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.
Why Is This The Best Baked Chicken Breast Recipe
If you think that a baked chicken breast recipe is bound to be bland or dry, youve been making it wrong.
Im happy to call this the best baked chicken breast recipe. Not only have I made it and re-made it and re-tested it about a bajillion times, Ive also spent hours researching how chicken breast cooks at high temperatures and low ones, how brine works, and more. And Ive experimented with many different seasonings, too.
Below, I have 5 simple steps to show you how to make chicken breast perfectly every time. The brine, olive oil, and baking temperature all work together to lock in moisture, and the seasonings add loads of flavor.
Shake And Bake Chicken
Shake and bake chicken is super tasty, insanely versatile, and crazy easy to make. So basically, it ticks all the boxes and then some.
Between the crispy skins, the tender and juicy meat, and the sensational flavors, this dish is purely phenomenal.
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Also, it couldnt be more straightforward.
You just mix, shake, and bake. It shouldnt take more than a few minutes and youll get the most glorious chicken dish on the planet.
As a bonus, its also healthier than fried chicken.
Sure, it has a bit of butter, but the fact that its baked, not fried in tons of oil, means it has fewer calories than the deep-fried classic.
Thats what I call a win-win!
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Is It Better To Bake Chicken Legs At 350 Or 400
The truth is that both temperatures work. Bone-in chicken drumsticks, thighs and wings can be baked at 350ºF and 400ºF. If cooking the chicken at 350ºF, you may have to add 5-10 additional minutes to the baking time. For this particular recipe, I prefer roasting the chicken at 400ºF because I want the skin to get extra crispy.
Ingredients And Estimated Cost
Per Serving Cost: $0.66
Recipe Cost: $5.26
NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.
- 8 chicken thighs $4.80
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil $0.28
- 1 teaspoon salt $0.01
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder $0.03
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley $0.10
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How To Bake Salmon:
Alright, lets talk about how to cook salmon. To bake salmon in the oven, simply:
Once the salmon has been cooked, it can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Or you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Parchment Paper With Baked Chicken Recipe
You can make your baked chicken with a large variety of spices, herbs, and seasonings, and you dont have to follow my recipe. However, I want to give you a flavourful recipe that works great with any baked chicken recipes with parchment paper. You can change it up how you like, so consider this just an idea to get you started with.
- Parchment paper
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Should You Bake Chicken Covered Or Uncovered
Do you cover a chicken when roasting? We generally like to roast our chicken uncovered so the skin crisps up and turns an appealing golden brown. If the chicken starts to get too dark before it reaches the proper internal temperature, you can tent a piece of foil over the top to prevent it from over cooking.
It depends on the size of your chicken, the type of oil you use, and how long you leave it in the oven. We usually cook our whole chickens for about 20-25 minutes, depending on how big they are and the temperature of the oil we use. You can also cook them for longer if you want, but its not necessary.
How Long Does It Take To Bake Chicken Breasts
Boneless skinless chicken breasts are very lean, so its easy to overcook them. I always set my oven to 450, but maybe you want to cook something else at the same time and need the oven at a lower temperature. You can still get good results using this guide.
Heres how long to bake chicken breasts at each temperature:
- 350: 30-35 minutes
- 425: 18-22 minutes
- 450: 15-18 minutes
Keep in mind that the exact time needed will depend on the size and thickness of the meat. Its super handy to keep a digital instant-read thermometer in your kitchen to get the temp just right.
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Why This Method Works
As much as I love roasting a whole chicken, Ive found that its not always the best if youre cooking for more than a few people or if you want leftovers for other meals. In so many ways, roasting a bunch of chicken pieces is so much more practical its faster , everyonegets what they want , theres no carving required, and there are plenty of leftovers. You can also buy a bunch of chicken pieces when theyre on sale, stash them in the freezer, and then quickly thaw and roast for an easy weeknight dinner.
You can use a mix of chicken breasts, thighs, and drumsticks, or just roast a whole sheet pan filled with your favorite. With thighs and drumsticks, you can buy bone-in, skin-on pieces or boneless, skinless pieces the meat is rich and fatty enough to cook fine either way. However, if youre cooking chicken breasts, definitely buy bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts.Boneless, skinless chicken breasts just become dry and stringy with this cooking method.
If you love boneless, skinless chicken breasts, I recommend one of these other cooking methods:
Recipes To Complete Your Meal
Baked chicken is the BEST staple food. It goes with everything and leaves you with endless pairing options making every meal different! I especially like that baked chicken its so filling. It will totally be the star of the show but in the meantime, these are some tried and true favorites that will elevate your meal to the next level! Enjoy!
Side Dishes
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Do I Need To Pound Chicken
Is it really necessary to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before baking?
Yes!
It is absolutely necessary if you want juicy oven baked chicken. Heres why
The natural shape of a chicken breast is teardrop, with a thicker, meatier portion at the bottom of the teardrop. Chicken must be cooked to 165 degrees F before safely consuming. If you do not pound the chicken down, the thicker portion will take longer to cook to the safe temperature, while the thinner section of chicken breast will get overcooked and result in a dried out, choke-it-down chicken breast.
