Sazón Chicken Breasts
This stovetop method of cooking chicken breasts in a sazón-heavy marinade produces juicy, fragrant, well-seasoned meat. It definitely stands up as a main course, but leftovers make for great additions to salads and tacos. The breasts benefit from an overnight marinade, which will make the meat juicier and more flavorful, but the dish can come together in 45 minutes if you’re short on time. This recipe also works great with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Because they’re often thinner and fattier, they may cook a little more quickly than breasts.
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 4garlic cloves, minced
- ¼cup fresh orange juice, from 2 small oranges (preferably mandarin)
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- 2tablespoons homemade or store-bought basic sazón seasoning
- ½teaspoon kosher salt
- ½teaspoon black pepper
- 4medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds), trimmed of excess fat
Instructions
Step 1
In a small food processor, combine the garlic, orange juice, olive oil, sazón, salt and pepper; pulse until it forms a creamy marinade. (Alternately, you can finely mince the garlic, then combine it with the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a fork.)Step 2
Pat the chicken breasts dry, then transfer them to a large resealable plastic bag. Pour the marinade on top, close, shake, then gently massage the seasoning into the meat. Let sit on the counter for at least 10 minutes. (Chicken can also be marinated overnight then set out to come to room temperature before cooking.)Step 3
Heat a large nonstick wok or deep skillet over medium-high. Add marinated chicken breasts, one by one, and pour over about half the marinade. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes, flipping frequently with tongs and being careful not to let them get too dark too fast. Reduce heat to low and cook for another 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the breast, flipping often to ensure meat is cooked through. Thinner chicken breasts will take less time to cook, so monitor the color and texture of your meat as it cooks. Check doneness by pressing the center with your tongs. If the center is still squishy, continue to cook until meat has a bit of resistance (though not rock hard), and registers 165 degrees on a meat thermometer.Step 4
Let rest in the pan off-heat for a few minutes. Serve, pouring over any remaining pan juices if desired.