Chicken Kiev is making a comeback! This irresistible garlic butter-stuffed chicken breast is breaded and pan-fried. It’s crunchy with juicy chicken breast, and you’ll love the spurt of hot butter in the center. With my simplified method, it’s easier than ever to pull this off. You’ll enjoy one of the best chicken recipes of your life.
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Helpful Reader Review
“For 39 years, I’ve been making Chicken Kiev for my husband’s birthday dinner. I found this one today and made it. Super easy and with his first bite, my husband said, “This is the best ever”. Thank you!” – Barbara Martin ★★★★★
Chicken Kiev
Chicken Kiev (a.k.a. “Chicken Supreme”) is a classic Eastern European recipe from the early 1900’s. It’s been a popular dish for a century, and for good reason! You will savor every bite.
I used to make the traditional Chicken ala Kiev recipe that I learned from my old The Russian Tea Room Cookbook, where you pound the chicken flat before stuff it, roll it up, and refrigerating it before deep frying it for a while, then finishing it off in the oven to ensure your big ball of chicken cooks through. It was quite a process, and I needed to make it easier without losing any of the flavor and crunch – I present to you this Easy Chicken Kiev!
Watch Easy Chicken Kiev Video
I’m sharing all of my tips for making the best Chicken Kiev. My favorite part is slicing through the crisp exterior and seeing that stream of hot lemon-herb and garlic butter that makes the chicken incredibly moist and flavorful – ah, it gets me every time!
That butter is so simple to make, and it is the secret weapon for some of our MOST popular recipes like One-Pan Salmon and Asparagus, Lobster Tails, and Roast Turkey! It’s a truly amazing mix of fresh flavors.
Ingredients for Chicken Kiev
The ingredients for this Chicken Kiev are simple and straightforward, but the finished product is anything but ordinary.
- Chicken – You’ll need three 12oz chicken breasts. Once you cut them in half, you’ll end up with 6 cutlets. You can use precut chicken cutlets and skip the first step of slicing the breasts in half.
- Breading – All-purpose flour, beaten eggs, and Panko bread crumbs. Panko is the best breading for crunchiness, but you can substitute it with regular breadcrumbs in a pinch.
- Extra light olive oil, or Canola oil – both of these neutral, high-smoke point oils are best for frying/sauteeing. Don’t use butter or extra virgin olive oil since they can burn while frying.
- Unsalted Butter – The key is to be sure the butter is at room temperature before mixing.
- Flavors – minced garlic, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper
- Lemon juice – adds bright flavor to the chicken. Be sure to save some lemon wedges to drizzle over the finished chicken
How To Make Chicken Kiev
This simplified Chicken Kiev Recipe comes together in no time! It’s easy, but so delicious.
- Make the Flavored Butter – Mash the butter ingredients together in a medium bowl with a fork. It will take a few minutes to mix, but don’t give up! I’ve had a reader say they used a food processor with good results.
- Prepare the chicken – Cut the chicken breasts in equal halves longways using a thin utility knife. Without cutting through each piece, cut a pocket as widely as you can. Stuff the pocket with the butter mixture and press on the top to spread the butter. Pinch to close the pocket and season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Pro Tip:
If you do accidentally slice through while making the pocket, turn the chicken over and cut a small flap to fold over and seal the hole from the outside. Watch my video above to see this tip in action.
- Make your breading station – Put the breading ingredients into separate shallow bowls or plates. Bread the prepared chicken one by one by dredging in flour, then egg, and then finally Panko, being sure to let excess drip off before moving to the next ingredient.
- Fry Chicken ala Kiev – In a large deep skillet over medium heat, heat a 1/3″ of oil. Add the prepared stuffed chicken breasts in batches so you don’t crowd the pan. Fry 4 minutes per side until golden brown and then remove to a paper-towel-lined plate.
- To Serve – Season hot chicken cutlets with salt. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges to squeeze on top.
Pro Tip:
To be sure the oil is ready, drop a breadcrumb into the oil. It should sizzle immediately. You can also use an instant-read thermometer to see when the oil is 350-375°F.
How to Know When Chicken Kiev is Done?
The chicken will cook quickly since it’s thinly cut. Once the breading is browned and crispy, you can test the chicken with an instant-read thermometer to read 165°F and the juices run clear instead of pink.
Can I Make Chicken Kiev in the Air Fryer?
