20 Microwave Recipes for Juicy and Tender Chicken Every Time

If you’re looking for a fast and excellent way to cook chicken, look no further than your microwave. Yes — really! Many people think microwaved chicken is dry and rubbery. In reality, microwaving it in an Anyday dish with a vented lid yields juicy, tender chicken that’s certain to change your mind. With the right techniques and delicious recipes, you can enjoy juicy, tender chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks, or wings in minutes, cooked — from scratch — in the microwave.

Here are some tips to help you achieve perfect results every time:

Tips for Microwaving Chicken

1. Cover the chicken while cooking

   Chicken is a fairly lean protein, so its important to keep all of the naturally occurring fat and juices inside the food. Anyday’s silicone-lined, vented lid makes this easy, trapping all of the chicken’s moisture (and flavor) inside the dish. Any leftover juices at the bottom of the dish can be drizzled over the finished recipe. You can add these juices to leftover shredded chicken breast to keep it moist and flavorful.

2. Cook chicken in a flavorful sauce

   Microwaving chicken in added moisture will certainly prevent dry chicken. Try cooking it in a pre-made sauce (like jarred marinara or simmer sauces) or broth to keep the meat moist. This will create a luscious sauce to serve with rice or pasta. Feel free to whip up your favorite sauce with pantry ingredients, or opt for store-bought curries, salsas, and even beer to enhance the flavor of your dish.

3. Lower the power level

   In some recipes, we might instruct you to lower the power level, especially when it comes to microwaving chicken with grains like rice or pasta. Lowering the power level allows the entire dish to cook more evenly and gently, preventing it from overcooking.

4. Arrange the chicken in an even layer

   Just like cooking chicken on the stove or in the oven, it’s important to space out the meat to make sure it cooks evenly. Arrange individual pieces in a single layer as best as you can in the dish; a Large Shallow dish works best for this. This will allow steam to surround the chicken, cooking it evenly and thoroughly.

5. Check and stir halfway through

   To make sure your chicken is cooking the way its supposed to, pause the microwave halfway through to flip the pieces of meat. You’ll also want to make sure that each piece of chicken chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

6. Get the right tools

   The secret to the best microwaved chicken? An Anyday dish, of course! The silicone-lined lid creates a tight seal while cooking in the microwave, keeping all of the flavors inside of the dish as it cooks the chicken thoroughly.

Whether you’re looking to cook chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks, or wings, we have plenty of recipe ideas for this fan-favorite protein: