast.
- Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer on the plastic wrap-covered cutting board. Cover with a second piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness, about 1/4-inch. Remove top layer of plastic wrap.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Chicken breast: Look for pink chicken (without even a hint of gray) and check the "best buy" date. Butterfly and pound chicken breasts to a uniform thickness so they cook quickly and evenly without burning. You can cut and pound chicken thighs the same way, too. Cut chicken breast all the way through to make chicken cutlets.
- Yield: 6 ounces of cooked chicken is a hearty, practical serving. To achieve that, plan for 2 pounds (32 ounces) of raw meat and assume it will cook down to about 1 1/2 pounds (24 ounces) cooked chicken (there will be about 25% loss through cooking). That's enough for 4 servings of chicken, 6 ounces each.
- Storage: According to the USDA, store raw chicken for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. Leftover cooked breast meat can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Information
Serving
6 oz
Calories
129kcal
(6%)
Protein
24g
(48%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
73mg
(24%)
Sodium
132mg
(6%)
Potassium
420mg
(12%)
Vitamin A
34IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
6mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings (6 ounces each)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 129
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 6 oz | |
| Calories | 129kcal | 6% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 73mg | 24% |
| Sodium | 132mg | 6% |
| Potassium | 420mg | 9% |
| Vitamin A | 34IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 6mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.