Baked Chicken Breast (2024)

Meet the basic-done-better recipe everyone needs: how to make juicy Baked Chicken Breast! Say goodbye to bland, rubbery chicken breasts. This moist, tender chicken can be seasoned any way you like and is perfect for your favorite chicken salads and sandwiches, or on its own for a healthy dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Baked Chicken Breast

• Everyone’s Favorite Protein. While not everyone loves dark meat like in Baked Chicken Thighs and Baked Chicken Quarters, white meat like boneless, skinless chicken breast is one of the most approved proteins by picky eaters.
• Quick-Cooking. Boneless chicken cooks FAST. Unlike Baked Bone In Chicken Breast, which can take 35 minutes or more, boneless chicken breast bakes in 10 to 20 minutes.
• ACTUALLY JUICY. With this method and tips, dry, bland chicken breast will be a thing of the past. This chicken is so juicy, you can enjoy it on its own.
• Versatile. Chicken is mild, meaning you can flavor it any which way. Use my go-to Chicken Marinade, your favorite rub, or extra Dry Turkey Brine you have leftover.
• Healthy. Low in calories, high in protein, and with zero carbohydrates and saturated fat, you can’t deny that chicken breast is very healthy. It is a wholesome addition to a balanced diet.

How to Bake Chicken Breasts

1. Pound

• Lightly pound your chicken to an even thickness so that it all cooks in the same amount of time. This prevents dry, rubbery ends.
• As a bonus, your recipe will finish up more quickly and pounding can help make the meat more tender.

2. Brine

Brining isn’t just for turkey!

• Salting your chicken by a wet brine or dry brine method for as few as 15 minutes will enhance its taste significantly. This is true for Grilled Chicken Breast too.
• A brine works wonders for its inner juiciness and ensures that the meat is seasoned all the way through, not just on the outside.

As far as HOW to brine, you can do a wet or dry brine. Both give GREAT results, so pick your favorite.

• Wet Brine. The meat is submerged in a saltwater solution or something like this delicious Chicken Marinade or Turkey Brine. Wet brining is fast (just 15 minutes) but is a little messier because you need to rinse off a wet brine.
• Dry Brine. The meat is seasoned generously with salt and rests uncovered for a period of time. This takes longer (30 minutes) but is tidier since you don’t need to rinse off a dry brine.

3. Let Chicken Come to Room Temperature

• If you put cold chicken in the oven, it won’t cook evenly. By the time the middle cooks through, the outsides will be dry.
• Let your chicken rest at room temperature for at least 10 minutes before baking.

4. Bake Chicken Breast at 425°F

• 425°F is the best temperature for baking chicken. The chicken turns golden on the outside and unbelievably juicy inside.
• At a lower temperature like 350°F, the chicken can dry out, as it will need to be in the oven for a longer period.

5. Get the Right Internal Temperature

To make sure you do not overcook your chicken, use an instant read meat thermometer.

• An instant read thermometer is the absolute best way to know when your chicken breast is done. It will make sure you do not overcook your chicken, fish, and other meats. I even use it to tell when my banana bread is done (195°F)!
• Be sure to insert the meat thermometer at the thickest part of the chicken.
• Per the FDA, chicken breast is considered safe to eat at 165°F. Since the chicken’s temperature will rise as it rests, I remove mine between 155°F and 160°F.

How Long to Bake Chicken Breasts

The amount of time your chicken breasts need to bake will vary based on size. While I strongly recommend using an instant read thermometer, here are some general guidelines.

• Small to medium-sized chicken breasts (6 to 7 ounces) will take about 14 to 16 minutes.
• Medium to large-sized chicken breasts (8 to 10 ounces) will take about 20 minutes.
• Larger chicken breasts will take about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Chicken cutlets, which are chicken breasts that have been sliced in half horizontally to create two thinner pieces, bake more quickly than regular chicken breasts. Start checking them at the 8-minute mark.

6. Let the Chicken Rest

This is non-negotiable for juicy chicken breast.

• Resting meat allows the juices to reincorporate back into the meat. If you cut the chicken right away, all that juiciness you worked for will slip right out.
• For boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 5 minutes of resting time is sufficient, though you can go up to 10 if you like.

