How do I get my chicken breast fillets tender?

[emmatom]

Please tell me how I cook skinless chicken breast fillets so they are nice and tender.

I want them to go with stuffing, roast potatoes and veg etc. and normally bung them in the oven for about an hour, but they are never soft and tender enough.

What am I doing wrong?

chicken breasts only take 20 mins or so to cook

If you overcook them, they will be tough and chewy

if you put them in the oven, wrap them individually in silver foil (you could wrap in bacon first and put a bit of boursin in the middle too) .. then bake for 20 mins

you could grill them .. marinate in lime juice and chilli first for about an hour first (you can bang them flat first) .. again grill for 20 mins turning halfway

think you've been overcooking them

I cook them in chicken stock for 40mins with foil over the top, the stock gives them a lovely flavour too.

resting meat after it's cooked also helps

Thank you both so much! So it's 20 minutes then. I really didn't think that was long enough to cook them, but I will take you advice.

I like the foil idea too as I imagine that will keep the juicy bit in.

Thanks.

check they are cooked through before serving and if not give them another 5 mins or so

I fry mine (no oil) on a very low heat for about 20 mins, turning 3 or 4 times, and they are lovely.

(Best if fresh, ie not frozen first, that seems to make them tougher)

Absolutely the best way is to marinade for 24hours in live natural yoghurt. I promise you!

Also, poaching then wrapping in cling film or similar while still warm is good

20 mins. should be enough if oven is pre-heated but do check there is no pinkness left in the middle.

Overwhelmed with all these tips. Thank you all very much!

CD .. just yogurt?? or do you season / add anything to it?

Nigella does yogurt as well, really works. Put chicken and yogurt in plastic bag (not Tescos preferably) in fridge earlier.

or buttermilk

emmatom - if you want to roast chicken breast you should use the ones with skin on , prefereably still on the bone as well.

otherwise do as everyone else has suggested already

It worked!!!!! We have just finished a delicious roast chicken meal. I cannot believe how tender it was. The kids used to half chew it (and sometimes spit it back out it was so tough).

I put the filletts in a roasting dish, threw a bit of olive oil over them, 20 minutes later, viola!

I'm printing off this page to try all your tips, yoghurt, poaching etc., for future reference, but I have to say, I think it's the 20 minute rule that worked.

Thank you!!!!!