Best Baked Chicken Breast
279 Comments
Oct 31, 2023
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Perfectly baked chicken breasts that are juicy, tender, easy, and super flavorful! This is a recipe everyone should know how to master. All you need is a drizzle of olive oil, a special seasoning mix, and a few insider tips for these super tasty, no-fail chicken breasts.
If you’ve ever struggled with dry, rubbery, and just flat-out boring chicken breasts, you’re in luck, because today’s recipe is about as easy as they come. All you’ve got to do it make my special seasoning mix, rub it all over the chicken breasts, and then bake them the right amount of time. That my friends, is the important part.
Once you read my tips below and master this method you’ll have the most delicious chicken to enjoy for a variety of weeknight dinner recipes. Plus, you can slice and dice any leftovers for chicken meal prep. Leftover chicken is perfect on bowls, salads, in tacos, and so much more!
Baked Chicken Breast Ingredients
Chicken is a blank canvas just waiting to be sprinkled, smeared, and infused with flavor. There’s simply one rule – never under-season chicken. So today, I’ve got a simple seasoning mix (literally the easiest dry rub) that will impress all your dinner guests.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Always remember to grab chicken breasts that are about the same size for the most even cooking (see tips below).
- Spices & Herbs: A simple blend of paprika, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper makes the chicken super delicious. Don’t have thyme? Swap in oregano, basil, rosemary, or another herb.
- Olive Oil: A light drizzle of oil coats the chicken to help the seasonings stick.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How to Bake Chicken Breasts in the Oven
This recipe is easy and speedy, which is why I love it. First, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
Mix the spices. Add the spices and herbs to a bowl and mix them until combined.
Coat the chicken. Lightly coat the chicken with olive oil, and then give each chicken breast a generous rub of the spice blend. Make sure to do this on both sides.
Bake away. Place the seasoned chicken breasts in a baking dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Let them rest. Once the chicken is done, make sure to let them rest! Resting allows the juices to redistribute within the meat. Then enjoy!
How Long To Bake Chicken Breasts
The key to juicy chicken breasts is to cook them hot at 425°F (220°C) for the right amount of time. To nail this down, it depends on the size of your chicken breasts and your unique oven (remember, all ovens cook differently). Here’s a general guideline to follow:
- Small Breasts (5oz): cook for 18 to 20 minutes.
- Medium Breasts (7oz): cook for 20 to 22 minutes.
- Large Breasts (9oz): cook for 22 to 25 minutes.
Pro tip: If you have a tendency to overcook your chicken, invest in an instant read thermometer. It’s an invaluable tool in the kitchen. Then keep reading below for the best internal temperature of cooked chicken.
the Best Internal Temperature
Chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat at 165°F (75°C). But remember that if you cook chicken breasts to 165°F (75°) in the oven, they’ll increase in temperature to about 170°F (77°C) once rested. And trust me, that will result in dry, rubbery chicken, devoid of moisture. Dark meat like chicken thighs are much more forgivable when it comes to overcooking, but not white meat chicken breasts.
So this is what you need to do. Take the chicken breasts out of the oven once they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Then, let them rest for a couple of minutes. The chicken will naturally reach the perfect 165°F (75°C) temperature, thanks to carryover cooking. And you will have succulent, juicy chicken breasts to enjoy. You’re welcome!
Tips for the Juiciest Chicken Breasts
Before you get baking remember these three important tips for tender, juicy chicken.
- Bring chicken to room temperature: When you cook cold, straight from the fridge chicken it’s more likely to cook unevenly, with an overcooked outside and undercooked inside. So let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before cooking.
- Grab similarly sized chicken breasts: If you bake a 5-ounce chicken breast alongside an 8-ounce chicken breast, your smaller chicken breast will likely turn rubbery by the time your bigger one is done.
- Pound them to an even thickness: Because chicken breasts naturally have one end that’s thicker than the other, you can gently pound the thicker part of your chicken breast for a more even thickness, which translates to more even cooking.
STorage Tips
- To store: The chicken will keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Perfect to enjoy throughout the week!
- Freeze for later: I recommend slicing, dicing, or shredding your chicken before freezing, to make the reheating process easier. The chicken will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.
