Cooking

1. Keep Chicken Chilled

Make sure to keep your chicken in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook it.

2. Take Special Care When Grilling

Make sure to keep your chicken in the refrigerator until you’re ready to grill. Once you put your chicken on the grill, use a new plate for the cooked chicken. And never place skewers, spatulas or tongs on a plate that held raw chicken. Cross contamination can easily result.

3. Don’t Reuse Marinades

If you’ve used a marinade on your raw chicken, don’t use it to coat or baste the chicken while cooking. Sauces and marinades used on raw products should never touch cooked products.

4. Don’t Reuse Plates

Once you transfer your raw chicken to a grill, pot or pan, be sure to use a new plate for the cooked chicken. Also, be careful to never place skewers, spatulas or tongs on a plate that held raw chicken. Cross contamination can easily result.

5. Cook Chicken Thoroughly

Chicken should always be cooked thoroughly. To ensure your chicken is fully cooked, follow the recommended cooking times, and make sure your chicken reaches the proper recommended internal temperatures listed below by using a calibrated meat thermometer. The USDA recommends that all chicken, regardless of cut, should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165° F.

Safe Internal Temperatures

Bone-In, Skin-OnInternal Temp
Whole Chicken180˚F
Chicken Thighs180˚F
Chicken Wings180˚F
Chicken Breast170˚F
Whole Chicken Roaster180˚F
Stuffing (Cooked alone or in bird)165ºF
Boneless, SkinlessInternal Temp
All Boneless, Skinless165ºF

Cooking Times
(Boneless, Skinless)

Roast Or BakeCooking TimeOven Temp
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets35-40 Min.375ºF
Chicken Tenderloins10-15 Min.375ºF
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets20-25 Min.375ºF
Boneless Skinless Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets18-20 Min.375ºF

Braise (Stovetop)Cooking TimeStove Temp
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast FilletsBrown 3 min per side, Add liquid & cover. Braise 20-25 Min.Med-High
Chicken TenderloinsBrown 2 min per side, Add liquid & cover. Braise 3-6 Min.Med-High
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh FilletsBrown 2 min per side, Add liquid & cover. Braise 7-9 Min.Med-High
Boneless Skinless Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast FilletsBrown 2 min per side, Add liquid & cover. Braise 8-10 Min.Med-High

PoachCooking TimeLiquid Temp
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets35-40 Min.165˚F - 180˚F
Chicken Tenderloins13-15 Min.165˚F - 180˚F
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets5-7 Min.165˚F - 180˚F
Boneless Skinless Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets6-10 Min.165˚F - 180˚F

SimmerCooking TimeLiquid Temp
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets25-30 Min.185˚F - 200˚F
Chicken Tenderloins12-15 Min.185˚F - 200˚F
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets5-7 Min.185˚F - 200˚F
Boneless Skinless Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets8-10 Min.185˚F - 200˚F

Deep FryingCooking TimeOil Temp
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets14-18 Min.350˚F
Chicken Tenderloins4-5 Min.350˚F
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets4-6 Min.350˚F
Boneless Skinless Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets4-6 Min.350˚F

BroilCooking TimeBroil Temp
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast FilletsN/AHigh
Chicken Tenderloins3-4 Min. Per SideHigh
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets4-5 Min. Per SideHigh
Boneless Skinless Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets6-7 Min. Per SideHigh

GrillCooking TimeOven Temp
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets25-35 Min.450ºF - 600ºF
Chicken Tenderloins7-9 Min.450ºF - 600ºF
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets9-10 Min.450ºF - 600ºF
Boneless Skinless Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets10-12 Min.450ºF - 600ºF

Indirect GrillCooking TimeOven Temp
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets30-40 Min.375ºF - 450ºF
Chicken Tenderloins8-12 Min.375ºF - 450ºF
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets14-16 Min.375ºF - 450ºF
Boneless Skinless Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets14-16 Min.375ºF - 450ºF

SautéCooking TimeOven Temp
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets11-14 Min. Per SideMedium
Chicken Tenderloins4-5 Min. Per SideMedium - High
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets4-6 Min. Per SideMedium
Boneless Skinless Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets4-5 Min. Per SideMedium - High