Cast Iron Grilled Chicken

Cast Iron Grilled Chicken Fillet Recipe makes a perfect busy weeknight meal. Marinated in a spicy and flavorsome sauce, these chicken pieces are super tender and luscious.

Who doesn’t love chicken for dinner? Although our ultimate chicken dinner is certainly Simple Roasted Chicken Pieces, we sometimes crave for something with a grill taste. And I’ve finally discovered how to make it on the stove: Cast Iron Grilled Chicken.

Cooking Chicken Tenders In Cast Iron Skillet

I made these cute guys on my new cast iron skillet. And there is absolutely a big difference between these and the ones cooked on a regular non stick skillet. These come out perfectly tender and juicy when cooked in a cast iron skillet while they come out really dry when cooked in other non-stick pans.

This skillet is my first cast iron item in the kitchen and it will not be the only one. But how did I decide to start using cast iron? Just after reading this article by Oysterculture, I was persuaded not to use teflon (non stick) pans that often and this was the starting point of my cast iron experience. When you read her article, you will see that there is an unbelievable link between teflon and dead birds. Go read that article if you want to learn further on how chemicals harm nature and our body.

About Using Cast Iron Pans

Searching cast iron on the Internet, I learnt that it is the healthiest cookware material. I must admit that I was so excited when we brought this skillet to home. You have to look after cast iron cookware, which makes it special and different from other pans. And it needs a process at the beginning before starting to use it called seasoning.

With the guidance of the salesman’s advice, we washed it just with water (no detergent), dried, brushed all around it with olive oil (including its holder), and cooked it in oven at 200C for 1 ½ hours. Then it was ready to use!

We love making cast iron grilled chicken using this skillet. As heat distributes equally on cast iron, this is a perfect way of grilling. And the cleaning part is not difficult.  Just wash it under water, use salt instead of detergent to remove any remnants, dry, and oil it again before placing it on shelf. This method is like a natural seasoning and you will see how tasty your beef or chicken is each time you use it. So the more you use your cast iron skillet, the more scrumptious results you have.

How To Marinate Chicken Fillet

I generally marinade chicken or beef in a simple olive oil and thyme mixture, but I used a different one this time. I make the marinade with the following spices: black pepper, ginger powder, turmeric powder, a bay leaf and dried thyme. The other ingredients in the marinade are:

• soy sauce
• oil of your choice
• lemon zest
• garlic

Mix them all in a bowl. Put the chicken fillet pieces in a plastic bag and pour the sauce on them. Make sure all of them are coated with the sauce. And tie the bag. Put it on a plate and wait it in refrigerator for about 5 hours.

Cooking Chicken In Cast Iron Skillet

Put your cast iron skillet on stove over high heat (I didn’t add oil in it as I already keep my skillet oily as explained above). When it’s heated enough, you see fumes rising up. It’s time to place the chicken pieces now.

Bring it to low heat and place chicken fillets on skillet. Turn them over after about 5 minutes. And brown the other sides for another 5 minutes. When they reach the color you desire, take them on a plate. Repeat the same steps until you finish the fillets.

You can serve these well browned chicken fillets with a minced parsley topping. And a fresh salad like Turkish Shepherd Salad is a perfect companion for them.

Chicken Fillet In Cast Iron

Very well marinated chicken fillets roasted on cast iron skillet.

• Prep Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Cuisine: American

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 10 chicken fillets

Marinade:

• ½ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup sunflower oil
• 1 lemon zest, grated
• 4 cloves garlic, peels on, just broken gently with palm
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp ginger powder
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients of marinade in a bowl.
2. Put fillets in a plastic bag and pour the sauce on them. Make sure all fillets are coated with sauce.
3. Tie the bag, put it on a plate and wait it in refrigerator for about 5 hours.
4. Put your cast iron skillet on stove over high heat.
5. Bring it to low heat when heated enough and place chicken fillets on skillet.
6. Turn them over after about 5 minutes. Brown the other sides for another 5 minutes.
7. When they reach the color you desire, take them on a plate. Repeat the same steps until you finish the fillets.
8. Serve these well browned chicken fillets with a minced parsley topping.

Keywords: spicy chicken pieces