You are going to love these 6 oven baked chicken breast recipes. In this post, we’re teaching you how to bake chicken breast perfectly every time along with sharing all of our tips and tricks in getting flavorful baked chicken breasts.
Table of Contents
Why We Love Baked Chicken Breasts
Baked chicken was a childhood dinner staple of mine. Whether it was Italian chicken or simple baked chicken and rice, we loved every bite.
In my adulthood, I continue to make baked chicken breast, but for so many more reasons!
Chicken breast is:
- High-protein: one 4 oz. chicken breast has 38g of protein. Um, yes, please!
- Quick: you can have dinner ready in less than 30 minutes!
- Versatile: chicken breasts can be flavored in so many different ways that it never gets old!
- Flavorful: whether you’re using a chicken dry rub or a chicken marinade, chicken breast can be easily infused with flavor.
- Meal-prep: when in doubt, make a double or triple batch. Baked chicken can be used for meal-prepping multiple meals throughout the week. Check out our best chicken meal prep recipes.
How to Bake Chicken Breast – 3 Steps
Follow these 3 simple steps to create the most perfect baked chicken breast recipe you’ve ever eaten: flavor, bake, and rest.
Flavor
The two main ways to flavor oven baked chicken breasts for baking are dry rubs and marinades. You guys are absolutely obsessed with our 6 chicken marinade recipes post, and that is how the 6 baked chicken breast recipes in this post were made. Let’s break down both methods below.
- Marinades are essentially like a flavor bath for chicken breasts typically made from oil, spices, citrus, and other flavors. Marinades infuse your entire chicken breast leaving them moist and juicy. Marinate your chicken for at least 30 minutes, or for the best results, overnight.
- Dry rubs give chicken breast a flavor infusion in a different way. Chicken dry rubs really add flavor to the outside of your chicken and the flavor is usually pretty strong. Dry rubs can help add texture and sometimes even a crust!
How much marinade do you need for 1 lb. of chicken? We suggest using around 1/2 cup of marinade per 1 – 1.5 lbs. of chicken breasts.
How much dry rub do you need for 1 lb. of chicken breast? Use anywhere from 1-3 tablespoons of dry rub per lb. of chicken breasts. One thing to look out for is the amount of salt in your dry rub. Too much salt is never good.
More flavor ideas!
here’s a tip
Short on time and ingredients? Pop over to the store and buy a store-bought salad dressing such as Italian or French and use that as a marinade for your oven baked chicken breasts instead!
Bake @ 375ºF
There is a lot of controversy on the internet about the perfect oven temperature for baked chicken breasts. 400ºF? 350ºF? 425ºF?
I’ve been baking chicken breasts for 30+ years (okay, at least watching my mom do it!) and the perfect temperature that gets you juicy, tender chicken breast every time is 375ºF. At this temperature, you won’t dry out your chicken; it’s foolproof!
If you use a lower temperature you might end up with tougher chicken breast and if you use anything hotter, you might end up with a drier chicken breast with a more well done outside.
How long to bake chicken breast at 375ºF?
Bake 1 lb. of chicken breast at 375ºF for 20-25 minutes. You know your chicken is done when the internal temperature reads 165ºF.
How do I know when my chicken is done?
The most scientific way to know that your chicken breast is done cooking is by using a meat thermometer. Stick the thermometer half-way into the thickest part of your chicken breast and then measure the temperature. It should measure at least 165ºF to be safe to eat.
No meat thermometer? Your chicken breast should be white in color and firm to the touch. We recommend cutting through the thickest part of the breast and pressing down on it with your finger.
Baked Chicken Kitchen Essentials
Below we are sharing some of our favorite kitchen essentials to make baking (and eating) chicken super simple!
Rest
Once your chicken is done cooking, remove it from the oven. Then, immediately transfer it to a plate to continue cooling. If you leave your chicken on the hot dish, it will continue to cook, which is NOT what you want.
Let your chicken breasts rest for at least 5 minutes before eating. Letting your chicken rest is important for getting super juicy chicken. I promise, it’s worth it!
Baked Chicken Breast Q&A’s
How do you bake chicken without drying it out? If you want juicy, tender baked chicken breasts, we recommend cooking your chicken at 375ºF and cooking it until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. This is about 20-25 minutes depending on the size and thickness of your breasts. Anything hotter/longer, will dry out your chicken.
