Meet the never-lets-you-down, basic-done-better recipe everyone needs: how to make the juicy Baked Chicken Breast! Say goodbye to bland, rubbery chicken breasts of your past. This moist, tender chicken is perfect for your favorite chicken salads, sandwiches, and more, or to enjoy on its own for a healthy dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Baked Chicken Breast
- Everyone’s Favorite Protein. When it comes to the Popular Protein Awards, you can’t beat boneless, skinless chicken breasts. While not everyone loves dark meat like in Baked Chicken Thighs, white meat 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. You can season chicken any which way to suit the way you’ll be using it, or your fancy. 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
Chicken breasts are usually thinner on the ends and thicker in the middle, which means that by the time the chicken is cooked through at its center, the ends are rubbery and dry.
- Lightly pound your chicken to an even thickness so that it all cooks in the same amount of time.
- 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.
- 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 have two options:
- Wet Brine (in which the meat is submerged in a saltwater solution or something like this delicious Chicken Marinade or Turkey Brine), or
- Dry Brine (in which the meat is seasoned generously with salt and rests uncovered for a period of time; see this Dry Brine Turkey for another option; it works with chicken too!).
Both the wet brine and the dry brine have their pros and cons.
- Wet Brine Pros. Short brining time. Just 15 minutes yielded fantastic results. Chicken retained more moisture.
- Wet Brine Cons. Messy. I don’t 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.
- Dry Brine Pros. Neater and easier compared to the wet brine method. You do not need to rinse the meat after dry brining; simply brush off the excess salt.
- Dry Brine Cons. Longer brining time (30 minutes) compared to wet (15 minutes). Slightly less juicy chicken compared to wet.
RESULT: Honestly, I was super happy with both the wet brined and dry brined chicken and would use either method, depending upon how pressed for time I am.
I also use brining (or a marinade) anytime I make Grilled Chicken Breast.
Tip!
If your chicken breast comes pre-brined, skip the brining step or it will be too salty.
3. Let Chicken Come to Room Temperature
While you can leave your chicken in the refrigerator to brine, don’t throw it into the oven cold right out of the refrigerator. If you do, it will not 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
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.
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.
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.
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
- Pound the chicken.
- Pat the chicken dry.
- For a dry brine: salt the chicken and refrigerate it.
- 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.
- Let the chicken come to room temperature. Rinse or wipe off the brine.
- 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.
- Bake Chicken Breast at 425°F. See the suggested cooking time in the recipe card below.
- 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.
- 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.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- 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.
Baked Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
- Wet or dry brine see below
- 2 to 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon per breast
- 1 teaspoon paprika*
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder*
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt add ONLY if rinsing the chicken, plus additional to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper*
- Additional seasonings of choice see blog post above for suggestions
FOR A DRY BRINE:
- 1 to 2 teaspoons kosher salt
FOR A WET BRINE:
- 4 cups warm water
- ¼ cup kosher salt
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts on a cutting board and lay a large piece of plastic wrap over the top to guard against splatters. With a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound the breasts into an even thickness.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry on both sides.
- TO DRY BRINE: Sprinkle the breasts generously on both sides with salt. Place in the refrigerator uncovered for 30 minutes or up to 1 day.
- TO WET BRINE: In a large bowl, stir together the warm water and salt. Place the chicken breasts in the water and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, or cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
- TO COOK: Preheat the oven to 425°F. If the chicken is in the refrigerator, remove it. If dry brining, with a paper towel, wipe off the salt well from both sides (I do not rinse my dry brine). If wet brining, remove the chicken from the wet brine and rinse it off (to skip the rinse, omit any remaining salt from the recipe; your chicken will be salty but by no means inedible).
- Pat the chicken very dry on both sides, wiping away any clearly visible salt. If the chicken has been in the refrigerator, let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
- Coat a ceramic or metal baking dish large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer (such as a 9×13-inch baking dish) with nonstick spray. (I do not recommend using glass/Pyrex, as the way it conducts heat will not cook the chicken as evenly. If needed, you can bake the chicken on a metal baking sheet.)
