How to Brown Chicken

Browning chicken is the first step in many recipes for cooking chicken.
  1. Rinse chicken; pat dry with paper towels.

  2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.

  3. Add chicken pieces to hot oil in a single layer without crowding.

  4. Cook 8 to 10 minutes per side or until chicken is browned; remove with tongs. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces.

    Use tongs to avoid getting burned by spattering oil.
    Use tongs to avoid getting burned by spattering oil.

  5. Continue with your chicken recipe of choice, baking, braising, or simmering the chicken accordingly until it is no longer pink in center.
Find tips on braising chicken in the next section.

Not what you're looking for? Try these:

  • Chicken Recipes: Chicken is a very versatile food that can take on a variety of different flavors and be used in all kinds of dishes. Find some suggestions on our Chicken Recipes page.
  • Grilling Chicken: Chicken on the grill is a less-mess and delicious way to prepare poultry. Find helpful tips on grilling chicken in this article.
  • Preparing Chicken: Learn some basic chicken preparation techniques in this article, including how to stuff a chicken, how to marinate chicken, and more.
  • Cooking Chicken: Cooking chicken can be a bit difficult because it's imperative that the meat is cooked all the way through. Gather helpful tips at HowStuffWorks.
  • Cooking: Learn the ins and outs of some basic cooking techniques in this helpful article.