For a lighter version of the dish, swap pan-frying for air frying. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Spray the breaded and stuffed chicken lightly with oil (optional) and place in the basket. Cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Helpful Reader Review
“This was soooo good. I was actually surprised how flavorful the butter mix inside made the crispy chicken. Only change I made was used part dried parsley and small amount of dried basil (had no fresh parsley) and loved them. I’ve been cooking/baking almost 50 yrs but had never made chicken Kiev and this recipe was great.” – Brenda ★★★★★
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
This simplified Chicken Kiev recipe can be a great dish for dinner parties since it’s simple but impressive. Make the chicken ahead of time and fry when ready to serve.
- Make-ahead: after breading the chicken in step 3, cover with plastic wrap or place into an airtight container. Store in the fridge until ready to fry in step 4. You may have to add a minute to the cooking time.
- To Refrigerate: allow leftovers to cool completely, and then store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: once leftovers are cool, wrap each breast individually in plastic wrap or freezer paper. Flash freeze and then place wrapped breasts in an airtight container. Thaw in the fridge overnight
- To Reheat: Saute chicken in a tablespoon of oil or air fry until warm.
What to Serve with Chicken Kiev
I have to warn you, this will smell so good you’ll want to dive right in, dipping each bite of chicken into the melted seasoned butter. So delicious!! Chicken Kiev is a versatile protein dish that is complimented by so many sides:
- Mashed Potatoes
- Focaccia Bread
- Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad
- Roasted Broccoli
- Risotto
- Baked Sweet Potato
- Green Beans Almondine
- German Potato Salad
- Caesar Salad or Maroulosalata
My simplified Chicken Kiev recipe makes this traditional dish easy to make without sacrificing any of the juicy flavors or crunchy texture. The garlic butter-stuffed chicken is quickly pan-fried in just a few minutes and can be served with your favorite sides for a yummy and satisfying meal. Tell me in the comments how you like my version of Chicken Kiev!
Chicken Kiev Recipe
Ingredients
For the Lemon-Herb Garlic Butter:
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temp
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice, plus more lemon wedges to squeeze over the finished chicken
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley, plus more to garnish
- 1/2 tsp salt, we use sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
For the Chicken Kiev:
- 3 large chicken breasts, 12 oz each breast*
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups Panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 tsp Salt and Pepper, or added to taste
- Extra light olive oil , or Canola oil, to sauté
Instructions
- Make the Flavored Butter – In a medium bowl, mash together all Kiev butter ingredients with a fork, just until lemon juice is incorporated into the butter. It takes a couple of minutes but it does come together.
- Prepare Chicken – Using a sharp slim knife, cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise, keeping both halves equal in size and thickness. Carefully cut a pocket into the side of each chicken breast as deep and wide as you can go without cutting through the chicken breast* (about a 2"wide x3" long pocket). Stuff each chicken breast with 1 Tbsp of Kiev butter then close the pocket and push over the top of the chicken breast to disperse the butter. Pinch the opening to seal. Season both sides of the chicken breast with salt and pepper.
- Make your breading stations – Set up 3 plates for breading: In the first plate, pour 1/2 cup flour. In the second large bowl, beat together 2 eggs. In the third large bowl, pour 2 cups panko crumbs. Dredge chicken in flour, dusting off excess then dip in eggs making sure to get a good egg coating all around and letting any excess egg drip off. Finally, dip into the bread crumbs. Transfer to a platter while forming the remaining chicken Kievs.
- Fry Chicken Kiev – Add 1/4" of oil to a large deep skillet and place over medium heat. Once the oil is hot (350˚F or if you add a bread crumb, it should sizzle), add chicken in a single layer and fry until golden brown (4 min per side- if it browns too quickly, reduce the heat). It's done when it reaches 165˚F on an instant-read thermometer. Repeat cooking the second batch.
- To Serve – Season hot fried chicken with a sprinkle of salt, garnish with fresh parsley, and squeeze lemon wedges over the top, then serve. Be careful of the first spurt of hot butter when you cut the chicken.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Tasty Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Marsala
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Chimichurri Chicken
- Sticky Korean Chicken
- Easy Popcorn Chicken
- Chicken Pesto Rollups
- Chicken Korma
i made this recipe today for my son’s birthday today and he loved. he said it was different and when am i going to make it again. you were right about the extra butter and salt. i loved it, very good.
Hi Val! That’s so great to hear. Thank you for the feedback.
can i also use dry parley? i have a lot of seasonings because i do a lot of cooking. i would like to use what i have on hand.
Hi Val! You could use dry as well if that’s all you have on hand. You’ll have to experiment with the amount to use for good flavor, but a general rule of thumb is a ratio of 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs to 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.
can you use dry garlic in this recipe instead of fresh garlic gloves.
We love using fresh garlic but I thik that will work too
Do you have to use unsalted butter, or will salted work just as good?
