Chicken Kiev

Chicken Kiev

with a garlic butter center

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 1h 20m
Cook Time: 15m
Total Time: 1h 35m
Servings: 2
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (17 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For garlic butter stuffing:

For chicken:

For frying:

For serving:

Nutritional Information

773
calories
46g
fat
28g
carbohydrates
59g
protein
334mg
cholesterol
1338mg
sodium
Chicken Kiev

Recipe Description

Chicken Kiev, aka chicken Kyiv, is one of the best chicken breast recipes I have ever made. This comforting dish comes from Ukraine. Every single bite is bursting with the delicious flavor of tender and juicy chicken, garlic, fresh herbs, and melting butter. Serve over creamy mashed potatoes for an authentic Ukrainian dinner.

Though the recipe is a bit involved, each of the steps is fairly straightforward, and the end result is worth the effort. First, make the garlic butter filling and refrigerate until firm. Then pound chicken breasts, stuff with the chilled butter and roll the chicken up. Chill the rolled chicken for 30 minutes. Once chilled, dip the chicken in turn in the flour, egg, and lastly, the breadcrumbs. Transfer the breaded chicken to the freezer and chill until it’s firm to handle. Shallow-fry the chicken for two to three minutes and then finish the cooking in the oven. Let rest for 2 minutes and serve hot!  

To make the Chicken Kiev, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Chicken Kiev

Recipe Features

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Steps to make

  1. 1

    Make garlic butter filling

    1 min
    Step 1 - Chicken Kiev

    In a bowl, mix 6 tablespoons softened butter with 2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley, 2 minced garlic cloves, and ¼ teaspoon salt until well combined.

  2. 2

    Chill garlic butter

    10 min
    Step 2 - Chicken Kiev

    Place the garlic butter on parchment paper and roughly shape it into a 4x2 ½-inch rectangle. Refrigerate until firm. Once chilled, cut in half lengthwise to form two even bars.

  3. 3

    Pound chicken

    3 min
    Step 3 - Chicken KievStep 3 - Chicken Kiev

    Place the chicken breasts smooth side down between two pieces of plastic wrap. Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken to an even ¼-inch thickness. Sprinkle each side with salt and black pepper.

  4. 4

    Stuff and roll up chicken

    30 min
    Step 4 - Chicken KievStep 4 - Chicken Kiev

    Place each pounded chicken breast on a large piece of plastic wrap and put a bar of garlic butter in the center. Tightly roll up the chicken around the butter, folding the sides in over the butter, then twist the ends of the plastic wrap to create a log shape. Transfer to the freezer for 30 minutes until the surface is just firm to touch but not frozen solid.

  5. 5

    Bread chicken

    3 min
    Step 5 - Chicken Kiev

    Place 1 lightly whisked egg, ¼ cup flour, and 1 cup panko breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Unwrap the chicken. First, coat the chilled chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Next, coat in egg and drip off excess. Finally, coat in breadcrumbs and lightly press to adhere. Make sure to coat the ends too.

  6. 6

    Chill

    30 min
    Step 6 - Chicken Kiev

    Place the breaded chicken on a plate and transfer to the freezer for 30 minutes until fairly firm to handle but not frozen solid.

  7. 7

    Preheat oven

    5 min
    Step 7 - Chicken Kiev

    Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Place a rack on a baking sheet and set aside.

  8. 8

    Cook chicken

    3 min
    Step 8 - Chicken Kiev

    In a Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet, heat 4 cups oil to 375 °F. Shallow-fry the chicken, turning once or twice, until golden, 2-3 minutes.

  9. 9

    Bake

    15 min
    Step 9 - Chicken Kiev

    Place the chicken on a rack and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and registers 150 ºF on an instant-read thermometer. Make sure to pierce only the top of the chicken to avoid butter leakage. Once baked, let rest for 2 minutes.

  10. 10

    Serve

    Step 10 - Chicken Kiev

    Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot!

Serve this Chicken Kiev hot over creamy mashed potatoes and enjoy a flavorful meal! Let us know if you give this recipe a try, and contact us online using our hashtag #cookmerecipes.

About the author

Jeff O'connor

Jeff is a 38-year-old bachelor who prefers not to waste his time on salads and light meals. He’s a true carnivore who knows how to enjoy food to the max! Jeff will tell you how to cook rich and filling meals from scratch, bringing some real meaty decadence to your kitchen. His recipes are sure to satisfy every meat lover!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (17 reviews)
Tina
January 4, 2025
Verified

I made Chicken Kiev for my husband’s birthday last week and it was such a hit! The flavors were incredible, and the steps were easy to follow. It reminded me of family dinners when I was a kid. Paired with mashed potatoes, it felt like a little slice of home.

Megan
October 7, 2024
Verified

Making Chicken Kiev for my family's dinner was a proud moment. The recipe was a bit detailed, but the flavors were fantastic! The kids loved the buttery center, and it felt special to serve something authentic.

Olivia
July 20, 2024
Verified

This chicken recipe is excellent. I made it for my family and they loved it. The flavors were so vibrant, and it reminded me of my grandma's cooking. Such a delight to serve it over mashed potatoes. Highly recommend it.

Nancy Thompson
May 1, 2024
Verified

Chicken Kiev is one of my family's favorites! I made it for my husband's birthday dinner, and it was a hit. The garlic butter was so flavorful, and the chicken turned out juicy every time. It's a bit of a process, but seeing everyone enjoy their meal was worth it.

Vincent Parker
December 10, 2023
Verified

I tried this Chicken Kiev for a family dinner last week. Honestly, it made me feel like a chef! The flavors were incredible, and my kids couldn't get enough. Worth every bit of effort!

DelightfulD74
December 5, 2023
Verified

Superb! I made this for my friend's dinner, and it was a hit! The flavors explode in your mouth, and it was fun to make! Totally worth the effort!

Chiara
August 27, 2023
Verified

Incredibly tasty dish. I made Chicken Kiev for my husband’s birthday. It was a bit challenging, but he loved every bite and I felt so proud serving it! The flavors are just wonderful.

Yasmin Doyle
August 31, 2022
Verified

OMG, this Chicken Kiev is a game changer! I tried it last week for a small dinner party, and everyone was raving. Didn't think I could pull off something so fancy, but it was simple and fun. That garlic butter? So delish! Will be making it again for sure.

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