Baked Chicken Breasts
My favorite oven roasted chicken breasts recipe! Thanks to this straightforward 5-step recipe that you can easily produce and modify with your preferred seasonings, it never fails.Baked Chicken Breasts
Baked Chicken Breasts
I inquired if anyone would be interested in a back-to-basics series on how to bake proteins (such as chicken, pork, beef, shellfish, tofu, etc.) in the oven a few weeks ago on Instagram. Your response? Please, a resounding yes. In addition to having numerous stories to share about proteins that have gone bad over the years, many of you had requests and inquiries regarding different protein cooking techniques. And I hear you, boy. Over the years, my tiny kitchen has also seen its fair share of salmon skins stuck to pans, overdone steaks, totally dried-out pork chops, and less-than-crispy tofu.They are never enjoyable, particularly because proteins are expensive and only used on exceptional occasions. It’s all a part of the experience of learning to cook, though. Eventually, I worked my way up to several fundamental protein baking techniques that have become really dependable and tasty kitchen mainstays.Baked Chicken Breasts
I thus believed that we could go through each of them over the course of the following two weeks, starting today with the protein that Gimme Some Oven users have requested the most.Baked Chicken Breasts
In particular, skinless, boneless chicken breasts.Baked Chicken Breasts
Innumerable people have asked me for new chicken breast recipes over the years, and many more have asked for advice on how to bake chicken breasts in the oven. Because everyone who has ever worked with chicken breasts knows that they may be very versatile, but they can also be very difficult to work with, especially when baked. If you cook them incorrectly, the result will be a tough, flavorless, dry, and rubbery mess. But properly prepared? You will adore these wonderfully roasted, juicy, tender, and tasty chicken breasts.Baked Chicken Breasts
The good news is that you can easily alter them by adding your preferred sauces or seasonings. Additionally, my 5-step roasted chicken breasts method is quite simple to produce. Over the years, thousands of our readers have tried it and said that this method changed the way they cook chicken. So let’s bake some chicken together if you haven’t tried it yet!Baked Chicken Breasts
Baked Chicken Breasts Recipe
Baked Chicken Breast Ingredients
This recipe for roasted chicken breasts requires the following ingredients:
- Skinless, boneless breasts of chicken: You can buy frozen chicken breasts (which you must fully thaw before using) or fresh chicken breasts (which is what I prefer). These days, some chicken arrives already brined, so you may skip the first step below.Baked Chicken Breasts
- Olive oil or butter: Your choice! Olive oil will also work nicely, but I prefer the added flavor that butter offers.Baked Chicken Breasts
- Kosher Salt: a necessary component of our brine, and we’ll season the chicken with salt prior to baking.Baked Chicken Breasts
- Seasonings: In the recipe below, I used an all-purpose blend of smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper that is incredibly easy to make and pairs well with almost anything. However, you are welcome to use any dry seasoning blend you like.
Additionally, I strongly advise keeping a cooking thermometer on hand if you frequently bake chicken (or any other type of cooked protein) in the oven. It works flawlessly and is the most reliable method for ensuring that your chicken is neither overcooked nor undercooked. I suggest either of these:
- Cooking thermometer with instant readout: which I’ve had for years and have used to prepare chicken; it costs around $14 on Amazon right now.Baked Chicken Breasts
- Wireless meat thermometer with dual probes: This, which I also own and adore, costs roughly $33 on Amazon right now and can be used inside a hot oven (particularly useful for roasting steak, salmon, and pork). It can also beep or send an alarm to your cell phone.Baked Chicken Breasts
How To Bake Chicken Breasts
Okay, so this is the trick! You only need to adhere to this 5-step acronym in order to prepare properly roasted chicken breasts: B.B.R.R.R.
- Brush,
- Brine,
- Rub,
- Roast,
- Rest
Brine (Step 1): I’m telling you, if you ever want to roast chicken breasts in the oven, this step is absolutely necessary. Brining chicken is really simple, adds extra moisture, and, best of all, can be completed in as little as 15 minutes.Baked Chicken Breasts
Simply fill a large basin halfway with lukewarm water to brine chicken. Add a handful of salt and stir until most of it dissolves. Lower the water’s temperature till it feels cool to the touch by adding ice cubes or cold water. After that, add your chicken breasts and let them brine for at least 15 minutes in the salt water. The bowl of chicken and saltwater can be covered and kept in the refrigerator for up to six hours if you are preparing this ahead of time. However, you should not leave the chicken to brine for more than that.Baked Chicken Breasts
Take the chicken out of the brine when you’re ready to leave. Rinse it thoroughly with cold water to remove the salt, and then use paper towels to wipe dry. Just like that, your chicken is now formally brined.Baked Chicken Breasts
Really, don’t skip over this step! It has a profound impact.Baked Chicken Breasts
It should be noted that some store-bought chicken breasts are now offered already brined. Check your packing again in advance. Simply proceed to step two if your chicken has already been brined in a sodium solution.
Brush (Step 2): Apply melted butter to the chicken breasts. Or, at the very least, I strongly advise using butter. It enhances the flavor and contributes to a lovely golden exterior crust. However, you are welcome to use olive oil or any other preferred cooking oil.
To help the seasonings adhere and to keep the chicken from sticking to the pan, give the breasts a thorough brushing on both sides. After that, put the chicken breasts in a big roasting pan or baking dish.
Rub (Step 3): You can only season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper if you’re really trying to keep things easy. However, once more, chicken will absorb the taste of any seasonings you choose. I thus strongly suggest the easy chicken seasoning recipe I’ve supplied below, which calls for salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, even if you’re preparing a straightforward dish that calls for “plain” chicken breasts.
