The Knife Trick For Getting More Flavorful Chicken Breasts
Packed with amino acids and vitamins like iron, vitamin A, and vitamin B12, chicken breasts help build muscle and support bone health. Around 80% of the calories from the meat is entirely protein with only 20% fat. The only possible downside to chicken breasts is that when left to their own devices, they can be awfully dry and bland. Even when you sprinkle a generous amount of salt and pepper, they can lack flavor. Luckily, it's an easy fix. All you need is a knife.
One TikToker demonstrated the simple yet effective knife trick in a video. Simply lay your chicken breasts flat and make diagonal cuts on them without piercing them all the way through. The cuts will hold and retain all the spices you sprinkle on them, making the meat more flavorful throughout. Easy peasy, right? You can also coat the chicken breasts with a layer of oil after cutting.
Use spices to make chicken breasts more flavorful
To make the cuts, carefully cut in four diagonal lines across the top of the chicken breast in one direction, then repeat in the opposite direction. If done correctly, the top of the chicken breasts should resemble a diamond or square pattern.
Most of us only use salt and pepper to cook chicken breasts, but adding a bunch of other spices can give them an interesting flavor. For instance, the TikToker mixed spices like paprika, oregano, thyme, and garlic with salt and pepper. The chicken looked delicious in the end, but some viewers were worried she might have cooked it for too long after pan-searing it and popping it in the oven. "That chicken is dry. You can tell when she cuts it," one user commented. "Doesn't cutting chicken like that before cooking make it dry?" another user wrote.
@theshabakitchen Our favourite chicken recipe! 😍
If you're worried the chicken will turn out dry after cutting, there are other ways to incorporate more flavor into chicken breasts without cutting them. You can marinate chicken in an acidic marinade and leave it overnight for it to soak all the flavorful juices. Another way to ensure your chicken breasts are well-seasoned is by making them evenly thick by either tenderizing them or slicing them evenly.