- Place the chicken in a large bowl (if wet brining, rinse out, dry, and reuse the same bowl if you like). Add the olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt (only add the salt if you rinsed your chicken), and pepper. Toss to coat the chicken evenly, then arrange it in the baking dish.
- Bake the chicken for 14 to 16 minutes (for small/medium breasts that are about 6 to 7 ounces), 16 to 20 minutes (for medium/large breasts that are 8 to 10 ounces), or 20 to 25 minutes (for larger breasts). For absolute best results, use an instant read thermometer. When the breasts reach 165°F, they are done.
- REST: Transfer the chicken to a plate or cutting board. Cover and let rest for a minimum of 5 minutes. Slice, dice, or shred as desired. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- *Feel free to swap out these seasonings for the suggestions in the blog post above.
- Debating between a wet and dry brine? See the blog post above for the pros and cons of each.
- If your chicken breast comes pre-brined (sometimes it is sold this way) skip the brining step.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate chicken breast in an airtight storage 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.
Nutrition
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Sign Me UpFrequently Asked Questions
I do not recommend baking frozen chicken breasts in a conventional oven, as the chicken may spend too long at an unsafe temperature. Make this Air Fryer Chicken Breast instead, since frozen chicken breast can be placed in an air fryer.
While the microwave can be used cautiously to thaw chicken breast, I do not recommend cooking chicken breast in a microwave. The outsides will be overcooked and the interior of the chicken will be rubbery. If you have a microwave that also functions as an oven, you can try baking your chicken breast in the microwave at 425°F (or 400°F if using convection) for 12 to 20 minutes, depending upon the size of your breasts.
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.
Also, a fantastic option if you do not have time to brine but still crave quality flavor is my Pan Fried Chicken Breast.
Or if you want baked chicken but crave a crispy outside of panko breadcrumbs, definitely try my Chicken Katsu, which has the texture of being deep fried while being much healthier and doesn’t require brining!
More Baked Chicken Breast Recipes
Love baked chicken? Here are a few more excellent baked chicken breast recipes.
Yum
Thanks you Chavon!
I don’t normally leave reviews, but I really am glad I found this post. Lots of helpful info that I will use for my family! Thanks!
Hi Eleanor! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Good for my liking
Glad to hear Lucas! So glad you enjoyed it!
I will definitely try this recipe. I didn’t know that there’s a dry and wet brine process. I’ll try the dry brine and hopefully I don’t mess up. So excited to try this recipe, I’ll comeback here if my version is successful haha.
Hope you enjoy Sophie!
I just made this for myself. It was my first time trying the dry brine and it turns out perfect. It’s easier than wet brine.
So happy to hear that Diane, thank you!
Hi Diane! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This is awesome! The chicken breast is so moist and juicy, and the flavor is incredible. Perfect dish for a weeknight meal.
Hi Patricia! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!
I’m not usually a fan of chicken breast coz I always feel like chicken breast are bland but this recipe is so flavorful. I love the simple seasonings and it’s so easy to make.
I enjoy making this recipe. It’s a lifesaver for busy weeknight dinners. Quick and easy to make.
Hi Sharon! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I swapped the paprika for cayenne pepper as my son prefers it because paprika was very spicy. Flavors are amazing! The meat is so juicy and tender.
Glad you enjoyed it Maddie!
Had chicken breasts in the fridge that needed to be used up, so of course you were the first person I thought of, straight to your recipes and found this one, super easy and really nice.
This is so kind and I’m so glad to hear it!
Came across this today and threw it together with steamed broccoli and other mixed green salad. What a hit!!!
This was delicious and reminded me of how my mom used to cook chicken when I was young. I had bone-in split breasts but followed everything else…just cooked at lower temp and for longer. The brine really kicked this simple recipe to a new level!
So great to hear Alora, thanks for sharing!
You were not joking! This is the best baked chicken breast recipe ever. I followed the exact recipe doing a wet brine in the fridge (for 2 hours bc that’s all I had), rinsed it and seasoned according to instructions. It was so delicious. Moist, tender and full of flavor. Thanks, queen ❤️
Makes me so happy to hear, thank you Leandra!