How To Bake Bbq Chicken
This recipe is so easy to make that it’s one of our go-to recipes for when we don’t feel like cooking. Here’s what to do:
That’s it! BBQ baked chicken in 4 simple steps!
Full recipe in the recipe card below.
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How To Bake Chicken Wings At 425
Love One Pan Meals Try These
RECIPE UPDATE FOR BEST RESULTS.
We tried and tested this recipe many times since posting as a few readers are having trouble comprehending the directions. We found adding boiled chicken broth to the rice allows the cook time to be reduced while giving you perfectly cooked rice.
Please pre-boil your broth while preparing the rest of your ingredients, ensuring hot boiling chicken broth is being added in Step 3. If you dont have chicken broth, use 2 3/4 cups boiling water and mix in 3 teaspoons chicken bouillon or stock powder.
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Ways To Use Baked Chicken Breasts
Cooked chicken breasts are not only healthy, theyre quite versatile. Heres a few ideas!
- Round out a plate with sides. Eat the chicken alongside sautéed spinach and rice, or any other side dish youd like.
- Top onto a salad. Start with leafy greens, add freshly chopped veggies along with your chicken, and toss with a lemon vinaigrette.
- Add into a casserole. Load your casserole up with diced chicken breasts, rice, and extra veggies with a sprinkle of cheese.
- Mix into a stir fry. Add it into a stir fry with broccoli, carrots, bell pepper, and other vegetables.
How To Store And Reheat Leftovers
Youve got two options for storing your leftover baked chicken the fridge or the freezer. Whichever you choose, you are going to want to wrap the chicken tightly or store it in an airtight container.
- Fridge: Your chicken will be good for about 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Wrap your chicken tightly in foil, then place in an airtight, freezer safe container. It will last about 4-6 months.
When youre ready to reheat your baked chicken, place it in a baking dish and warm them in the oven. To avoid drying out, you could whip up some extra marinade and spoon it over the chicken.
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Quick Sides To Serve With This Oven Baked Chicken Breast
To turn this into a truly quick and easy dinner recipe, you’ll need a side that can be prepped once you put the chicken in the oven and only takes a few minutes to cook.
My favorites are quickly sauteed green beans or this Sauteed Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan recipe. Here are a few others that I love:
If you’d like potatoes with your dinner, try these Smoky Roast Potatoes. Pop them in the oven 25 minutes before the chicken so they have time to cook.
When the weather is hot, make sure to check out our Best Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe. It’s the summer version of this one and it really is the best BBQ recipe!
And when you feel like switching things up, try our Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs or Juicy Baked Pork Chops!
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Can Chicken Breast Be Cooked From Frozen
Yes and no. The USDA says that you can cook chicken breast from the freezer by increasing the cook time by 50% .
However, I dont recommend this, because you will likely end up with an overcooked exterior by the time the inside is cooked through. Instead, for best results, thaw the chicken breasts in cold water before baking, or in the refrigerator overnight.
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How Long Do You Cook Chicken Tenderloins At 350 Degrees
Bake at 300 for 20 30 minutes or till chicken reaches desired thickness.If your tender is thinner than desired, cook for longer times.Thicker ones require less time to cook.Cooking time will depend on your chicken thickness, how much you want to add, etc. You can also add more seasoning to your dish. Seasoning will vary depending on what youre adding.
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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.
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More Easy Chicken Recipes
There you have it the best way to bake chicken breast, with perfect seasoning! If you want to know how to cook chicken in other ways, here are some popular preparations:
- Baked Chicken Legs Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside.
- Indian Butter Chicken With a simple and flavorful sauce.
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole If youre looking for ways to use leftover baked chicken breast, this one is perfect!
- Pressure Cooker Shredded Chicken Another common way to use up lots of chicken breast.
How To Bake Chicken Breasts
- Season chicken breasts in a mixture of herbs, salt and pepper, and the most fundamental ingredient: olive oil. Olive oil not only adds flavour to chicken breasts, it also adds moisture AND help your seasonings stick to the breast while avoiding chicken sticking to the bottom of your baking dish.
- Pour in the balsamic sauce that acts like a two-for-one: tenderises and adds another level of flavour to otherwise boring or dry breasts.
- Bake. This is the part that terrifies some people. How long two you bake chicken breasts for? High or low temperature? How do you know when its done? TERRIFIES. Because theres nothing worse than dry-hard-to-swollow chicken breasts. I hear you loud and clear. But! It should not be a terrifying experience. After all, its just chicken.
- Broil . You want your melted cheese to be bubbling and golden on your chicken, right? Yes.
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Making Gravy From A Whole Chicken
If you bought a whole chicken to start with, the chicken may have come with the neck and gizzards . Use the chicken back and these giblets to make stock for gravy.
Chop up the back a little, and put the back, gizzard, and neck into a small saucepan and cover with water by a half inch or so. Bring to a simmer and let simmer while your chicken is baking. Then strain and use the stock for making a richly flavored gravy.
Heat the drippings from the roasted chicken with some stock or white wine for a simple gravy.
How Long To Bake Chicken
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts will bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165 F. This, of course, depends upon the weight and thickness of the chicken breast youre baking.
When it comes to baking chicken breasts, size matters.
Follow the guidelines below for estimated cooking times for baked chicken breasts:
- 5 ounces 14-16 minutes
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