- Reheating tips: Chicken breasts can get a bit dry when you reheat the following days. So here’s a little tip – add a teaspoon or so of water to the top of your chicken, then cover with a microwave-safe lid before reheating in the microwave. It will steam a little, helping the chicken absorb some of the moisture, and bring it back to life!
Delicious Chicken Breast Recipes
I can’t deny my love for boneless skinless chicken breasts! They also take center-stage in these delicious recipes:
- Greek Chicken Kabobs
- Ultimate Chicken Salad
- Chicken Fajitas
- Coconut Curry Chicken
- Herb Baked Chicken Breast
- Cobb Salad
I hope you and your family love this baked chicken breast recipe. If you make it, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
Best Baked Chicken Breast
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil , or avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme, or oregano, parsley or other herbs
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper.
- Lightly coat the chicken breasts in olive oil, and then generously rub the spice mix on both sides of the chicken.
- Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, depending on size (see chart above). Let the chicken rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute within the meat, then serve.
Lisa’s Tips
- I love to use these white baking pans for this recipe, and other baking recipes!
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally published January 2021, but updated to include new information for you benefit!
I just love your good cooking tips. I have downloaded and made a lot of your recipes and they have been absolutely delicious and no-fail! Thanks much, a better cook in Asheville, NC because of you!
Thrilled to hear you’ve been cooking up a storm in the kitchen Judy!
I NEVER review or do anything like this but I made this with your seasoned potatoes and roasted broccoli and my family LOVED it. I have been dealing with health issues and after scouring the internet for answers, I came across your channel and your bio and your own health journey and it was pretty identical to mine, so I have watched probably every video you’ve made, on repeat!!! I feel so hopeful now and am actually doing better and getting answers. I am so grateful I came across you, I think you are just great. Thank you!
I’m so glad both of you enjoyed this baked chicken recipe with the two sides Jennifer! Can’t wait to see what recipes you make next from Downshiftology :)
Such an easy delicious dinner. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed this baked chicken recipe Tracy!
do you think this would work well in the air fryer? if so, how long would you cook it? We made your air fryer salmon with the dijon mustard the other night and it was delicious! Thank you!
You can definitely cook this in the air fryer, but I haven’t tested out an air fryer chicken recipe yet! I will definitely add this to my list of recipes to test though, so stay tuned :)
Can spices be mixed together and put on chicken breasts a few hours later?
Hi Deb – do you mean before or after it’s cooked?
This recipe looks wonderful for meal prep! One question: if we slice and freeze, what is the best way to reheat? Thanks!
I normally will just reheat this in the microwave!
Recipe looks wonderful and will make in a few days. Do you ever do pre-brining as I have seen on other sites? Just wondering. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
You can pre-brine if you’d like, but there’s no need to for this recipe :)
Lisa, this chicken recipe was very good, and I credit your clear, easy to follow instructions. I’m not a great chef, so I really appreciate your guidance. You are so thorough, your video’s are perfect, especially for those of us that need a little hand holding in the kitchen. You explain everything so well, showing us tips and tricks and options. You’re a great teacher. I’m so grateful to have found your website.
Thanks so much for all your kind words Susan! Also, happy to hear you enjoyed these chicken breasts. They’re surely a staple in the kitchen :)
This recipe is sooooooooo good! My pickiest eater even loves it! The only difference is I bake it at 400 for a lil longer but thats also my oven for you.
I made this chicken last night and it was wonderful. It had a great flavor and was moist. I would highly recommend this recipe.
Made this for the first time tonight. My wife is away on a girls weekend so I had free range of the kitchen. I recently discovered you on FaceBook. With such a bold claim I had to test drive the recipe.
So in full disclosure i was out of garlic powder but I did have some garlic infused olive oil so that became my garlic and just to fill out the rub I added onion powder. Also I went with sea salt. My confession is complete.
I followed everything else and I even flipped the chicken halfway through. Turned out quite nicely. “The worlds best?” I dont know about that but dang, it was a whole lot of good. Served it with some basmati rice which I have recently fallen in love with and some bragging rights are in order.
I will be adding this to my personal recipe book and I look forward to taking out more of your recipes for a spin.
Happy to hear you enjoyed this baked chicken Scott! Excited to see which recipes you make next :)
I’ve made this recipe many times. Delicious, even when over done. Thanks.