Step-by-Step: How to Bake Chicken Breasts

1. Pound the chicken.

2. Pat the chicken dry.

3. For a dry brine: salt the chicken and refrigerate it.

4. For a wet brine: mix warm water and salt together in a bowl. Add the chicken. Let rest 15 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate it for up to 4 hours.
5. Let the chicken come to room temperature. Rinse or wipe off the brine.

6. Season. Toss the chicken with oil and spices, then lay it in a casserole dish. For easy clean up, you can line the dish with foil or parchment paper.

7. Bake Chicken Breast at 425°F. See the suggested cooking time in the recipe card below.

8. Rest. Let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes. DIG IN!

Ways to Season Baked Chicken Breast

Once your chicken is brined, you can bake it right away, or add any seasonings you like.

If using a blend of seasonings, stir them together in a small bowl, then scatter them over the chicken. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Paprika. A delicious, sweet spice. For a hint of heat, use smoked paprika.
• Garlic Powder. Garlicky goodness!
• Onion Powder. Tasty in combination with garlic powder.
• Salt and Pepper. Classic and beloved.
• Red Pepper Flakes. For a little heat.
• Sweet and Spicy. Combine brown sugar with spicier ingredients like chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
• Lemon Pepper. Always a crowd-pleaser. Most lemon pepper seasoning includes some salt, so adjust accordingly.
• Everything Bagel Seasoning. Add the popular seasoning blend to your chicken.
• Cajun Seasoning. Bold and a little spicy. Most cajun seasoning includes some salt, so adjust accordingly.
• Taco Seasoning. Perfect for making chicken tacos or a Chicken Quesadilla.
• Italian Seasoning. Scrumptious for Italian-style recipes.
• Herbs. Oregano, thyme, and rosemary all work well with chicken. For an easy blend, use Italian seasoning or herbs de Provence.
• Curry Powder. Warm and wonderfully flavorful.

Ways to Use Simple Baked Chicken Breast

There are so many incredible ways to use and serve this simple chicken breast recipe!

• With Green Vegetables. We especially love ours with Roasted Broccoli, Roasted Zucchini, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic.
• With Potatoes. You can’t beat chicken and potatoes! Try Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Oven Roasted Potatoes, and Homemade Fries.
• With Pasta or Rice. Serve your chicken with any of your favorite pasta or rice dishes (Mediterranean Pasta and Lemon Rice are two great options).
• On a Green Salad. Pump up the protein of your favorite salad (like this Spinach Strawberry Salad) by adding some chicken.
• For Chicken Salad. To use leftover oven baked chicken breasts in a cold chicken salad, let the chicken come to room temperature, then refrigerate it until it is chilled down. Dice it, then add it to your favorite chicken salad recipe, such as this Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad or this Curry Chicken Salad.
• For a Casserole. This Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole is a family favorite. But don’t forget reader-favorite Baked Chicken and Rice.
• In a Pot Pie. This is the best-ever Chicken Pot Pie and perfect for your baked chicken.
• In Any Recipe! Use this chicken in a recipe that calls for cooked chicken. See our full list of healthy chicken recipes for ideas.

More Favorite Chicken Breast Recipes

• Stuffed Chicken Breast
• Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast
• Lemon Butter Chicken
• Baked BBQ Chicken
• Shedded Chicken Breast: How to Cook Shredded Chicken; Crockpot Shredded Chicken; Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.

For easy use, you can also dice or shred this baked chicken breast. (I suggest using a hand mixer to make shredding extra quick and simple.)

Baked Chicken Storage Tips

• To Store. Refrigerate chicken breast in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• To Reheat. Gently rewarm chicken in a baking dish in the oven at 350°F.
• To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

• Mixing Bowls. This set is easy to clean and store.
• Baking Dish. The perfect baking dish for this recipe.
• Instant Read Thermometer. My #1 hack for knowing when your chicken is cooked through.

Additional Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Thaw the Chicken Breast Before Baking. Don’t bake chicken breasts in a conventional oven, as the chicken may spend too long at an unsafe temperature and dry out. Make this Air Fryer Chicken Breast instead; frozen chicken breast can be placed in an air fryer.
• Don’t Skip the Brining. It is the key to juicy chicken breast. If you do not have time to brine, try Pan Fried Chicken Breast, which doesn’t require brining.
• Meal Prep It. Whenever I make baked chicken breast, I like to cook a lot, then dice, portion, and freeze it. It makes whipping a chicken salad for a healthy lunch extra easy!