Roast (Step 4): The question of how long to bake chicken breasts is the one that creates some arguments among chicken enthusiasts. Additionally, what temperature is ideal for baking chicken? Do you bake it at 350°F for 30 minutes on low heat? Or do you roast the chicken quickly and high (for example, 15 minutes at 450 degrees)? I’ve done hundreds and dozens of tests on both, as well as nearly every interval in between. And when it comes to baked chicken, I ultimately go toward the latter.
I prefer to use high heat for roasting chicken breasts.
Roasting chicken at 450°F should take 15 to 18 minutes, depending on how thick and large your chicken breasts are. It’s quick and simple. However, the main reason I adore it is that cooking at high heat fast creates a wonderful, crispier “crust” on the surface of the breasts. This helps to keep the oven-roasted chicken’s inside delightfully soft while also locking in its fluids. Both worlds are best combined.
Instead of slicing into the cooked chicken with a fork, which allows the delicious juices to escape, I strongly advise getting a little cooking thermometer to check the temperature and determine when it is ready to eat (the FDA states that the safe cooked chicken temperature is 165°F). This instant-read thermometer, which I use, can precisely determine the internal temperature of your chicken in a matter of seconds.
Rest (Step 5): There is no negotiating this one. As with cooking any meat, you really must allow your gorgeously cooked chicken breasts to rest before consuming them. You will lose some of the softness and all of the wonderful fluids if you cut in too soon. However, allowing your freshly baked chicken breasts to rest for a short while will allow them to complete cooking and retain all of their flavorful fluids, making for the most succulent, juicy, and delicious baked chicken.
To retain the heat while the chicken is resting, I suggest covering the pan with a lightly folded piece of aluminum foil. You may then serve and savor your perfectly cooked chicken breasts after 5 to 10 minutes.
And savor each last morsel. ♥
How to Season Chicken Breasts in the Oven
Once more, I love the traditional paprika-garlic-pepper mixture in the dish that follows. However, if you want to switch things up, you can use any of your preferred dry seasoning blends, like:
- Seasoning from Italy
- Cajun seasoning
- Seasoning with Za’atar
- Taco Seasoning
- All of It Seasoning for Bagel
How Baked Chicken Breasts Are Used and Served
Serving these roasted chicken breasts straight from the oven is, of course, the simplest method. However, these oven-baked chicken breasts can also be sliced, shredded, or diced and used in various recipes, like these favorites:
- Chicken Souvlaki,
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole,
- Chicken Parmesan Baked Ziti,
- Healthy Curry Chicken Salad,
- Asian Chicken Chopped Salad,
- 5-Ingredient White Chicken Chili,
- Creamy Chicken Marsala Soup,
- and Simple Chicken Posole Verde
How to Keep Baked Chicken Breasts in Storage
After baking, the chicken can be kept in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container. It can also be frozen for up to three months. (For easy use, I suggest slicing, chopping, or shredding the chicken before freezing.)
Side Dish Recipe Ideas
Are you looking for some side dishes to go with this recipe for baked chicken? Some of my favorites are as follows:
- Our family’s favorite salad or the one we eat every day
- Baked sweet potato fries, mashed potatoes, or scalloped potatoes
- Ideal Winter Fruit Salad with Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Roasted Asparagus Berries
More Baked Protein Tutorials
Check out our guides on baking tofu, fish, and other meats as well!
- Chops of baked pork
- Salmon Baked
- Tofu baked
- Whole Fish Baked
- How to Cook Steak in the Oven: Baked Steak
- The easiest way to cook shrimp is to bake it!
Baked Chicken Breasts
Description
Use this easy 5-step recipe to make roasted chicken breasts that are juicy, tender, and tasty.
Ingredients
- Four skinless, boneless chicken breasts that have been pounded to uniform thickness
- One tablespoon of olive oil or melted butter
- One teaspoon of kosher salt
- Half a teaspoon of black pepper, freshly ground
- Half a teaspoon of powdered garlic
- Half a teaspoon of paprika, smoked
Instructions
Brine the chicken. Examine your chicken breasts’ label. Please omit this step if they have already been brined in a salt solution.) Add 1/4 cup kosher salt and 2 cups lukewarm water to a large mixing basin. Mix until the majority of the salt has been absorbed. Lower the water’s temperature until it feels cool to the touch by adding two cups of cold water (or a few ice cubes). Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours, or add the chicken breasts and let them sit in the mixture to brine for 15 minutes. After taking the chicken breasts out of the brine, give them a quick rinse in cold water and use paper towels to pat dry.
Heat the oven. Turn the oven on to 450°F.
Season the chicken. In a large baking dish*, arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer. Evenly brush with the melted butter or olive oil on both sides, rotating once. Mix the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a different small bowl. Evenly distribute the seasoning mixture on both sides of the chicken.
Bake. Cook the chicken in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until it is cooked through and no longer pink. The thickness of the chicken breasts will determine how long it takes to cook, so I suggest using a cooking thermometer to determine when the chicken is done. The ideal temperature for the thickest area of the breast is 165°F. (You may use the broiler on high for the last three to five minutes of cooking and broil the chicken until it is cooked through and golden on top if you want it to be slightly browned and crispier on top. However, keep a careful watch on the chicken to prevent overcooking or burning.
Rest the chicken. After cooking, take the pan out of the oven, place the chicken to a fresh dish, and cover the plate loosely with aluminum foil. Give the chicken five to ten minutes to rest.
Serve. Warm up and dig in!
Notes
Baking Dish: Please confirm your baking dish’s maximum temperature for this recipe. The maximum temperature that glass dishes (like Pyrex) often recommend is 425°F, so we do not advise using one for this recipe. This dish can also be prepared using a heavy-duty metal baking sheet.
Storage instructions: Cooked chicken can be frozen for up to three months or kept in the refrigerator for up to three days in a sealed container.
