Baked Chicken Breast Recipe Ingredients
Youll need just a handful of ingredients for this recipe.
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Its best if the chicken breasts are approximately the same size so that they will finish cooking at the same time. Want to bake chicken thighs instead? Youll love my Baked Chicken Thighs recipe.
- Olive Oil: Rubbing the chicken breasts with a little olive oil adds moisture and helps the seasonings to stick to the meat.
- Seasonings: I use a combination of paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper. This simple spice mix is an easy way to add lots of flavor to the chicken. You can also add some brown sugar for an extra caramelized crust or some chili powder for a touch of heat. Sometimes I use Italian seasoning in place of the dried oregano.
How Long To Bake Chicken At 350 375 400 425 450 Or 500 Degrees F
Lets start out by saying 500 degrees isnt a temperature wed recommend for chicken.
Given the fact that drumsticks and thighs are dark meat and wont dry out as easily as breasts, the range from 350 to 450 degrees is okay for baking them.
350 to 375 is generally best for breasts.
The best answer to these questions? Simply check the chicken for doneness using an instant read thermometer. Stick it into the thickest part of the chicken, making sure you don’t touch a bone if there is one. It’ll read 165 degrees F when the chicken is done.
How Do You Keep Chicken Breast Moist
Chicken breasts are a great source of protein and moisture. There are a few ways to keep chicken breasts moist. One way is to use cooking spray to coat the chicken breasts before frying. Another way is to place chicken breasts in a baking dish filled with water and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
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Ways To Use Baked Chicken
The best part about baking chicken breasts is that they are SO versatile. I love that I can cook it and eat it one way and then use the leftovers for something else the next day! Thats two meals in one!
- In a salad: Put together a favorite salad recipe, chop this this chicken up into cubes and add it in as some extra protien!
- With Vegetables: Pair this chicken breast with some vegetables. I love it with broccoli, asparagus or some cooked carrots.
- When a recipe calls for chicken: Use this! Its such a delicious, flavorful chicken! You could use it in stir fry, with rice, or even as a snack. Make some extra and have it on hand for future recipes and make your cooking experience that much easier!
How To Cook Marinated Chicken In The Oven
Once the chicken is done marinating, I add them to a baking dish Ive sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Youre going to bake them at 400°F until theyre cooked through, about 35-45 minutes. This is where an instant read thermometer comes in handy! They arent expensive and will ensure your chicken is cooked just perfectly without any guesswork.
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Is It Better To Bake Or Pan Fry Chicken Breast
Cooking chicken breast in a hot cast iron pan is easier to cook the chicken breast because you have less chance to overcook it compared to baking it in the oven.
Baked chicken breast is easy to dry out. Thats why this recipe are made with this delicious garlic butter sauce to make this chicken tender and juicy. The garlic butter sauce is not only amazing on top of your chicken but also on top of your sides like rice, mashed potato or other veggies.
Bake At 425 Degrees F
Ive tested how long to bake chicken breasts at 350, at 400, at 425, and at 450.
- Based on my tests, the best temperature to bake chicken breasts is 425 degrees F.
At this temperature, the chicken turned golden on the outside and unbelievably juicy inside. If you go lower, the chicken can dry out, as it will need to be in the oven for a longer period.
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How Long To Cook Chicken Breasts
Large chicken breasts take about 20-22 minutes to cook. Medium-sized breasts take about 18-20 minutes. You also have the option of throwing on your broiler in the last 2 minutes to get crispier edges!
Cooking them at high heat ensures the crispy, caramelised edges, while keeping your chicken super juicy on the inside. Once the chicken is golden and caramelised, its cooked! Let it rest for about 5 minutes to recirculate all of those natural juices through the meat.
How To Bake Chicken Breasts:
Alright, so heres the secret! To make perfectly baked chicken bbrrreasts, you simply need to follow this 5-step acronym: B.B.R.R.R.
Brine : Im telling you this step is an absolute must for anytime you want to bake chicken breasts in the oven. Brining chicken is super-easy, it makes your chicken extra juicy, and best of all, it can be effectively done in just 15 minutes. Plus, if you brine chicken in lukewarm water, it also helps bring the chicken to room temperature, which makes for more even cooking. Win-win!
To brine chicken, simply fill a big bowl with lukewarm water. Stir in a handful of salt until it mostly dissolves. Then add your chicken breasts and let them sit in the saltwater to brine for at least 15 minutes. If you are doing this in advance, you can cover and refrigerate the bowl of chicken and saltwater for up to 6 hours. But you dont want to let the chicken brine for much longer than that.
