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Sous Vide Chicken Breast

J U I C Y E V E R Y T I M E !

Chicken breasts are lean and unevenly shaped — conventional cooking rarely does them justice. Sous vide changes that: pick a temperature, bag the breast with seasoning, and let it cook gently to a perfectly even doneness throughout. At 149°F (65°C) you get a genuinely juicy, tender breast. Finish with a quick sear for a golden browned cap and you have something that tastes nothing like the bland reputation this cut has earned. Based on the recipe by ChefSteps.

Yield: 2 servings · Active: 10 min · Total: 1 hr 10 min

ItemAmount
chicken breastsx2
kosher saltas needed
black pepper, freshly ground (optional)as needed
neutral oil45g divided
Items
Joule® Turbo sous vide
1-gallon ziplock-style freezer bag
10-inch nonstick skillet
paper towels
  1. Heat the water bath: Set your Joule® Turbo to your desired temperature using the doneness guide above.

  2. Season and bag: Season chicken on all sides with salt and pepper. Place chicken and 30g of the oil in a 1-gallon ziplock-style freezer bag and turn to coat evenly. Seal using the water displacement method or a vacuum sealer.

  3. Cook sous vide: Lower bag into the water bath until chicken is fully submerged and clip to the side of the container. Cook according to thickness:

    • Boneless, skinless — 1 inch / 2.5 cm: 1 hour
    • Boneless, skinless — 1½ inches / 3.8 cm: 1 hour 30 minutes
    • Bone-in, skin-on — 1½ inches / 3.8 cm: 1 hour 30 minutes

    Chicken can be held in the bath for up to 2 additional hours without quality loss.

  4. Sear: Remove chicken from bag and pat dry with paper towels. Heat remaining 15g oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Add chicken skin-side down (or smooth side for boneless, skinless) and cook until golden brown, 2–3 minutes.

  5. Slice and serve: Serve whole or transfer to a cutting board and slice against the grain into ½-inch-thick slices. Alternatively, skip the sear and serve as a poached breast.