Ingredients and Substitutions
Chicken breast. I used boneless skinless chicken breasts but bone-in chicken breast can also be used. Just remember that bone-in chicken requires longer cooking time. Seasoning: I used smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Use any seasoning of your choice. Extra virgin olive oil. Lemon juice.
How to bake chicken breast in the oven
Tips for the best baked chicken breast
Be generous with the seasoning. Let’s face it, chicken breasts tend to be a little bland. Luckily, they are a very versatile source of protein and can be seasoned with absolutely any seasoning you have and love. Keep it simple by using salt, pepper and garlic powder or go all-out and flavor them with curry powder, cajun seasoning or taco seasoning. Spices like garam masala, chili powder onion powder, cumin, turmeric and coriander and herbs like thyme, sage, rosemary and parsley are all delicious on chicken. Use high heat. We want the chicken to be caramelized and golden on the outside by the time it’s perfectly cooked, juicy and tender on the inside. Therefore, pre-heating your oven to its highest temperature is key. For most domestic ovens, this is in the range of 430°F-480°F/220°C-250°C.How long should you cook chicken breasts in the oven? At 430°F/220°C, medium chicken breasts should take between 15-17 minutes to cook. I prefer using a meat thermometer (an instant read thermometer works too) to make sure the chicken is cooked to 160°F/70°C before removing from the oven. The FDA recommends cooking chicken to 165°F/73°C but remember that the chicken will continue to cook while it rests and that will result in over-cooked, dry chicken. Taking the chicken out when the internal temperature reaches 160°F/70°C will result in perfectly juicy oven baked chicken breast, every time. Even them out. If your chicken breasts are very thick on one end and very thin on the other, it’s a good idea to even out the thickness with a meat mallet or rolling pin. Even thickness will ensure even cooking. Allow to rest. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute into the meat. You know when you cut meat and your chopping board has a lot of juice on it? That’s because you didn’t allow the meat to rest for long enough. All that moisture loss means your chicken will be dry and unpleasant to eat. Resting your chicken breast for at least 5 minutes after cooking will prevent that and your chicken will be tender and juicy.
Can I make this ahead?
The chicken can be baked, cooled and kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. This makes it the perfect recipe to meal prep ahead.
Baked Protein Options
Chicken Breast Recipes
The Juiciest Air Fryer Chicken Breast Lemon herb chicken breasts Pan Fried Chicken Breast Easy Curried Grilled Chicken Breast
The side dish options for chicken are endless. Everything from potatoes and pasta to rice and vegetables dishes like sautéed broccoli, brussels sprouts, air fryer asparagus or glazed carrots will be delicious.
Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes Easy Garlic Butter Rice Maple butter mashed sweet potatoes 10-minute lemon garlic sautéed broccolini Easy Garlic Butter Sautéed Brussels Sprouts Air Fryer Asparagus Maple Glazed Carrots