When youre ready to go, remove the chicken from the brine. Give it a good rinse it with cold water to wash off the salt, and then pat it dry with some paper towels. And voila your chicken is officially brined.
Really, dont skip over this step! It makes a world of difference.
Note: That said, some store-bought chicken breasts are now sold pre-brined. So double-check your packaging beforehand. And if your chicken has already been pre-brined in a sodium solution, just move onto step two. 🙂
I like to roast my chicken breasts on high heat.
And enjoy every last bite.
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What If I Dont Have A Cast Iron
If you dont have a cast iron pan, no need to worry. You can use a regular skillet to sear your chicken and when youre ready to cook the breasts, you can transfer them to a foil sheet pan, casserole or an oven-safe baking dish before adding the garlic butter.
Tip: if you bake your chicken breast in a sheet pan or casserole, add some potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli to make it a one-pan meal.
Chicken Breast Marinade For Baking
I absolutely love this recipe and its a variation of the steak marinade I always use.
I know, it has a lot of ingredients, but it tastes so much better than a store-bought marinade. In a pinch we buy 30-minute marinades, but I much prefer this one.
Your marinade ingredients are:
- Pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning
Simply mix those together in a bowl or measuring cup. You dont have to chop the garlic, just crack it a bit and you can leave it whole.
Add your chicken breasts and let them marinate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. It helps the chicken absorb the flavor but also keeps it moist and tender.
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How Long To Bake Chicken Breasts
The cook time for boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the oven will depend on their size and thickness. Heres a general guide for how long to cook chicken breasts at 425° F:
- Small 5-6 ounce chicken breasts: 13-16 minutes
- Medium 8 ounce chicken breasts: 16-19 minutes
- Large 11-12 ounce chicken breasts: 22-26 minutes
The best way to tell when chicken is done is to use an instant read thermometer to test the internal temperature in the center of the meat. According to the USDA, chicken should be cooked to 165° F for food safety. When chicken is almost done it will finish cooking quickly. Once it registers 155° F, it probably needs just 1-2 more minutes in the oven. Watch it closely as it can quickly go from perfect to overcooked.
How To Make Baked Chicken Breast Thighs Wings Or Legs
We usually buy whole chickens and either cut them up ourselves or have the butcher do it for us. It’s cheaper that way, and we get giblets for gravy. You can do that or just use a package of whatever chicken parts you likemake baked chicken breasts for white meat, and baked chicken thighs and legs for dark.
This way of cooking chicken couldn’t be more straightforward. It’s especially welcome on days when you’re busy and just want to put good food on the table.
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Wet Vs Dry Brined Chicken Breasts
- Pros. Short brining time. Just 15 minutes yielded fantastic results. Chicken retained more moisture.
- Cons. Messy. I dont love having my chicken sitting in a bowl of water. Wet brining takes up more space. You need to rinse the chicken after it is brined which is messy and has a slightly higher contamination risk .
- RESULT. Some of the juiciest chicken Ive ever tasted. It was plumper than the dry brine, though I cant say one was more tender than the other.
Still deciding? Check out these close ups.
Easy Baked Chicken Breasts Recipe
This recipe uses a combination of fresh herbs, lemon juice, and olive oil to ensure the juiciest chicken breast every time. Its a recipe to have on hand for when youre tackling how to cook frozen chicken breast in the oven.
The ultimate baked chicken crowdpleaser, this easy-baked chicken breast recipe is one to try.
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Can You Over Bake Chicken Thighs
While it may seem difficult to overbake tender, juicy chicken thighs, it is not impossible. When overcooked, the meat turns dry and flavorless.
To avoid ruining your dinner, keep a timer and check the status of the chicken thighs once the recommended time is up. If they’re not done yet, keep checking the thighs at 5-minute intervals.
Easy Baked Chicken Wings With Tangy Yogurt Dip
Is there anything better than a perfectly baked chicken wing? This recipe achieves uber-crisp skin sans frying, relying on a few tricks in the oven instead.
First, youll want to use a healthy dose of melted butter to encourage the Maillard reaction . Then, partway through baking, carefully vent the oven to let out steam to remove excess moisture.
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How To Bake Chicken Thighs In The Oven:
STEP ONE: First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
STEP TWO: Next, brush olive oil over the chicken thighs. Then combine the seasonings in a small bowl.
STEP THREE: Sprinkle the seasoning blend over both sides of the chicken thighs before placing them in the baking dish.
STEP FOUR: Finally, bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes.