This truly is the BEST baked chicken. This is a staple for meal prepping in this house. It’s just so versatile, so SIMPLE and so tasty. I used to hate making chicken because it would taste rubbery or just plain. This comes out absolutely perfect every time. I just don’t ever tire of it. I’m so grateful to you , Lisa. I was terrified of the kitchen before I found your YouTube years ago. I share your recipes with anyone who will listen.
Thrilled to hear this recipe brought out the best results for baked chicken Anne-Marie! Also, thanks so much for sharing with your friends and family.
Wow! Yes, this is the best chicken recipe. Flavorful, juicy, easy. Thank you
Lisa, thank you so much for this amazing recipe. This is by far the best recipe for chicken breasts ever. My daughter and I couldn’t believe how juicy and tender they taste. I am so looking forward for your cookbook. Please, keep us posted on when it will be released.
Thrilled to hear you’ve found a winning chicken breast recipe Karen! Will definitely keep everyone updated on when pre-sales will be available :)
Made this for dinner and it came out super moist and delicious. So easy to make. Great to find a yummy and easy recipe that’s not a one time thing. Definitely will be making this again!
Glad you found a winning baked chicken recipe Melanie!
Delicious and so moist. First time making and will use this as my go to chicken breast
recipe. I love easy. Thank you!
Made this tonight for the first time, it was fantastic, the family loved it! Definitely a keeper!
Glad the whole family enjoyed these chicken breasts Sandy!
I had to change things up a bit because we were out of olive oil-melted a little butter instead, mixed the spices into that and rubbed into the meat, then baked as directed on a rack over the lined sheet pan so any excess could drip off-absolutely delicious. I never comment on recipes, but as I check the fridge for leftovers and see one of the kids has already gotten to them, I needed to come back and bookmark this page. Thanks!
Hi Lisa, those are the best baked
chicken breasts I have ever made. Super tender and juicy end easy to make. I recommend baking these with a thermometer. Thank you for your recipe. Sandra
Absloyely declicious! Thanks Lisa ;)
Glad you enjoyed these baked chicken breasts Sue!
The most tender and juicy chicken breast I ever had. Thank you.
This looks super tasty. It’s nearly impossible (for me) to produce a juicy chicken breast so I’m hoping this recipe will be a winner.
Hope this recipe helps you create the best baked chicken breast Pattie!
I just made these and they were delicious!!!! I usually overcook chicken but i pounded them out like recommended, and they were so juicy!!! The boyfriend complimented my cooking! I sliced them up and put them over a salad! Yum.
Glad both you and your boyfriend enjoyed this baked chicken breast recipe Terri!
I made this tonight and it was so easy! My husband commented on how moist it was. Asked him how many stars he would give to this recipe and he said it’s worthy of 5 stars. Thank you Lisa for another amazing recipe for my repertoire and one that is easy enough for my husband to cook for me.
Thrilled to hear your husband enjoyed this chicken breast recipe!
I made this Baked Chicken Breast recipe and it turned out great.
I live in the UAE so sprinkled Sumac on the breasts 5 minutes before taking them out of the oven. They were perfect with an extra zesty flavour.
Served them sliced on a bed of salad with sliced Avacados & baby potatoes. My guests enjoyed the meal.
Wonderful! I’m sure it’s delicious as well with the sumac. Glad you enjoyed it Beverly!
Lisa, your recipes don’t say whether the temperatures are for a fan oven or a conventional oven. could you tell me please? Many thanks x
I’m using a conventional oven.
This recipe was exactly what everyone raved about. The breasts were incredibly tender and tasty. So easy and quick to make. I’ve made them 5 times in the last month. Thank you for this recipe which I’ll make for years to come!
Now you can have perfectly baked chicken breasts every time :)
Yummmm!!!! This recipe is so easy and is perfect EVERY TIME!!! You can’t mess it up. The best chicken breasts I have ever made (except for when I barbecue them)
Happy to hear you loved this chicken breast recipe Cristi!
Thanks for this EASY recipe that I thought I ruined. I was in a rush and forgot the Olive Oil. Then I realized I only had minced garlic, and didn’t know how much to add. A friend helped me out with that. She said it would be faster to grill. She supervised me on the grill (my first time grilling), and everyone loved them. Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!
