How long does it take to cook a hen on top of the stove?

Chicken is perhaps the easiest and most versatile main ingredient you can cook for the family. So if you arrived on this page and already have a chicken recipe in mind or want to simply bake chicken for weekly meal prep, you're in the right place. Here you'll find out how long to roast a chicken and all the cooking times you need for meaty chicken pieces or quarters.

We don't stop at just roasting—we've got the full breakdown of how long to cook chicken in a skillet, under the broiler, and even by boiling. No matter which method you prefer, you'll find how long to cook a chicken.

Try Our Asian-Inspired Roast Chicken Recipe

How Long to Cook a Whole Chicken

Roast chicken is juicy and delicious. Check out our complete instructions and tips for cooking a whole chicken. Knowing how long to roast a chicken is key. Listed here are the exact cooking times by weight. The chicken is done when a meat thermometer reads 175°F in the thigh muscle or until drumsticks move easily in sockets.

How long to roast a chicken at 375°F:

• 2½- to 3-pound chicken: Roast 1 to 1¼ hours
• 3½- to 4-pound chicken: Roast 1¼ to 1½ hours
• 4½- to 5-pound chicken: Roast 1¾ to 2 hours

Fire up your grill and cook a whole chicken with these times and weights in mind:

• For a 2½- to 3-pound chicken, grill for 1 to 1¼ hours
• For a 3½- to 4-pound bird, grill for 1¼ to 1¾ hours
• For a 4½- to 5-pound chicken, grill for 1¾ to 2 hours

You can also cook a whole chicken by boiling (poaching) and make a stock from the bones using our recipe.

How Long to Cook Chicken Breast and Other Meaty Pieces

In addition to chicken breast, meaty pieces include drumsticks and thighs. Doneness should be determined with an instant-read thermometer ($15, Target): 165°F for breast meat and at least 175° for thighs and drumsticks.

• Bake chicken at 375°F for 45 to 50 minutes. View the full range of times and temperatures for chicken legs and quarters and breast meat in our detailed guides.
• Grill chicken thighs for 12 to 15 minutes and chicken breast halves 15 to 18 minutes. Get our full guide on grilling chicken.
• Broil chicken pieces 25 to 35 minutes. Learn all the steps to easily broil chicken.
• Sauté chicken breast 12 to 15 minutes (6 to 8 minutes for flattened chicken or tenders) and 14 to 18 minutes for chicken thighs. Learn how to sauté chicken like a pro with tips from our Test Kitchen.
• Boil (poach) boneless chicken breast halves 12 to 15 minutes (bone-in chicken breast should cook for about 30 minutes). We've got a guide to boiling chicken, too.

Get Our All-Time Favorite Chicken Recipes

Craving chicken yet? Practice cooking a whole chicken, chicken breast, or meaty pieces using any method with an easy chicken recipe or healthy chicken dinner tonight. You can make some crispy fried chicken in the oven or roast a whole chicken with herbs or a homemade rub. Bring the heat with a spicy chicken recipe if you like a little kick in your meals. The possibilities are endless.

Learn how to cook chicken breast on stove the easy, quick way. This pan seared chicken breast is flavourful, delicious, cooks in less than 15 minutes, and is about to be your favorite stove top chicken breast recipe!

Serve with side dishes like boiled broccoli, potatoes, and gravy for a perfect dinner.

You don't need an oven before you can enjoy crispy, juicy, tender pan seared chicken breast!

Simply cook it on the stove or if you have instant pot pressure cooker, check my instant pot chicken breast recipe.

Read through this entire post for answers to frequently asked questions, tips, storage information and more about this recipe before moving to the printable recipe card for ingredient list and directions.

Pan Seared Chicken Breast

Let's talk about pan seared chicken breast that is easy, simple, and quick!

Pan frying boneless skinless chicken breast is easy and this crispy pan seared chicken breast recipe is perfect for any meal of the day. Brunch or dinner, as a side dish or main dish.

This stove top chicken breast is well seasoned, tender, moist, and juicy inside, and nicely crisped on the outer.

It's simply cooked to perfection. Did I mention it requires just a few simple ingredients? 5 ingredients and yet full of flavor.

Stove Top Chicken Breast Recipe

This stove top chicken breast is full of flavour, tender, moist and delicious. 

• This recipe is simple and quick. Takes 15 minutes in total.

• No oven or grill required. All the cooking is done on stove.

• It doesn't require oven yet you get crispy skin, moist and tender inside.

• This skillet chicken breast is great for meal planning.

• Makes use of seasoning you likely have in your pantry or better still you can season to your liking.

• Inexpensive and packed full of protein.

• Suitable for low carb diet and it's keto-friendly. 
  For chicken thighs, check out my stove top chicken thighs recipe.

Stove Top Chicken Breast Ingredients

Chicken breasts

Oil - You can use vegetable, sunflower or coconut oil

Smoked Paprika

Dried Parsley

Black pepper

Stock Cube

Salt

How to Cook Chicken Breast on Stove top

Prepare and pat chicken dry with a kitchen towel.

Season with salt, paprika, parsley, black pepper, stock cube.

If you have time, cover with clingfilm and put in the fridge to marinate. If not move to the next step.

Place a skillet or non stick pan over medium heat, then add oil in the pan. 

Arrange the chicken breasts in the pan and leave to sear for 5 - 7 minutes untouched until golden, crispy and no longer sticking to the pan then turn to the other side.

If you can't easily flip the chicken breast, it's not ready.

Cook the other side for another 5-7 minutes till cooked, crispy skin and not sticking to the pan.

If you’re not sure chicken is cooked and for food safety compliance, check that the internal temperature of the chicken is atleast 165F (75C). To ensure this, check by using meat thermomether.

What is the cooking time for a hen?

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How do you know when Stove Top Chicken is done?