Ingredients For Baked Chicken
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts I prefer to buy these fresh and then freeze them, but a bag a frozen is fine too. Keep in mind that in the frozen bags, they often include rib meat and have added salt and moisture.
- Olive oil Rub this on the meat for to lock in moisture and help the seasoning to stick.
- Chicken Seasoning This is my tried and true all-purpose seasoning blend of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika or chili powder, salt and pepper. Its simple, and in the right blend its a powerful flavor enhancer.
- Garnish This is of course totally optional, but a garnish of fresh parsley for a little vibrant color makes everything look and taste just a little better.
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Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast
This Baked Chicken Breast is great as a main dish, salad topper for Cobb Salad, or make a chicken sandwich. In this recipe, we will teach you everything you need to know to avoid dry chicken breast for good and always get a juicy, melt-in-your-mouth result. The best part? You can tweak the seasoning as you see fit to cater to whatever youre craving at the moment.
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Dont Use Too Much Oil
Oil is essential for cooking up chicken thighs – bake without one, and you’re more susceptible to burning. However, too much will cause splattering in the oven and can turn a rub into a paste.
For 2lbs of chicken, you’ll only need 1 tablespoon of oil. A little goes a long way, and you’ll only need a thin coat.
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How Long Does It Take To Bake A Chicken Breast At 400
Baking times will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken breast. For example, if you have a chicken breast that is about 5 to 6 ounces, it will take approximately 20 to 25 minutes to bake in a 400F degree oven. I prefer to bake my chicken breast at 400F because the high temperature makes the chicken gets juicier and more flavourful.
How Do I Tell When Chicken Breast Is Done Cooking
Wed be remiss not to mention instant read thermometers, probably your best tool to determine whether or not your chicken is done. Insert an instant read thermometer in the thickest part of the breast youre looking for a final temperature of 165 F. If you dont have an instant read thermometer, you can also cut into the thickest part of the chicken with a paring knife to make sure theres no visible pink meat.
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Whats The Difference Between Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts And Bone
All chicken breasts arent created equal. How long you cook your chicken breast in the oven depends largely on its weight and whether its boneless, skinless or bone-in, skin-on. While the two types of chicken breasts are neighbors in the meat case, they couldnt be further apart in flavor and appearance. Bone-in, skin-on might feel more intimidating to cook, but the fat rendered from the skin and the intact bones generally make for juicier, tastier baked chicken breast. Read on for how long to bake each variety to achieve the best results possible.
How Long Should You Bake Chicken Thighs
In general, bone-in, skin-on thighs with skin will take 45 to 50 minutes to roast in a 350-degree F oven.
The factors that may influence the timing are what youre baking the chicken thighs in and how much room there is between each piece of chicken.
Chicken cooks faster in a very shallow pan, which is why most recipes call for a rimmed baking sheet and not a roasting pan. The taller sides of a roasting pan prevent air circulation around the meat. The same reasoning explains why chicken cooks faster when there’s space around each piece: space allows for air flow. Making sure the chicken pieces arent touching also helps keep the skin crisp because the steam that is coming off the other pieces of meat as it cooks could make the skin soggy.
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How To Make Roasted Chicken Pieces
Baking this chicken is as easy as pie! Or, um, chicken! Its easy, just trust me. Were simply going to season it up and then follow a basic roasting method starting out with high heat, and then finishing with a lower heat. Lets do this!
Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Breast
Tender, juicy Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Breast, thats packed with flavour from the garlic butter sauce. Its totally a win win!
If you love juicy chicken breasts, In sure youll love this Baked Chicken Breast recipe. My husband loves it too, especially because its cooked in garlic butter sauce. Who doesnt love a buttery flavoured sauce?
This sauce gives more flavor to this baked chicken breast and helps it to be tender, moist and juicy too. This sauce is so good that you dont need to even use a chicken marinade. I promise that this recipe will give you a good juicy baked chicken breast for dinner. So, dont be afraid of baking chicken in the oven thinking that itll be dry and tasteless.
I also love this recipe because its very quick and easy to make. No weird steps, no wrapping or brining needed. You dont even need to pound the chicken breast with a rolling pin or meat mallet and you dont need to use parchment paper either. The garlic butter sauce will bring all the flavors.
I absolutely love easy and quick baked chicken breast recipes for dinner. Some of my family chicken recipes are Baked Chicken Breast Recipe, Creamy Parmesan Chicken Breast Skillet and Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe . Want even more chicken breast recipes? Try these 50 Best Chicken Breast Recipes and this Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe.
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