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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Sounds good. Unfortunately you did not recommend brining the breast for at least 3-4 hours before baking. A simple salt water brine makes all the difference in juiciness. Not for a salty flavor but to retain moisture. Chicken white meat in particular benefits from brining.
I have been using this recipe for over a year and I was so glad I found it! I use a variety of seasoning, Greek, Mexican, Italian, it all works. So simple and so tasty! Thank you for sharing!
Followed the recipe using olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and paprika. 22 minutes in the oven and the chicken was perfectly cooked and tasty.
I preheated my gas oven to 400 and baked skinless/boneless breasts for 26 minutes. They were about one-third still raw. I increased heat to 450 and pit thermometer on thick part of breast. Cooked another 15 minutes before temp read 165. Done but dry. I will try again starting at 450 next time. I will use these beasts, shredded, in another recipe.
Chicken breasts can vary in size from 5 oz to 10 oz. The cooking time listed is for average-sized boneless breasts (about 6oz or so).
The should be cooked to 165°F and should still be moist at that temperature. Ensure the chicken has time to rest after cooking (and remove it from the hot pan as it rests so it doesn’t continue cooking). Hope that helps.
This is my go-to recipe. We buy a large pack of boneless breasts at Costco, cook them all using this recipe and then freeze individually. It’s great always having delicious, tender chicken breasts on hand for quick dinners, on their own or cut up for salads, pasta or sandwiches.
It looks so good.
Does cooking time change baking 2 8oz breasts vs 4 8oz breasts? Thanks.
Hi Gigi, the cooking time should remain the same/similar, you might need a little longer for these chicken breasts as they are a but larger than the average size. Just be sure to check the internal temperature and make sure that it reaches 165°F before serving.
Was going to make sheet pan chicken dinner with green beans and potatoes you didn’t send me that one
Hi Phyllis, we have a couple sheet pan recipes that you may enjoy: Sheet Pan Greek Chicken, or this delicious Roasted Balsamic Chicken.
Oh my goodness – these were perfect, juicy and delicious! Thank you! I opted to follow your advice and cook at 400 degrees and they are just awesome. You have really helped me out here – I am having gallbladder issues and this recipe did the trick! Cannot thank you enough!
So glad you enjoyed it, Linda!
Is it the same temp and time for cooking in the airfryer oven?
Ron
Hi Ron, the air fryer cooks food much quicker so we recommend following one of our Air fryer specific recipes. We have this delicious air fryer bone-in chicken recipe or a yummy boneless chicken breast recipe that would probably work better for you!
Hello Ms. Holly. Do you cover the chicken before putting it in the oven or leave it uncovered? Thanks for the recipe. Looking forward to trying it.
The chicken is cooked uncovered. Enjoy!!
Holly:
I have been following your recipes for 2 years, and always loved the results.
Joan
The chicken came out perfect!!! Moist and cooked to perfecton
Great
This was perfect. I’ve tried baking chicken breasts before in the past and never quite got the timing down but ran this tonight for a large chicken breast at 27 minutes and it came out juicy all around. Thank you!
best I have ever prepared boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Thank you
So happy you enjoyed them, Todd!
Thanks for the help
Have t made it yet but just want to know how many pounds I should use? Breast sizes can be differently in weight. I will be making for an early Christmas lunch with my sisters.
This recipe uses 6oz chicken breasts. Cooking time will need to be adjusted if they are larger or smaller than 6 oz. I would suggest a meat thermometer.
My biggest savior with cooking has been a meat thermometer. I got a pretty inexpensive one the stays in the meat while cooking and has an alarm once you hit the set temperature .
We love our meat thermometer too! Such a good idea.
First time cooking chicken and it came out great! Chicken did take a little longer but I think my apartments oven is just really old !
I made this recipe, followed it to the tee. After 26 minutes my chicken was no where near done. My oven temperature is true. What a disappointment.
Lynn, some chicken breasts may take longer to cook, as noted in the recipe, and you should cook them until they reach 165F. 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). Hope that helps.