How to Cut Chicken: Several Methods for Prepping Tutorials

Learn the essential chicken cutting methods with my comprehensive guide hub, featuring step-by-step tutorials on breaking down a whole chicken, slicing breasts, and preparing thighs and drumsticks. Updated frequently, this section offers the latest tips and tricks to enhance your cooking skills.

Table of Contents

Jump to:

• 1. Perfect Slices Every Time
• 2. Dimond Slit Chicken Breast
• 3. Butterfly Chicken Breast
• 4. Chicken Cutlets
• 5. Panko Breaded
• 6. Pounding Out
• 7. Shredding
• 8. Cutting into Large Chunks
• 9. Cutting into Small Dice
• 10. Spatchcock AKA Butterflying
• 11. Searing
• 12. Marinating
• Chicken Recipes
• Cooking Tips and Tutorials
• Comment or Question?

1. Perfect Slices Every Time

Half-thawed chicken breasts are much easier to slice into even pieces. You can achieve this by letting a frozen chicken breast thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Even pieces are essential to ensure equal cooking time and portion control. Butterfly the tip of the chicken breast by slicing it only halfway. Learn How to Get Perfect Slices Every Time.

2. Dimond Slit Chicken Breast

Diamond slitting is a simple technique where shallow diagonal cuts form a crisscross pattern on a chicken breast, creating diamond-shaped slits. This increases surface area, allowing marinades to absorb better, the meat to cook faster and more evenly, and helps prevent dryness.

It also enhances browning, giving the chicken a tender texture, deeper flavor, and a beautiful, restaurant-style presentation. Learn more about How to Diamond Slit Chicken Breast.

3. Butterfly Chicken Breast

A butterflied chicken breast is sliced open and flattened, making it perfect for quick, even cooking and a wide variety of dishes. Its thin shape is ideal for grilling, stuffing with flavorful fillings, breading for crispy cutlets, or slicing into strips for stir-fries and sautés.

By reducing thickness, the butterflying method shortens cooking time, allows for high-heat searing, and locks in juiciness so your chicken is golden brown and perfectly cooked without needing extra oven time. Click here to learn How to Butterfly Chicken Breasts | Step-by-Step Guide.

4. Chicken Cutlets

Small chicken cutlets are thin, even slices of chicken that cook quickly, making them ideal for weeknight dinners, sandwiches, wraps, or breaded appetizers like tenders and nuggets. They can also be diced or sliced to top salads, pasta, or stir-fries, adding flavor and protein with minimal effort.

Because they're evenly cut, cutlets cook faster and more consistently, saving time while delivering tender, perfectly cooked chicken every time. Click here to learn how to How to Prep Chicken Cutlets for Quick, Delicious Meals.

5. Panko Breaded

Panko breading is the secret to chicken that's crispy on the outside yet tender and juicy inside. In this step-by-step guide, you'll learn how to set up a clean breading station, season every layer for maximum flavor, and use panko breadcrumbs to achieve that light, golden crunch.

If you are frying, baking, or air frying, this method guarantees a restaurant-worthy crust right at home. Click here to learn How to Bread Chicken the Easy Way (Step-by-Step Guide).

6. Pounding Out

Pounding out chicken breasts is a quick prep step that transforms uneven cuts into perfectly uniform pieces. By gently flattening the thick side to match the thin, you'll get juicy chicken that cooks evenly, looks professional, and is ready for cutlets, grilling, or stuffing.

This simple technique also shortens cook times and makes your weeknight meals more reliable. Click here to learn How to Pound Out Chicken Breasts Evenly | Step-by-Step Guide.

7. Shredding

In this practical cooking tutorial video, I'll show two efficient methods for quickly shredding chicken, making meal prep a breeze. I'll demonstrate these techniques to help you effortlessly transform tender, cooked chicken into versatile, shredded goodness for a variety of recipes. Like the Pumpkin Gnocchi Chicken Soup recipe.

8. Cutting into Large Chunks

Using large chicken chunks in a recipe provides a hearty and satisfying texture, offering a substantial bite that can make a dish more filling and satisfying. These sizeable chicken pieces retain moisture better during cooking, ensuring a juicy and flavorful outcome in your culinary creations.

9. Cutting into Small Dice

Small-dicing chicken breasts offers quicker cooking times and even distribution of chicken in dishes like stir-fries and casseroles. The smaller pieces absorb flavors and seasonings more efficiently, resulting in a well-balanced and flavorful dish.

10. Spatchcock AKA Butterflying

Spatchcocking, or butterflying, is a technique where the backbone of a whole chicken is removed and the bird is flattened for quicker, more even cooking. This method not only reduces roasting time but also ensures crispy skin and juicy meat throughout.

By preparing a clean workspace, checking the chicken for giblets, and laying it breast-side down to begin, you'll set yourself up for success with this efficient and flavorful cooking method. Click here to learn more about How to Spatchcock a Chicken: Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Juicy, Even Cooking.

11. Searing

Remove Excess Moisture!

To prevent chicken breasts from sticking to the pan when searing, start by ensuring the meat is dry before placing it in the hot pan. Pat the chicken breasts with paper towels to remove any excess moisture and allow the seasoning to adhere.

Preheat Technique

Next, preheat the pan over medium-high heat before adding any oil, and then add a high-smoke-point oil such as vegetable or grapeseed oil. Adding the oil to the hot pan helps create a barrier. Learn more about hot smoke points oils.

Add Less

Allow the oil to heat up right before it smokes, and gently place the chicken breasts in the pan. Avoid overcrowding the pan to allow for even heat distribution and a better sear. The more you add, the colder the pan will get.

Finally, resist the temptation to move the chicken around too much once it's in the pan; let it develop a golden crust before flipping. Depending on the meat, this usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes.

Video: Prevent Chicken from Sticking

Combined with using the right oil and proper preheating skills, these steps will help you achieve a beautifully seared chicken without the frustration of sticking!

12. Marinating

Resealable Bags

Using sealing bags helps create less mess in the kitchen by having fewer dishes and utensils to wash, even gloves to rub the chicken. Place everything in the bag, let the air out, and seal it well. And the best part is the message! You can then place it in the fridge or freezer.

Plus, it is a great way for meal prep. Make a bunch of these with your favorite marinade ahead of time and freeze. Take them out. Thaw in the fridge, remove from the bag, and cook! Super easy!

Chicken Recipes

Choose a quick and easy recipe to get started.

Cooking Tips and Tutorials

Your Cooking Tips Resource Guide - Become a better home cook with tips to help you cook more efficiently on the Cook's Notebook tab.

Comment or Question?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or experiences with prepping chicken. Leave a comment or question and get a response from a professionally trained chef!