Chicken Kiev is a famous main dish that seems fancy but it’s actually easy to prepare!

Tender chicken breasts are stuffed with a flavorful herb butter and rolled in a bread crumb crust. They’re crispy on the outside and juicy and buttery inside.  

This dish is best prepared ahead (as the butter needs some time to chill), so it’s perfect to impress your guests or to bake for an easy weeknight meal!

Chicken Kiev on a plate with salad

This recipe has been sponsored by Challenge Butter.

Crispy Chicken Kiev

We love chicken dinners from a garlic butter roast chicken to the most juicy oven baked thighs. This version tops our list for the great buttery flavor.

  • Skip the deep fryer, we think Chicken Kiev is better when homemade dipped in bread crumbs (or Panko) and panfried in a large skillet before baking.
  • Tucking a savory herb butter made with Challenge butter inside a chicken breast half not only keeps the meat tender and adds lots of flavor, but it creates its own sauce as you cut it open!
  • For make-ahead prep, assemble Chicken Kiev portions and freeze them. Bake from frozen for a quick meal any day of the week!
  • Serve it with cozy favorites like Duchess Potatoes, Easy Hasselback Potatoes, or a creamy Spinach Gratin.

ingredients to make Chicken Kiev with labels

Ingredients

Choose skinless boneless chicken breasts for this recipe so they cook quickly and evenly. They’re easy to create a pocket and fill with garlic herb butter.

Challenge Butter creates the magic. Since the butter is the main flavor in this dish you’ll want to use a really great salted butter. Challenge butter is made the old-fashioned way and uses fresh milk and cream from happy cows. With no added hormones or additives and a great buttery flavor, it’s the perfect base for the herb butter in this recipe (and for garlic butter for adding to all of your recipes!).

Use fresh parsley and tarragon (or dried if you prefer). Pair it with a smidge of garlic and some colorful chives to create a richly flavored sauce. You can add a pinch of lemon juice, or even fresh thyme leaves if you’d like.

mixing butter and filling chicken breasts

Tips for Chicken Kiev

  • Use a small paring knife to cut a pocket in the chicken. Make sure you don’t cut all of the way through. You want the pocket to hold all of that buttery goodness inside.
  • Chill the butter before adding to the chicken; this makes it easy to work with.
  • Use both the flour and egg wash (and feel free to do a double dip if you’d like!).
  • Be sure to chill the chicken after breading. This helps reduce the chances of the butter leaking out.
  • Cook until the chicken reaches 165°F.

cooking chicken kiev

How to Make Chicken Kiev

  1. Combine Challenge salted butter with herbs and pat into a square. Chill per the recipe below.
  2. Cut a pocket into each chicken breast and stuff with the chilled butter mixture.
  3. Coat the chicken in breadcrumbs and chill for 1 hour (or overnight if you’d like).
  4. Cook until golden and cooked through.

A Simpler Solution: Many chicken Kiev recipes involve rolling the butter inside of a pounded chicken breast. We find cutting a pocket is not only quicker and easier, it contains the butter better and the flavor is the same; extra buttery with a crispy coating!

How to Cook Chicken Kiev from Frozen

In the oven – Remove plastic wrap. Bake frozen chicken Kiev in the center of an oven at 400°F for approximately 35 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165°F.

top view of plated Chicken Kiev with challenge butter

Freezing and Leftovers

Freeze before baking for up to 3 months. Do not brown the chicken ahead of time. To bake directly from frozen, skip the browning step and spray the chicken with cooking spray. Bake 35-40 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F.

Store leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat portions by heating in the air fryer or heat in the microwave and then pan fry in a little bit of butter until crisp and heated through.

More Chicken Breast Favorites

Did your family love this Chicken Kiev? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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Chicken Kiev on a plate with salad
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Chicken Kiev

Chicken Kiev is baked with homemade garlic butter until perfectly juicy & tender!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Freeze Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings 4
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Ingredients  

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 5-6 oz each
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Butter Mixture

  • ½ cup Challenge butter salted, softened (1 stick)
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley or 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
  • ½ teaspoon dried tarragon or 1 ½ teaspoons fresh, optional
  • ½ teaspoon dried chives or 1 ½ teaspoons fresh chives or green onion, optional

Instructions 

  • Combine all ingredients for the butter mixture in a small bowl. Pat into a 4"x2" square on a piece of plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 20 minutes or in the refrigerator for 1 hour or until firm.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Place the egg in a bowl with 1 tablespoon water and beat well. Place the bread crumbs and salt in a separate bowl.
  • Use a knife to create a pocket in each chicken breast by placing the knife in the side of the chicken breast and cutting an opening. Be sure not to cut all of the way through the chicken, you just want a small pocket.
  • Remove the butter from the fridge and cut into 4 pieces (1"x2" each). Place a piece of butter in the pocket of each of the chicken breasts. Seal the chicken with a toothpick.
  • Season the chicken with salt & pepper to taste and then roll in flour. Dip into the beaten egg and finally into the breadcrumbs gently pressing to adhere. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
  • Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large oven-safe skillet and add the chicken. Cook on each side, about 2-3 minutes or just until golden.
  • Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165°F. Remove toothpicks before serving.

Video

Notes

  • Use a small paring knife to cut a pocket in the chicken. Make sure you don't cut all of the way through. You want the pocket to hold all of that buttery goodness inside.
  • Chill the butter before adding to the chicken; this makes it easy to work with.
  • Use both the flour and egg wash (and feel free to do a double dip if you'd like!).
  • Be sure to chill the chicken after breading. This helps reduce the chances of the butter leaking out.
  • Cook until the chicken reaches 165°F.
Make Ahead & Freezing
Chicken Kiev can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen before baking. Do not brown the chicken ahead of time.
To bake directly from frozen, skip the browning step and spray the chicken with cooking spray. Bake 35-40 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 
5 from 17 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 509 | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 174mg | Sodium: 696mg | Potassium: 516mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1264IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Chicken, Dinner, Entree
Cuisine Russian
close up of Chicken Kiev on a plate with writing
plated Chicken Kiev with salad and writing
close up of plated Chicken Kiev with a title
close up of Chicken Kiev on a plate and cut in half with writing

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

    1. Hello Diane. Yes you can air fry chicken Kiev. Preheat the air fryer to 375F. Prepare the chicken as per the recipe. Lightly spray the chicken with oil. Arrange the chicken in the basket without overcrowding. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Flip part way through. Ensure the internal temp is 165F before serving. You can also follow the cooking instruction in our air fryer chicken breasts recipe! I hope that helps.

  1. Havent made this, yet, but loved the suggested changes with the variety of cheeses. It’s always a pleasure to adjust recipes with a slight change. Flexibility gives us the opportunity to pique the taste buds while complying with what’s in the fridge. Living miles from a town gives us an appreciation for that feature.

    1. Hi Dianne, we have never tried this recipe in the air fryer but would love hear how it turns out for you if you do attempt it!