If you think chicken should only be roasted, fried, or served in a box, you’re in for a big surprise. Chicken is not only one of the most popular and versatile meats, but all kinds of methods can be used to cook it to your liking.

This blog will explore the different ways to cook chicken and provide a selection of simple recipes for trying out these techniques. For instance, did you know you can cook chicken in the dishwasher? Find out below. And before you get in a flap, we also cover more common methods like poaching and braising too!

So, if you consider yourself a prince or princess of poultry, it’s time to shake your tail feathers and delve into the fascinating world of different ways to cook chicken.

Things are about to get very egg-citing!

The Best (and Most Unusual) Ways to Cook Chicken

There’s a reason humans gobbled up an incredible 140 million tons of poultry in 2023 alone. That equates to approximately 74 billion chickens, and numbers are rising every year in line with population growth.

Why? Because chicken is one of the most affordable, versatile, and readily available foods on the planet. You can adapt it any way you like, it takes on all kinds of flavours and spices, and it works with most global cuisines and recipes from spicy curries to warming casseroles.

That said, if you want to learn more about ways to cook chicken to match your favourite dish, you’ve come to the right place

In no particular pecking order, cue the drum(stick) roll, please…

1. Roasted Chicken

Roast chicken is one of the ultimate comfort foods, and everyone has their own way of doing it, and their favourite marinades and flavours to add.

Most chicken requires seasoning, and for roast chicken it’s a must as any spices, rubs, and flavourings penetrate the meat while it is roasting in the oven. Switch things up by adding aromatics like garlic, lemon, onion, and herbs, for example. Or ramp up the spices with a fiery blend of chilli, paprika, pepper, and salt – it really is up to you.

Just make sure your fan oven is set at 180C when you roast chicken and make sure the thickest part of the meat is cooked through before removing and letting it rest for at least 10 minutes before you tuck in. And, of course, any leftovers can be turned into another delicious meal like this chicken with mushroom sauce recipe.

2. Grilled Chicken

Nothing beats the tasty, sticky, caramelised crust you get from grilled chicken on the barbecue. It’s also one of the easiest ways to cook chicken, and the results are always fantastic!

You can change the flavour profile of your grilled chicken by adding spices, aromatics, and marinades. From Turkish kebabs to Jamaican jerk chicken, grilled chicken ticks every box.

Whether you skewer chunks of chicken thigh or throw a whole breast on the barbie, this is a great way to achieve succulent chicken for any occasion. Cooking time should take no more than 30 minutes, and you can also place your meat under the oven grill for 20 minutes when the weather outside turns cold. Any meat left (fat chance of that!) could form the basis of this mouthwatering homemade pie recipe.

3. Braised Chicken

Braised chicken involves two different cooking methods to produce one amazing meal with melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.

Simply sear the meat in a pan with a little oil and any herbs, spices, or aromatics of your choice such as garlic or rosemary, or even add a little chorizo to give it a hint of paprika.

Then, while the meat finishes cooking, lower the heat, add a little broth or wine, and let it simmer away and soak up those delicious juices while it cooks through. This method can be used for all kinds of recipes and cuisines such as this creamy chicken succotash recipe.

4. Fried Chicken

You don’t need to visit everyone’s favourite fast-food Colonel to get your fried chicken fix – you can make your own at home!

Before you start frying, we recommend dry salting the chicken and placing it in the fridge for 30 minutes to overnight. Then, create that all-important spice mixture to coat the meat using pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and any other similar flavourings you like.

Finally, heat some oil in a pan, let the temperature rise to around 350F, then add your chicken, turning occasionally, before tucking into that hot, crispy crust and juicy meat. If, by some miracle, there’s chicken left over, you could toss it into this roasted vegetable pasta dish to create another meal.

5. Poached Chicken

Poaching produces some of the softest, most tender chicken around when cooked correctly. Get it wrong and you’re left with a rubbery mess. So, it’s vital you get your timings right to achieve the meat you desire.

The process couldn’t be simpler – just boil your chicken breasts in a pot of water, though wine and milk will also do. We recommend a ratio of two large cups of water per chicken breast, making sure the meat is completely covered to ensure a silky, juicy texture.

Poaching shouldn’t take too long, and it’s important to turn the chicken over a couple of times while it simmers away. You could also add onion, garlic, celery, or a variety of herbs while its boiling so the meat takes on some of the flavour. Poached chicken works perfectly well with this cheesy, tomatoey, and herby chicken recipe.

6. Rotisserie Chicken

Does your favourite type of chicken come with a handle? We’re right behind you! Rotisserie chicken is similar to roasting, only the meat is skewered and turned over heat so that it’s evenly cooked.

You’ve probably seen rotisserie chickens cooking away in restaurant windows or at your local supermarket. But you can also make it at home with a cheap, do-it-yourself rotisserie set placed in your oven.

First, you’ll have to skewer the chicken with the rotisserie rod, making sure the wings and legs can’t come loose and burn on the flame. Once that’s done just sit back and wait while your meat cooks and tenderises to perfection. Leftovers can go straight into this cream of chicken potato bake. Yum!

7. Pan Fried and Oven Baked Chicken

Like braising, this is two-step method for producing succulent meat with a delicious, crispy skin. All you’ll need is a cast iron pan, preheated oven, and a little oil.

Rub your favourite spices over the meat, warm the oil in the pan to a medium heat, then drop in the chicken and cook for a few minutes. After that, transfer the chicken to the oven and continue cooking until the juices run clear.

This is a quick and easy way of cooking chicken, and the results are always fantastic. It’s also an ideal match for this hearty cheesy chicken and rice casserole recipe on a cold winter’s day.

8. Spatchcocked Chicken

Okay, so this isn’t necessarily a way of cooking chicken, more a method for breaking down a whole bird to shorten the cooking time.

Just remove the backbone by laying the chicken on its belly before using a sharp knife or kitchen shears to cut around the bone and pull it out. Once that’s done, turn the bird over and flatten it out with the palm of your hand so the meat is the same thickness and cooks evenly.

Spatchcocking is an ideal way of cooking chicken on the barbecue or roasting in the oven, and you’ll end up with delicious, crispy skin and juicy meat that could even be included in this filling chicken and rice bake.

9. Sous Vide Chicken

This is a complex method for cooking chicken requiring an airtight container and pot of hot water. The meat is cooked in a vacuum-sealed bag that’s placed inside water kept at 165F.

Plastic bags are typically used in the process, though other air-tight containers also work. Since the water’s temperature is lower than normal, sous vide chicken is generally cooked for longer than you’re probably used to.

However, the fuss is most definitely worth it as the slow cooking process produced the tenderest, juiciest meat imaginable. The method is ideal for all kinds of recipes including this delectable butter chicken dish.

10. Dishwasher Chicken

If you think we’re going mad, please bear with us. Cooking chicken in a dishwasher is actually a thing. Not only that, but the method has been used by award-winning chefs!

You’ll need to rub oil and your favourite seasoning into the meat before folding it into small, foil packets. Once that’s done, place the chicken packets on the top rack and run through a full, hot cycle. Voila, beautifully cooked chicken straight from the, erm, dishwasher!

This wouldn’t be our preferred method of cooking chicken, but it may work for you. And when cooked the meat would work brilliantly in these savoury chicken pancakes.

Do You Know of Any Other Ways to Cook Chicken?

Do you have your secret way of cooking delicious chicken? We’d love to hear about it.

Also, if you’re looking to enhance the flavour of a recipe, adding a can of Campbell’s Condensed Chicken Soup always works wonders.