Hi Paul. I prefer to use unsalted because then I can control how much salt to add to the recipe based on preference. If you use salted omit or cut back the remainder of the salt called for in the recipe.
Hi, this recipe looks so good!!Can I bake the chicken instead of frying?
Hi Elena, I honestly have never tried baking this so I’m not sure if the butter would stay put since the oil does help to seal the chicken breast. Sorry I can’t be more helpful with your question.
I’ve meant to post this for some time, but this is superb, and not to difficult. I used a boning knife to make the pocket in the chicken breast quarters. It worked like a charm, and I chilled the butter mixture. I didn’t think that the butter would stay in, but it did!! This is a great company dish, perfect with kasha and mushrooms, or mashed potatoes. Even my mother was impressed. Thanks so much for a great tweak to an old and timeless classic.
What do you do with the chicken tenders?
Hi Jane! I’m so glad you love the recipe! These reheat really well if you have leftovers. The spurt of butter isn’t as prominent when reheated but they are still super juicy and flavorful.
OMG, this was incredibly the best chicken dish I made. My husband absolutely loved it, so did I!! It is a keeper. Next time I make it I will serve it with buttered noodles with Parmesan. EXCELLENT!!
I’m so glad you loved it. Thank you for sharing.
Hi, Natasha! I am so happy I found you! Your recipes never fail and I always get tons of compliments!
Although, it is very important for us, Ukrainians, if you spell the capital correctly. It’s Kyiv and never Kiev.
I’m so happy you discovered our blog. Welcome! 🙂
Pretty simple and very tasty! Thank you for this recipe – all the other ones looked too time consuming!
You’re welcome, Karina! Thank you for sharing.
Amazing and delicious weeknight dinner option! Very easy to make and the hubby was loving it! Exact words – Great Find!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Lisa!
Awesome review and feedback, thank you!
Could this be cooked in an air fryer? If so, at what temperature and for how long?
Also, do you have nutrition information for this recipe?
Hi Cyndy, I haven’t tested this in an Air Fryer to advise. If you happen to experiment, I would love to know how it goes.
This was soooo good. I was actually surprised how flavorful the butter mix inside made the crispy chicken. Only change I made was used part dried parsley and small amount of dried basil (had no fresh parsley) and loved them. I’ve been cooking/baking almost 50 yrs but had never made chicken Kiev and this recipe was great. I love your recipes and especially your videos. I’ve shown your site to a bunch of friends too. Thanks for the wonderful recipes and site.
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Brenda. I’m all smiles hearing you’re sharing this with your friends also! Thank YOU 🙂
I made this last night and it came out amazing! Easy weeknight dinner but still felt a little fancy. I added a little dill to the garlic butter mixture and served the chicken with rice pilaf and cucumber salad. I would definitely make this again.
Yum! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Jane! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi! I prepared this chicken all the way up to the point of sautéing it, prepping the night before the dinner. I put the stuffed & egged/floured/breaded chicken in the fridge overnight & fried it the next evening. It came out absolutely perfect & my company loved it. Thanks so much for this great recipe, & so good to know it’s make-ahead friendly. : )
Great idea, B! I bet that saved some time when prepping for company! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
I should have watched the video first! I misunderstood the written directions and didn’t cut each breast in half first….and then make a pocket! Made the pocket in the full breast! So my giant Kiev is now in the oven cooking through! Next time will be better!
Oh no, I hope your giant kiev will still be good! Don’t worry, I’m sure it will already be perfect on your next try.
Thank you for making this mistake and posting it. I would have done the exact same thing!
Thanks Natasha!
The Chicken Kiev made me a hero at dinner tonight!
You’re so very welcome! I’m happy it worked out 🙂
Hi Natasha,
This was so good! I will be making this again and again 😋I didn’t have any parsley so I used basil. I love all your recipes and videos!! You are my inspiration for deciding what to make, can’t wait to try another recipe.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Lynda
That’s a good idea and great to hear that you liked it. Thanks for sharing that with us, Lynda.
Delicious! We doubled the butter filling recipe and served the extra over angel hair pasta. We also made the roasted asparagus. Fabulous dinner! Can’t wait to make this dinner again and again!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Mar!
What is Kiev butter for your chicken Kiev dinner Waiting for your cookbook to come out
Hi Geri, it is the Lemon-Herb Garlic Butter that I list in the recipe. Thank you for patiently waiting for my cookbook.
Wow! What a find. I’m 62 now and really don’t like to cook. Natasha made it easy for me to make food dishes that everyone requests over and over again. Thank you!
Aww, thank you so much for sharing that with me, Denise!