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Juicy Chicken Breast in the Oven
Baking chicken breasts can be tricky. Unless you’re making Stuffed Chicken Breast, a breaded Chicken Parmesan, or a saucy Chicken Marsala, plain chicken breast tends to come out dry and bland. We’ve created a foolproof technique that will always result in ultra-juicy, tender, and flavorful chicken breasts. Consider this your go-to, classic oven-baked chicken breast recipe. It’s incredibly versatile and can be served in so many unique and tasty ways – in fact, we use the same method to make our Cilantro Lime Chicken!
What is the Key to Juicy Baked Chicken?
The most important tip for baking chicken breasts in the oven is not to overcook them. To prevent your chicken breast from turning out dry and rubbery, use an instant-read thermometer to check when the internal temperature has reached 165°F. Thermometers are a smart investment to prevent overcooking or, even worse, undercooking your meats.
Ingredients for Baked Chicken Breast
Chicken Breast – Try to find boneless skinless chicken breasts and get the best quality you can afford. Also, try to find chicken breasts that are similar in size and even thickness so they cook evenly. Depending on the size of the breasts, you might need to adjust the cooking time. Paprika – You can use sweet, hot, or smoked paprika. All of them work great and add depth of flavor to the chicken breasts. Garlic Parsley Salt – This all-in-one seasoning is perfect for everything from chicken breasts to potatoes. I use garlic salt in a lot of my home cooking. Black Pepper – If you can, opt for freshly cracked pepper over the pre-ground stuff. It will add so much more flavor and make for a nicer presentation. Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Avocado Oil – Either olive oil or avocado oil will work great. Both have high smoke points and add an earthy flavor to the chicken. You can also melt butter to brush over the chicken breasts for a little more flavor.
How to Bake Chicken Breasts
Assemble – Preheat the oven to 400°F and arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Leave a little space between the chicken breasts and don’t crowd the pan. Season – Pat the chicken breasts with paper towels before adding the seasoning. This will help it stick better. Rub the chicken on all sides with the oil, paprika, garlic parsley salt, and black pepper. Bake the Chicken – Bake the chicken uncovered for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer. Once you remove the chicken breasts from the oven, allow them to sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes to lock in all the juices then slice against the grain and serve.
Ways to Serve Baked Chicken Breasts
There are a million and one ways to serve this tasty, juicy chicken breast. Feel free to pair it with any side dish you love best. You can’t go wrong!
Garlic powder Onion powder Cumin Chili powder Cajun seasoning Taco seasoning – perfect for Chicken Tacos! Italian seasonings: oregano, thyme, basil, parsley, rosemary
Salad Toppers – Use the chicken breast as a topper for a traditional Cobb Salad, Caesar Salad, Greek salad, or Autumn Chicken Salad. You can also dice it up and make a Chicken Salad. With Potatoes – Pair the juicy chicken breast with boiled potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, or air fryer baked potatoes, or classic Roasted Potatoes. Alongside Grains – make it a meal with white rice, risotto, quinoa, or your favorite grains. Low-Carb Dinner – For an easy, low-carb dinner pair the chicken with roasted asparagus, Mexican street corn, sauteed mushrooms, or roasted carrots.
How to Store Baked Chicken
Cooking chicken breast is great for meal prep. It keeps well in the refrigerator so you can quickly add protein to your menu throughout the busy workweek.
To Store: Transfer cooked chicken breasts to an airtight container or into airtight packaging and refrigerate right away for rapid cooling. Cooked chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To Freeze: Transfer the chicken to freezer-safe containers or airtight packaging (we love our food saver bags to prevent freezer burn) and store up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. To Reheat in the oven: Set the chicken breasts in a baking dish or casserole dish, add a few Tablespoons of water to the dish, cover with foil, and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165˚F (this is the recommended temperature for reheating leftover chicken according to the USDA). Reheating in the air fryer: You can also reheat the chicken breast in the air fryer at 350˚F – brush both sides with olive oil and air fry for about 6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165˚F.
Commonly Asked Questions
More Baked Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this baked chicken breast, you will love these tasty baked chicken recipes:
Pizza Chicken Monterey Chicken Spatchcock Chicken Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs Lemon Pepper Wings Baked Chicken Legs Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