Should I bake chicken covered or uncovered? Bake your chicken breast at 375ºF uncovered. Wit this baking temp, you don’t have to worry about your chicken drying out.
How long does it take to bake chicken breast per pound? Per pound, it should take anywhere from 20-30 minutes to bake your chicken breast. The reason why there is such a big range is because sometimes you can get 3 or 4 small chicken breast per pound and sometimes you can get 1 that is a full pound.
For best results, we suggest using a meat thermometer to check your chicken breast’s internal temperature. To consume poultry safely, it should be at least 165ºF.
Is skinless chicken breast healthy? Boneless skinless chicken breast is extremely healthy. It’s high protein, low fat, and low carb.
Storage Suggestions
Let chicken cool completely before transferring into an airtight container such as a glass-meal prep container or plastic bag.
Store in the refrigerator for at least 3-5 days.
How to reheat chicken: remove chicken from the refrigerator and transfer to a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 60-90 seconds. Alternatively, you can reheat on the stove-top or in the oven as well.
Can you freeze baked chicken breast?
We recommend freezing your chicken breast BEFORE it’s baked. If you make one of these delicious chicken breast marinades, simply place the marinade and chicken breast into a gallon-size bag and remove as much air as possible. Then, freeze for up to 3 months.
When you are ready to bake, remove the bag from the freezer and let thaw completely before following the directions in the recipe card.
Can you freeze already baked chicken?
If you’ve already baked your chicken breast, you can still freeze it! Let it cool completely and then transfer it into a freezer-safe gallon-size bag. Remove as much air as possible and freeze for up to 3 months.
Oven Baked Chicken Breast Recipes (6 Ways)
Looking to make a juicy, tender baked chicken breast recipe that’s flavorful and easy to whip up? Pick from one of these 6 baked chicken breast recipes – fajita, lemon, bbq, teriyaki, Italian, or balsamic!
Prep: 45 minutesCook: 20 minutesTotal: 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
Fajita
- 1–1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast*
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro
Lemon
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill
- 1/2 tablespoon white rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey (or maple syrup)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
BBQ
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 olive oil
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Teriyaki
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon sriracha
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
Italian
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
Balsamic
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
Instructions
- Choose a chicken marinade flavor and place all ingredients (minus the chicken breast) into a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
- Place chicken breast into a glass container or gallon-size bag. Then, pour the marinade on top of the chicken, making sure it is covered.
- Let chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or for best results, for 24 hours.
- When you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 375ºF and spray a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Then, transfer all of the contents of your bag (including the marinade) into a 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Bake chicken breasts at 375ºF for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
- Remove chicken breast from the oven and then place it onto a plate. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Option to eat as is, chunk the chicken, or shred it.
Tips & Notes
- Nutrition information is for the lemon chicken.
- Leftover marinade: want to make a sauce out of your leftover marinade? Simply eat it as is or use a little cornstarch to thicken your sauce before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1/4 Calories: 246 Sugar: 3 Fat: 15 Carbohydrates: 4 Fiber: 0 Protein: 26
Keywords: baked chicken
Fajita Baked Chicken
Made with lime juice, garlic, and fajita spices, you will love this fajita baked chicken recipe! It’s not too spicy, but such a great Mexican chicken recipe. Pair this chicken with:
Baked Lemon Chicken
This baked lemon chicken is citrusy, juicy, and such a great main meal to serve any night of the week. Marinate your lemon chicken for at least 2 hours and then bake your breast in the marinade. Make sure to save some sauce for serving! Serve your baked lemon chicken with:
Baked Balsamic Chicken
Whip up a delicious balsamic chicken marinade and make this baked balsamic chicken. It’s made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, fresh basil, and other spices. Serve your chicken with:
Baked Teriyaki Chicken
Say hello to the most Baked Teriyaki Chicken! This chicken breast is marinaded in our homemade teriyaki sauce, baked, and then shredded for serving. Serve it with:
Baked BBQ Chicken Breast
It doesn’t get any easier than baked BBQ chicken! Whip up this delicious semi-homemade bbq chicken marinade and then bake your chicken breast to perfection. Serve this chicken with:
Baked Italian Chicken
Make your own Italian Chicken marinade with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and red pepper flakes. This baked chicken breast comes out tender and juicy! Serve it with:
