We Show You How to Butterfly Chicken Breasts
Updated: Mar. 31, 2020Learn how to butterfly chicken breasts so you can make amazing stuffed chicken, cordon bleus and so much more.
There are a few techniques that every home cook should master in order to make spot-on chicken dinners. Learning how to carve a chicken is critical and learning how to spatchcock is helpful, too. But many classic recipes like chicken cordon bleu, herb-stuffed chicken and chicken Kiev rely on one skill to get them just right: butterflying a chicken breast. It might seem tricky, but we’ll break it down for you!
When Should You Butterfly Chicken
The purpose of butterflying a boneless chicken breast is to create a cut that’s thin and even. This is to make frying the chicken a bit quicker—like with chicken piccata. Other times you need the chicken breast nice and thin so you can stuff it with great ingredients and bake it off, like with that classic cordon bleu.
How to Butterfly a Chicken Breast
To butterfly a chicken breast, first, start with a sharp knife. Then place your hand on top of the boneless, skinless chicken breast, slice horizontally into the chicken, dividing it half. Stop about a half-inch from the opposite side. When done, you should be able to open up the chicken like a book so it lies flat. To get the thickness more even, cover with plastic wrap and use the flat side of a meat mallet to flatten to the desired thickness. Once you master this technique, test out our new skill with chicken breast recipes that will make dinner amazing.
Pancetta and Mushroom-Stuffed Chicken Breast
I was inspired by a stuffed chicken Marsala dish I had at a restaurant and wanted to come up with my own version using a different flavor profile. —Ashley Laymon, Lititz, Pennsylvania
Leek and Herb Stuffed Chicken
You're likely to find a lot of herb stuffed chicken breast recipes out there, but this chicken leek recipe is totally unique. It makes great use of leeks, an aromatic that's uncommon on the dinner table, but easy to find. —Shirley Glaab, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Stuffed Chicken Rolls
Just thinking about this dish sparks my appetite. The ham and cheese rolled inside make for a tasty surprise. The chicken rolls are especially nice served over rice or pasta. —Jean Sherwood, Kenneth City, Florida
Pizza Chicken Roll-Ups
I love the chicken roll-ups my mom made for special occasions, filled with spinach and cream cheese. My own kids wouldn't eat those, so I came up with a pizza-flavored variety the whole family enjoys. —Tanja Penquite, Oregon, Ohio
Sage Chicken Cordon Bleu
It's nice to surprise the family with special meals like this during the week. I usually double the recipe so we can enjoy leftovers the next day. —Martha Stine, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts
In my first apartment, I started cooking chicken with feta and sundried tomatoes. Now I serve it with rice pilaf and a salad. —Amanda Rochette, Watertown, Massachusetts
Pesto Rice-Stuffed Chicken
Juicy stuffed chicken is perfect for basil fans, but I've just as easily used shredded cheese in place of the pesto for my pickier eaters. —Rachel Dion, Port Charlotte, Florida
Spinach-Pesto Spiral Chicken
The homemade pesto sets this main dish apart from the rest. Elegant enough for a special dinner but simple enough to a quiet evening at home, you can make this anytime. —Amy Blom, Marietta, Georgia
Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken
My chicken bundles are simple, clean and comforting. Serve them with wild rice and green beans for one of our favorite meals. —Jim Knepper, Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania
Golden Chicken Cordon Bleu
For an entree that's as elegant as it is easy, try this moist classic chicken recipe. It's a simple dish for two, but looks like you really fussed. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