One question: I like to cook a lot at one time, so we have leftovers. However, I only have metal pans and sheets, when I cook it in the oven using them, how long should I leave them in there to cook?
If you’re cooking on a sheet pan, use the same temperature and time. But make sure to check if the chicken is done (internal temp.) when the time is up.
I did make these chicken breast and they were soooo good . Very juicy , very tender . Didn’t take that long to make , had all ingredients in my cabinets !
Happy to hear you enjoyed these baked chicken breasts!
Mouthwatering recipe. looks absolutely delicious :) Going to pin this recipe. thanks for sharing such a great recipe.
Hope you enjoy these baked chicken breasts Camila!
Made this with my 4 year old granddaughter (as she loves to cook & bake) and everyone loves it! So easy to make as well as fun for our future baker/chef.
Happy to hear your little one enjoyed this recipe! Great way to teach her how to make perfectly baked chicken breasts :)
Thank you so much, I love all the recipes so far of yours I’ve tried. I have gluten allergy & shellfish allergy… my fiancé none, so I turn to your recipes often.
Again thank you.
Can’t wait till your cookbook is finished. 👍
M
Thrilled to hear you’ve enjoyed so many recipes so far! Stay tuned for more cookbook news coming soon :)
This chicken came out amazing loved it!! Used just as is with veggies and another day in a quesadilla. Definitely a repeat recipe
Amazing! Glad these turned out perfectly, especially in a quesadilla :)
It looks like a hice recipe but something went wrong when I did it. Was a lot of water and it was boiling instead of baking or roasting. Do you have any advice. Note. I dried them a lot with paper towel.
Thanks
Silvia
Oh my goodness, Just made this with seemed veggies and quinoa, THE BEST chicken I’ve ever made. Thank you sooooo much, I used boneless chicken thighs instead, so delicious I’m still shocked.
Thrilled to hear you loved this chicken breast recipe!
I nade it for the first time today and my husband is still raving about how great it was. Thank you for this very easy-to-make dinner with incredible flavor.!
Happy to hear your baked chicken breasts turned out perfectly Debbie!
Hi! I’ve been married almost 50 years and looking for the unicorn of how to oven bake a chicken breast and finally found your recipe ! They turned our perfectly! I used Tony Chacheres seasoning and put the chicken strips on a salad ! Oh my gosh they were so juicy and tender! Thank you so much! Now my go to chicken recipe! 👍❤️😋
Happy to hear you’ve found a winning baked chicken recipe Missy!
Chicken recipes is breali good
This is an awesome recipe. Always moist and flavorful. You must try it.
Happy to hear you love this recipe Barry :)
Love, love, love this recipe and so does the rest of my family. Matter of fact this is the only way they allow me to make it anymore…😃 So easy to change up the flavoring to create different dishes!!!
Happy to hear the whole family enjoyed this baked chicken recipe Tricia :)
This will be good. Thanks
Excellent recipe. I used thyme for mine. It was delicious!
Wonderful! Happy to hear your chicken breasts turned out perfectly.
I had very low expectations for succulent, tasty chicken breasts baked in the oven … but WOW Lisa, these are something else! Thank you for this recipe.
Happy to hear you were able to achieve perfectly cooked chicken breasts Susanna :)
Super delicious, juicy, and easy to make. Definitely gonna become a regular to cook this! Tysm
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed this chicken recipe Isabella.
Quick, easy, and delicious! Made this for the second time today so it’s become a regular for our dinner. I used chicken tenderloins and have plenty left over to use over a salad another evening. Thanks!
Happy to hear this had made it into your weekly rotation Cindy! It’s definitely a meal prep staple to keep on hand.
It’s sooo yummy, this is my go to recipe when im lazy :) so happy to found this recipe, love it so much
This is always a winner for a quick and easy dinner recipe :)
These were delicious and juicy. Definitely going to be using this on repeat. Will try Mexican seasoning next time for a chicken taco salad.
Wonderful! Glad you loved this recipe Sandra.
Just great. The taste is wonderful.
Glad you enjoyed these baked chicken breasts!
Absolutely one of the best flavored and moist chicken I’ve made in a very long time. I followed the instructions to a tee and paired it with spinach and mushrooms sauteed in ghee butter and EVOO. Thank you!
Glad yo’ve found a winning chicken breast recipe Lisa!