This Baked Chicken Breast is great as a main dish, salad topper for Cobb Salad, or make a chicken sandwich. In this recipe, we will teach you everything you need to know to avoid dry chicken breast for good and always get a juicy, melt-in-your-mouth result. The best part? You can tweak the seasoning as you see fit to cater to whatever you’re craving at the moment.
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Juicy Chicken Breast in the Oven
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. Unless you’re making Stuffed Chicken Breast, 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 breast. You’re going to love the simple seasonings of paprika, garlic, and parsley.
Pro Tip: The key to a juicy chicken breast is to not over-cook it. To prevent your chicken breast from turning out dry, use an instant-read thermometer to check when the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
Ingredients for Baked Chicken Breast
- Chicken Breast – Try to find boneless skinless chicken breasts that are free-range or organic. They are packed with the most flavor and the freshest taste. Also, try to find chicken breasts that are similar in size so they cook evenly. Depending on the size of the breasts, you might need to adjust the cooking time.
- Paprika – Feel free to use fresh or smoked paprika. Either work great and add such a depth of flavor to the chicken breasts.
- Garlic Parsley Salt – This all-in-one seasoning is perfect for everything from chicken breasts to potatoes. It’s super savory and such a no-brainer
- 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.
Pro Tip: Pat the chicken breasts with paper towels before adding the seasoning. This will help it stick better.
How to Bake Chicken Breast in the Oven
- Assemble – Preheat the oven to 400°F and assemble the chicken breast in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Season – 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 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 juice.
Pro Tip: If you desire an extra crispy outside layer, broil the chicken breast for a few minutes before it’s fully cooked.
Ways to Serve
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!
- Salad Toppers – Use the chicken breast as a topper for a traditional Caesar Salad, Greek salad, or Autumn Chicken Salad.
- With Potatoes – Pair the juicy chicken breast with boiled potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, or air fryer baked potatoes.
- Alongside Grains – For a nice dose of fiber, pair the chicken with white rice, quinoa, or your favorite grains.
- Low-Carb Dinner – For an easy, low-carb dinner pair the chicken with roasted asparagus, Mexican street corn, or roasted carrots.
Make Ahead
Cooking chicken breast is great for meal prep. It keeps well in the refrigerator so you can enjoy it throughout the busy workweek.
- To Store: To keep the chicken breast fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. store it in an airtight container in the fridge. This will keep it from drying out.
- To reheat: pop it in a baking dish or casserole dish covered with foil and pop it back in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
Common Questions
Is it better to bake chicken breast at 350°F or 400°F?
It’s better to cook chicken breast at 400°F. The less time it spends in the oven, the juicier it will turn out. Therefore, it’s good to cook it at a high temperature for a short period of time.
Can you freeze oven-baked chicken breast?
Yes, you can freeze oven-baked chicken breast. To do so, assemble it in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pop it in the freezer uncovered. Once completely frozen, transfer the chicken to a freezer-safe bag and store it for up to 3 months.
How long does it take to bake chicken breast?
It takes about 20 minutes to bake chicken breasts in the oven. That said, this cooking time can vary depending on how thick the chicken breasts are. If they are thinner, reduce the cooking time, and if they are thicker adjust it upwards accordingly.
How do you cook oven-baked chicken breast without drying it out?
The key to cooking chicken breast without drying it out is to make sure that you pull it once it reaches a safe internal temperature. To air on the safe side, always check the internal temperature of the chicken before taking it out of the oven. It’s safe to eat once it reaches 165°F.
What are other spices to add to oven-baked chicken breast?
If you like, tweak the chicken seasoning with garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or any other dry spice you like. You can also add dried herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, or parsley.
More Baked Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this baked chicken breast, you will love these tasty baked chicken recipes:
- Chicken Parmesan
- Instant Pot Chicken and Gravy
- Tuscan Chicken
- Baked Chicken Legs
- Baked Chicken Thighs
Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast
5 from 388 votes
Author: Natalya Drozhzhin
Baked Chicken Breast is great as a main dish, salad topper, or even a sandwich protein. Learn how to bake Chicken Breast in the Oven.
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 25 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 6 servings
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the chicken breast on a lined baking sheet.
Season the chicken breasts on all sides with oil, paprika, garlic parsley salt, and pepper.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F on a thermometer.
Nutrition Per Serving
217kcal Calories1g Carbs32g Protein9g Fat2g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat5g Monounsaturated Fat0.02g Trans Fat97mg Cholesterol176mg Sodium580mg Potassium0.4g Fiber0.04g Sugar215IU Vitamin A2mg Vitamin C13mg Calcium1mg Iron
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Nutrition Facts
Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast
Amount per Serving
Calories
217
% Daily Value*
Fat
9
g
14
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
0.02
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
5
g
Cholesterol
97
mg
Sodium
176
mg
8
%
Potassium
580
mg
17
%
Carbohydrates
1
g
%
Fiber
0.4
g
2
%
Sugar
0.04
g
%
Protein
32
g
64
%
Vitamin A
215
IU
4
%
Vitamin C
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
13
mg
1
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Baked Chicken Breast, Baked Chicken Breast Recipe
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 217
Natalya Drozhzhin
Natalya is a food blogger who founded Momsdish.com to make cooking easier. Growing up on a farm in Ukraine, Natalya was inspired by the amazing dishes that were prepared using simple ingredients. Natalya is most notably known for making cooking approachable for any person.
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