Baked Chicken Breasts couldn’t be more simple or delicious to make! Chicken breasts are tossed in a simple herb mixture then oven baked until they are tender and juicy!
This easy baked chicken recipe makes chicken breasts that are lightly seasoned and great in Chicken Salads, or to stir into chicken casseroles. While these are great to use in any recipe that requires cooked chicken breast, they’re so juicy and delicious, they’re perfect served on their own too.
Juicy Baked Chicken
This is one of those recipes that you’ll find yourself using again and again. It produces an all-purpose chicken breast that can be added to recipes or made ahead for meal prep. Of course, we also love to serve it right of the pan as is with a side of Baked Zucchini and a salad.
Baked chicken breasts are naturally lean, packed full of protein, and easy to make. They are as simple as adding some herbs and oil, and throwing them in the oven!
The secret to really juicy chicken is a high temperature to seal in the juices and of course making sure you don’t overcook it.
How Long To Bake Chicken Breast
The key to a perfect baked chicken breast is temperature and timing. Chicken breasts are naturally lean, so if you overcook them, they will come out dry.
Cooking boneless skinless chicken breast at a higher temperature makes the best chicken as it seals the juices in while it cooks (I cook chicken at 400 degrees F). Make sure you use a quick read meat thermometer to get them perfectly cooked.
- To Bake Chicken Breast at 400°F: This will take between 22 and 26 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
- You can cook chicken breasts at 350°F for closer to 25-30 minutes (although I prefer the higher heat above).
The chicken breast should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (I remove it around 160-162°F and let it climb to 165 while resting on the pan). If the chicken breasts vary in thickness, using a meat tenderizer to pound them to an even thickness is a great way to ensure that they all cook evenly!
TIP: Make sure you rest your meat before cutting it to allows all of the juices to reabsorb into the chicken keeping your chicken breast extra moist!
Size Matters
Chicken breasts can vary in size from 5 oz to 10 oz meaning that the cook time can vary! In this recipe, I use average-sized boneless breasts (about 6oz or so).
The very best way to ensure success is to use a meat thermometer. They’re a very inexpensive way to ensure you get perfectly juicy chicken (you can get them as low as $10).
How to Season Chicken Breasts
Chicken breasts are mildly flavored so you’ll want to add seasonings and some salt. Most of the time I don’t brine or use a chicken marinade as I’m most often looking for a quick meal but of course, you can do either. If cooked and seasoned well, they’re tender and juicy on their own.
Really anything goes but here are some of my favorite seasonings for chicken breasts:
- Italian seasoning, salt and paprika (per recipe below)
- Cajun seasoning
- Taco Seasoning
- Salt, pepper, olive oil and fresh herbs with lemon zest
- Store-bought chicken or steak seasonings or rubs
How To Bake Chicken Breast
Making baked boneless chicken breasts is very simple, the key is in the cooking time and temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Toss the chicken breasts with olive oil, herbs, and spices (per recipe below).
- Lightly grease a baking dish or pan so the chicken breasts don’t stick.
- Bake chicken breasts for 22-26 minutes or until they reach 165°F.
- Rest them before you slice or pull them.
This easy baked chicken breast recipe has a simple mixture of Italian seasoning, paprika, seasoning salt and pepper, but you can change it up depending on the recipe you are using the chicken in and what you have on hand.
Rosemary, oregano, and even lemon juice all make great additions to this recipe. Homemade Cajun seasoning is also a great addition if you’re making something like cajun chicken pasta!
More Easy Ways to Prepare Chicken
- How to Boil Chicken – Makes broth + meat!
- How to Make Poached Chicken – 15 minutes!
- Oven Fried Chicken
- Easy Grilled Chicken Breast – SO juicy!
- Instant Pot Chicken (Pressure Cooker)
- Lemon Roast Chicken
Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5-6 chicken breasts boneless skinless, about 6 oz each
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon seasoning salt
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Toss chicken breasts with olive oil and seasonings. Mix well to coat.
