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How to Microwave Chicken Breast

Perfectly cooked chicken breast made and served in the glass Anyday dish, providing a tender and juicy protein option. This method ensures evenly cooked chicken breast, reducing unwanted aromas, ideal for adding to salads, sandwiches, or main dishes.
How to microwave chicken breast
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Prep Time

1 min

Cook Time

9-11 mins
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How to Microwave Chicken Breast

2 reviews
All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwave and home kitchens to make sure they work— and work well. Unless specified otherwise, all recipes should be cooked at full power.

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Looking for a fast and excellent way to cook chicken? Try your microwave! Contrary to popular belief, microwaving chicken in an Anyday dish yields juicy, tender results. Compared to stovetop or oven methods, microwaving is much faster. Microwaved chicken breast is perfect for salads, pasta, sandwiches, and more. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature before serving.

Anyday's lid traps steam, keeping the chicken juicy as it cooks. In an Anyday dish, chicken breast takes about 7-11 minutes in the microwave, compared to 15-20 minutes on the stove and 30-40 minutes in the oven.

All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwave and home kitchens to make sure they work— and work well. Unless specified otherwise, all recipes should be cooked at full power.

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Pairs well with

Select your serving size and microwave wattage in the dropdown. The recipe will change accordingly.

1 8 oz chicken breast
  • 1 8 oz chicken breast
  • 2 8 oz chicken breasts
  • 3 8 oz chicken breast
  • 4 8 oz chicken breast
✕

Select your microwave wattage in the dropdown. The cook times in this recipe will automatically change accordingly.

[[video-wattage]]

To find your microwave’s wattage, look at the front panel, the side of the door, in the back, in the user manual, or Google the model number. If both an input and output wattage are listed, use the output.

Wattage translates to how powerful the microwave is. The higher the wattage, the faster your food will cook. The lower the wattage, the longer the cook time.

When in doubt, start with less time — you can always add more.

700w
  • 700w
  • 800w
  • 900w
  • 1000w
  • 1100w
  • 1200w

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Dish

The Medium Shallow Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 8-ounce boneless skinless chicken breast (225g)
  • Salt & pepper

Preparation

  1. Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Place in one layer in an Anyday Shallow Dish and cover with the lid (knob lifted).
  3. Cook in the microwave Power Level 6
    ✕

    Certain foods cook best in the microwave at lower power levels. 

    [[video-power]]

    Different microwaves have different settings. See your microwave manual (or look it up online) to learn how to change your microwave’s power level.

    For many microwaves: enter the cook time, press the “Power” (or “Power Level”) button, and select a number between 1-10. Other microwaves may require selecting the Power Level first, and then entering the cook time.

    Microwaves list power levels in different ways. Here’s a guide to help you adjust:

    PL 10 = 100% = High (default)

    PL 9 = 90% = High

    PL 8 = 80% = Med-High

    PL 7 = 70% = Med-High

    PL 6 = 60% = Medium

    PL 5 = 50% = Medium

    PL 4 = 40% = Med-Low

    PL 3 = 30% = Med-Low

    PL 2 = 20% = Low

    PL 1 = 10% = Low

    You will know if the power level has been successfully changed if you hear periodic changes in the microwave’s tone after it begins cooking.

     for 9-11 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

Suggestions

  • Simple tonkatsu: Dice chicken into medium-sized pieces and mix with a sauce of ketchup, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Serve over rice garnished with thinly sliced scallions.
  • Fajitas: Shred and season with chipotle adobo, chopped cilantro, and lime juice. Enjoy over a black bean and rice bowl.
  • Parmesan: Spoon tomato sauce over the chicken and sprinkle generously with parmesan or mozzarella cheese. Melt cheese in a hot oven or in the microwave.
  • Creamy pasta: Mix with alfredo sauce or cream of mushroom soup. Enjoy over cooked egg noodles or biscuits.
  • Salad topper: Slice or dice and top a dressed salad.
  • Chicken salad: Shred the cooked chicken and mix with mayo or sour cream, chopped parsley, lemon juice, and zest, salt, and pepper. Serve as a sandwich or on lettuce wraps.
  • Taco filling: Shred the chicken and season with taco seasoning. Top the tacos with tomato, avocado, and cilantro.
  • Chicken alfredo: Shred or dice the chicken, mix with alfredo sauce and some thawed peas and enjoy over pasta or rice.

