How to Make Juicy Chicken
A few years ago I learned a trick on how to make juicy chicken. Velvet the chicken! Don’t just eat plain chicken on Weight Watchers.
How to velvet chicken
Even though chicken breast is zero Weight Watchers points, adding just a bit of cornstarch and oil—only 2 points total—completely transforms it from dry and boring to incredibly juicy and flavorful. This velveting technique, commonly used in Chinese cooking, creates a silky, tender texture by coating the chicken in a light mixture of cornstarch, oil, and sometimes egg white before cooking.
The cornstarch forms a delicate barrier that locks in moisture, while the oil helps enhance the richness without making the dish heavy. These small additions elevate the chicken from blah to wow, making it taste like restaurant-quality stir-fry while still keeping it light and Weight Watchers-friendly!
How to get juicy chicken without drying it out
A meat thermometer is a total game-changer in the kitchen because it takes the guesswork out of cooking meat, ensuring it’s perfectly cooked every time. Instead of cutting into chicken or overcooking steak out of fear, you can rely on precise temperatures for juicy, flavorful results.
I routinely cook my chicken to 160°F, knowing that the residual heat during resting time will bring it up to the safe 165°F without drying it out. Alternatively, if I’m meal prepping chicken to reheat later, I pull it off the heat at 150°F, so the second cooking brings it to the perfect 165°F without becoming tough and dry. This simple tool not only improves taste and texture but also makes meal prep smarter and more efficient!
How To Make Juicy Chicken
The key to juicy chicken is to velvet the chicken! It's the way Chinese restaurants get tender chicken. Cornstarch is the key and letting it marinate for a mere 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients together and let marinate for 20 minutes. Cook in a skillet, on the grill until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Great on a pita, tossed in a salad or in a protein bowl with greens and rice.
Notes
As of the date of this post, each serving is 2 Weight Watchers points.
Here are five delicious dishes you can make with velveted chicken breast:
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Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry – Tender velveted chicken tossed with crisp broccoli in a savory garlic ginger sauce, served over rice or cauliflower rice for a healthy, takeout-style meal.
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Chicken Lo Mein – Juicy chicken mixed with stir-fried noodles, colorful veggies, and a flavorful soy-based sauce for a quick and satisfying dinner.
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Spicy Kung Pao Chicken – Velveted chicken sautéed with bell peppers, peanuts, and a bold, slightly spicy sauce for a restaurant-quality dish at home.
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Chicken Fried Rice – Fluffy rice stir-fried with eggs, scallions, veggies, and soy sauce, topped with ultra-tender chicken for the perfect balanced meal.
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Lemon Chicken – Lightly breaded and velveted chicken coated in a bright and tangy lemon sauce, perfect for serving over steamed rice or alongside roasted veggies.
These dishes highlight how velveting transforms chicken into something extra juicy and flavorful while keeping it Weight Watchers-friendly!
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If you are new here, welcome to My Bizzy Kitchen! I started this blog 16 years ago to document my recipes and daily life, never imagining it would one day become my full-time career. After losing my husband nearly 10 years ago, I navigated the hardest chapter of my life while still finding joy in cooking and sharing my journey.
In December 2020, I took a leap of faith and left my 30-year career as a legal secretary to pursue My Bizzy Kitchen full-time—a decision that changed my life.
Two years later, in October 2022, I was able to hire my daughter, Hannah, full-time, which brings me so much joy. Now, My Bizzy Kitchen is more than just recipes—it’s about embracing life, finding balance, and making healthy living sustainable and fun.
Follow along for delicious recipes (mostly Weight Watchers friendly!), realistic weight loss tips, and my daily adventures on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook (@mybizzykitchen). Let’s get bizzy in the kitchen together!
Looking for more Weight Watchers recipes? Check out my chicken recipes!
