Most of us don’t give much thought to how to cut chicken breast. We just want to get dinner on the table and fast. But mastering a few easy techniques will result in chicken that not only cooks better but tastes better and performs in your recipes just how you expect!
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The best way to cut chicken breast starts here
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And by here, I mean going against the grain. You’ve probably heard that expression, especially when it comes to slicing something like flank steak.
Whether you are cutting chicken for stir fries, slicing chicken for a big main course salad, going against the grain is a good thing. Cutting chicken against the grain (and most meats) is the key to more tender meat, especially when it’s grilled. It breaks the muscle fibers down into smaller sections making it easier to chew.
How to identify the way the grain runs in meat or poultry
If you look closely, you’ll see that every cut of meat has little muscle fibers that run through it almost like stripes. Just like a piece of wood cut from a tree, those fibers are the “grain”.
In the image above, the grain is parallel with the knife.
For cutting chicken, you can cut “with the grain” or “against” it. Another way to think of this is “across” the grain.
Let me show you what I mean.
Here’s a step by step guide.
- Use the image above as your guide, identify the grain or muscle fibers in the chicken breast (1).
- Choose a sharp knife like this Wusthof boning knife.
- Start at one end and slice the chicken against the grain or perpendicular to the muscle fiber “lines” (2).
Pro Tip
Cutting chicken breast while it’s frozen is easier and you can get smaller and thinner slices.
How to butterfly a chicken breast ( slice in half horizontally)
Butterflying is a technique that helps to thin or flatten a really big chicken breast so that it’s cooks more evenly or when you want to make a big crispy chicken cutlet or paillard (a slice of meat that is pounded or sliced thin).
To butterfly a chicken breast:
- Place your hand on top of the chicken breast and carefully insert the edge of the knife blade into the long side of the breast closest to your thumb. The blade should be parallel to your hand and should be in the middle of the breast.
- Working slowly, slice across the chicken breast almost all the way through stopping right before reaching the other side.
- Carefully wiggle the knife out and open the chicken breast pressing it flat like an opened book.
More ways to cut chicken breasts
Let’s break down how to cut chicken breast for things like stir fry dishes, how to cut chicken tenders and nuggets.
How to cut chicken breast for stir fries
- Butterfly the breast if needed per above.
- Using the steps outlined above, slice the chicken across the grain in 1/2″ thick strips.
How to dice chicken breast for salads
- Follow the steps 1 & 2 above.
- Dice each chicken slice into 3 or 4 1″ pieces (depending on how long the piece is)
Another method to thin out chicken breast
Pound the chicken breast flat between two sheets of parchment paper to thin it out using a tenderizer or the back of a skillet. I use this method in my juicy chicken breasts mentioned in the recipe card below.
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How to Cut Chicken Breast
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Equipment
- 1 sharp boning knife or shop slicing knife
- 1 meat tenderizer optional
Instructions
- Identify the grain or muscle fibers in the chicken breast. If you're not sure, line the blade of your knife parallel with the little white "lines" in the breast. These are the muscle fibers or the grain.1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
- Choose a sharp knife like this Wusthof boning knife.
- Start at one end and slice the chicken against the grain or perpendicular to the muscle fiber "lines". For dicing for chicken salad: Cut the slices into smaller pieces from one short edge of a slice of chicken to the other.
- If preparing for my foolproof chicken breasts, place chicken between a folded piece of parchment paper. Use a meat pounder or tenderizer to even and thin chicken breasts out to the same thickness. Seasons with salt and black pepper before sauteeing.sprinkling of kosher salt and ground black pepper
Notes
- Place the chicken breast between two sheets of parchment (or one long piece folded over it).
- Using a meat tenderizer or the back of a skillet, firmly rap the chicken breast until it thins out (this is a great stress-reliever!).
I understand about cutting the chicken breast against the grain for chicken tenders, but what about when you get to the thinner part of the breast? Is it better to cut the breasts horizontally for tenders and then cut into strips?
Great question! For the thinner part of the breast, I would cut crosswise into smaller tenders or nuggets exactly as you described. Hope that helps and thanks, Maureen!
Thank you for your post on how to cut a chicken breast!
It was truly helpful. I have a question if I may….
I thought a chicken tender was a specific section of the breast, sort of like the “tenderloin”. Am I mistaken, or is it just the entire breast cut against the grain into tender slices?
You are 100% correct! The tender is a part of the breast…underneath and it’s kind of a skinny piece that sometimes can be pulled off separately without much effort. Glad you found the post helpful and thank you!
5 stars
Hello, I’m confused by this sentence:
Raw chicken can not be kept in the fridge for more than 1-2 days. Tops. If it’s cut in pieces, it can be kept up to 9 months.
Do you mean if it’s frozen it can be kept up to 9 months?
Hi Tammy! I’m so sorry for the confusion…yes, that means chicken in pieces (as opposed to a whole chicken) can be frozen up to 9 months. Good catch and I’ve fixed the sentence. Thank you!!