Recipe Notes

  • Pierce the surface of the chicken with a fork to reduce popping noises.
  • For faster results cook at full power and start with half of the recommended cooking time.
  • The lid on your Anyday dish may lift up gently on one side while cooking chicken on full power— this is perfectly fine and normal. This happens because steam pressure has built up inside the dish. 
  • If the chicken breast is very thick, you can cut it in half before cooking to ensure it is cooked through.
  • When chicken breast cooks in the microwave, the chicken will naturally release juices into the bottom of the dish. This broth can be used to cook grains, stir into soups, or start a quick sauce. We think of it as a bonus.
  • For frozen chicken breast, follow the directions in this recipe for How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breast.
  • We recommend using an Anyday Shallow Dish for cooking proteins. If using an Anyday Deep Dish, you may need to add more cooking time.
  • Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.

Microwave Chicken Breast

See for yourself— microwaving chicken is simply faster, start to finish.

Appliance Cook Time
Microwave in an Anyday dish 9-11 mins
Oven* 35 mins
Stovetop* 20-25 mins
Grill* 20-25 mins
Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)* 25 mins
*Includes preheat time
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Step by Step instructions on microwaving chicken

Place in an Anyday Shallow Dish

Cover with the lid (knob lifted).

Cook in the microwave.

Chicken is ready when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

All you need to know about microwaving chicken

How long does chicken take to cook in the microwave?

Ingredient Power Level Cook Time
1 8-ounce boneless skinless chicken breast 6 9-11 mins
2 8-ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts 6 14-16 mins
3 8-ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts 6 17-18 mins
4 8-ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts 6 20-21 mins
Cook time calculated for 700w microwave

Depending on how many you’d like to cook, chicken breasts take about 7-11 minutes to cook in the microwave. When cooking frozen chicken breasts, add 5-6 more minutes of cook time to ensure the chicken is thawed and cooked through.

Why do I need to lower the power level?

Power levels in a microwave are there to help us get the best possible results for each ingredient. While it is totally possible to cook chicken at full power for a shorter time, the results will be much juicier and tender if the power level is reduced. By lowering the power we are maximizing the potential of the microwave, ensuring consistent and reliable results. 

How to tell when chicken is cooked through?

Chicken breast is done cooking when an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees when inserted into the middle of the thickest part of the breast. The chicken will have no pink spots when it’s cut. If your chicken breast isn’t fully cooked after the cooking time is reached, continue cooking in 1-minute increments until the chicken breast is cooked.

How to freeze microwaved chicken?

When freezing cooked chicken breast, it’s important to let it cool completely before putting it into the freezer. If you’re going to use the chicken breast in salads, soups, pasta, and the like, dice the chicken breast and put it into a freezer tray with large cups like the Anytime ½-Cup Freezer Tray. Cover the tray with the lid and freeze for up to 3 months.

How to reheat frozen cooked chicken?

To thaw, pop out the portion of chicken you’d like, and microwave on full power in an Anyday dish with the lid on (knob lifted!) for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through. Stir the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure even heating. To store cooked, whole chicken breasts, lay them in a freezer-safe dish or tray with a lid. When frozen solid, you can transfer them into a ziplock freezer bag, making sure to remove as much air as possible from the bag. Reheat by placing the frozen chicken breast into a shallow Anyday dish, cover with the lid (knob lifted!), and microwave on full power for 3-4 minutes, or until warmed through completely.

How to microwave frozen chicken?

Place frozen raw chicken breast into a shallow Anyday dish and cover with the lid (knob lifted). Add 1 tablespoon of water into the dish per piece of chicken breast to boost the steam. Microwave on full power for the time indicated in the chart above 3-4 minutes or until warmed through completely. For more information about reheating check our our blog for freezing and reheating food.

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