- Place on a lightly greased pan and bake 22-26 minutes or until temperature reaches 165°F.
- Rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course
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Never disappoints. I always double it for this qty of chicken bc we love the flavor!
I have oven roasted and grilled with this marinate and both ways are awesome.
looks delish
over time I have seen some great recipes posted and even tried a few. looking forward to seeing more
Thank you so much! My chicken breast turned out perfectly cooked and juicy! I had 4 chicken breasts so I tossed them in olive oil, put them on the cookie sheet and put different spices on each (1 with oregano & basil, 1 with thyme & rosemary, 1 with herbes de provences and 1 with Trader Joe’s 21 seasoning salute spice blend). Each one was delicious!
You’re welcome! What a fun way to make them!
This was SO JUICY, DELICIOUS and EASY!!! Will do this again and again. Thank YOU!
Do you have a similar recipe for chicken thighs? I find breasts boring; much more flavour in thighs.
Check out these Baked Chicken Thighs. Enjoy Carol!
great li love chiken
All your recipes loook so easy and amazing. I am going to make the Corn
pudding and the baked chicken this weekend. I look forward to trying more of your recipes. Thank you for sharing.
You have recipes that mix ingredients that I had not thought about and I am eager to try…especially the roasted broccoli and carrots.
Thank you
You’re so welcome Frankie! Enjoy – those dishes sound perfect!
Love your chicken recipe.
This is my first time going to do bake chicken breast. Its not finish yet. I will sure to send my comments
Thank you so much for this easy recipe! I’m vegan, and wanted to cook for someone and forgot the temp and time for basic chicken in the oven .
Can’t wait to try your yummy recipes. Thank you Holly. You rock and roll girl. I can smell the goodness from your excellent pictures. Wish I was at your house for dinner. I’ll bring the desert. Some day soon. There’s always hope and the way to everyone’s heart is through their tummy. Food brings us all together. ☮️ out.
You’re welcome Kevin! Enjoy the recipes!
I’m looking forward to experimenting with your recipes. Can’t wait. Thank you fir the yummy tips Holly. You rock and roll.
I just wanted to say thank you for all of your help. I’ve been vegan for a while and trying to cook for my parents.
So far, I’m still a noob, but even the no msg and vegan variations I have used are great. I am allergy-ridden and come from a picky family, so your ideas are universally appreciated. Love what you do. :)
So glad you’ve found them helpful Machaela! Happy Cooking!
Very Nice Recipe. I am a college student who live in dorms and anything that is quick to make is what I prefer. These chicken breasts are really mouth-watering. Thanks for the recipe!
However, I do have a question: can I store the leftover chicken in fridge and microwave it when I want to eat it again?
Would appreciate if you could answer this. Thanks again !
I’m so glad you loved them. Yes, they can be refrigerated and reheated in the microwave. The leftover chicken can also be served cold on a salad or in chicken salad sandwiches as well.
Yes, you can store in the fridge and zap in the microwave later.
Awesome posts Thanks.
My husband and I loved it. My husband said that “this should be served in a restaurant.” Thanks for sharing!
I baked two chicken breast according to the recipe, cooking them for 25 minutes at 400• They were still very raw in the middle. I cut them into slices and cooked them until finished. Tasty, but! Watch the cook time.
The cook time can vary based on the size of your chicken breasts, a thermometer is the best gauge of doneness.
One of the best ever baked chicken recipe i have ever tried so far. Thanks for sharing this recipe with all of us. Also do check out my special baked chicken recipe as well.
Came out perfect! I’ve never made oven roasted chicken breast that wasn’t dry. I’m so happy, thank you!!
This is a great recipe. Trying to clean out my freezer and pulled out the oldest strangest looking chicken breast that I thought might even be freezer burnt………….I guess it wasn’t because this recipe revived it! The juiciest baked chicken breast I’ve ever made. Can’t wait to use the “better looking” chicken breast! :)