How do you cook chicken breasts and keep them moist?

Bake chicken in preheated oven for 16 minutes. Broil (grill) on high heat during the last 2 minutes until internal temperature is 165°F (75°C) using a meat thermometer . It should be golden with crisp edges. Remove pan from oven, transfer chicken to serving plates, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Is 30 minutes long enough to cook chicken breast?

If you're following a specific recipe, then don't deviate! Otherwise, follow this general formula: Cook large, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 20 to 30 minutes in a 375-degree-F oven . Cook large, bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts for 35 to 40 minutes in a 375-degree-F oven.

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400?

You can roast or bake anywhere between 325 and 450 degrees F. When roasting a whole chicken, a nice rule of them is to start at 400 to 425 degrees F and then turn the oven down to 350 after 15 minutes and cook until the internal temp of the chicken is 165 – 175 degrees F on an instant read thermometer .

What is the secret to moist chicken?

Pounding helps tenderize the meat by breaking down its tough fibers. It also thins it out for more even cooking. Do this before frying, grilling, or roasting for better retention of moisture content. To tenderize chicken breast, place the meat on a durable, flat surface.

How do you keep chicken breasts from drying out when baking?

If you're baking it, keep it covered with a baking sheet or with the pan-top for about 80% of the total baking time, uncover it only when the breast is cooked and tender but there's juices in the pan . Once uncovered, the juices will evaporate quickly in the oven, and you'll have a juicy chicken breast to eat.

Will chicken cook at 350 for 30 minutes?

Baking chicken breast at 350°F (175°C) typically takes about 25 to 30 minutes , although the exact cooking time can vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken breast.

What is the best temperature for chicken breast?

For the best-tasting white meat, which includes breasts and wings, you generally want to cook the meat to an internal temperature of 160°F . This temperature will continue to rise after removing the chicken from the heat, ideally to a temperature of about 165°.

How to make chicken breast super tender?

The best tenderizer though, is a salted yogurt marinade . The salt has the same effect as in a regular brine, but the lactic acid in the yogurt further tenderizes the meat. A 15-minute marinade with one cup of yogurt and one teaspoon of salt makes for the most tender chicken breasts imaginable.

Should I cover chicken breast with foil when baking?

When chicken is covered while baking, it traps steam and moisture within the dish, resulting in juicier results . The covering helps prevent excessive evaporation and keeps the chicken moist throughout the cooking process. Preventing dryness. Chicken tends to dry out more quickly when exposed to direct heat.

How long to cook chicken breast in the oven at 375 degrees?

Our go-to temp for baking boneless chicken breast is 375 degrees, and the cook time is about 20 minutes. The chicken is cooked when a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees. It should be removed from the oven and allowed to sit for 10 minutes before slicing or serving.

Will baking chicken at 350 dry it out?

Baking the chicken for 30 minutes at 350°F will yield dry meat. Baking it for 20 minutes at 450°F will result in delightfully juicy chicken. Jump to: Ingredients.

What is the best way to keep a chicken moist?

Salt the chicken generously all over A generous amount of salt—after you've dried the chicken well with paper towels—will help the interior of the bird stay moist while crisping the skin and enhancing the flavor.

Oven Baked Chicken Breast - Juicy and Ready to Serve in 30 Min

I know, I know, how hard could it be to just bake chicken breast? In reality, baking chicken in the oven can often lead to dry, tough chicken that you won’t want to use in any recipes. With this simple guide to baking perfect chicken breast you’ll make chicken that’s perfectly juicy, not under or overcooked and done in just about 30 minutes.

Are you down? OR ARE YOU DOWN.

Use my go-to method for cooking chicken breast in the oven whenever you need a quick protein to pair with your favorite sides, or add to to some delicious recipes! I love topping salads with this simple baked chicken or throwing it in a nourishing soup. The options and flavors are endless! Let’s get to it.

Simple ingredients for oven baked chicken breasts

Good news: you only need a few simple ingredients to bake perfectly juicy chicken breast every time. Of course there are tons of ways to jazz up your chicken with marinades and sauces, so be sure to check them out at the bottom of the post! To bake simple chicken breast you’ll need:

Chicken: this guide is for baking one pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast.
Oil: feel free to use olive oil or avocado oil.
Seasonings: keep it simple with good old salt and pepper if you’d like! Or feel free to try my famous honey mustard chicken marinade that’s pictured in each photo.

Choose organic chicken (if possible)

If it’s accessible, I recommend using organic chicken breasts whenever possible. Organic chicken tends to be much juicier and less “tough,” than non-organic chicken breasts, so when you’re using the chicken as a blank canvas to add to recipes it makes a big difference.

The #1 tool for cooking perfect chicken breasts

If you don’t yet have a meat thermometer, it’s time to get one! I highly recommend having a meat thermometer so that you can check the doneness of your chicken without having to cut into it and lose the juiciness. Here is a great one that I use all the time.

How to bake perfect chicken breasts in the oven

With these tips & tricks for baking chicken breasts you’ll have perfectly juicy chicken to use in all of your favorite recipes:

Use the right temperature. Everyone has varying opinions regarding baking temperature for chicken, but my go-to for perfectly juicy, golden brown chicken breasts is 400 degrees F. This temp creates a slightly golden skin on the chicken breast while locking in all of those juices.
Season a little (or a lot). Be sure to coat your chicken breasts in some olive oil, salt & pepper, or choose your favorite spice rub or marinade.
Prep your pan. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and place your prepared chicken breasts on top.
Timing is key. At 400 degrees F, I find that my chicken breasts are done between 20 and 30 minutes. It really depends on how thick and large your chicken breasts are. Check for doneness with your meat thermometer to be sure the chicken has reached 165 degrees F.
Let it rest. This is a crucial step that many people miss. Once your baked chicken is done, transfer it to a clean plate and let it rest for 5-10 minutes in order to seal in all of the juices. This is why your meat thermometer is key — so that you don’t have to cut into the chicken breast to check for doneness.

The key to baking time for chicken breasts

As you’ve probably seen while grocery shopping, not all chicken breasts are the same size. The thickness of your chicken breast will determine how long it needs to cook. Be sure to use chicken breasts that are equal in size so that they cook evenly.

Get creative with chicken marinades & seasonings

This tutorial for baking chicken breasts gives you perfectly cooked chicken that’s juicy but neutral in flavor so that you can easily add it to different recipes. I have tons of chicken seasonings and marinades to try, too! Get them in these tutorials & recipes:

Honey Mustard: Delicious and simple grilled honey mustard chicken with the best honey mustard marinade.
: Sticky, sweet & spicy grilled ginger chicken with a flavorful sweet and spicy soy ginger glaze.
Spicy Ranch: Spicy ranch chopped chicken cabbage salad made with a rainbow of veggies.
Greek: Easy & delicious Greek chicken kabobs made with a yummy, zesty Greek marinade, red onion and three different types of bell peppers.
Lemon Yogurt: Flavorful lemon and yogurt marinated grilled chicken recipe that keeps the chicken juicy and flavorful!
Jerk Chicken: Incredible one pan Caribbean jerk chicken with a unique, flavorful pineapple-coconut rice.
Taco Flavored: This easy homemade taco seasoning recipe has no weird additives and is perfect for seasoning meats, veggies and more.

And remember to get ALL of my best easy & healthy chicken marinades here.

Freezing & storing baked chicken breast

After you’ve baked the perfect chicken breast, you can either use the chicken right away or store it for later:

To store: let the oven baked chicken breast cool completely and transfer it whole, shredded or cubed to an airtight container. Place the container in the fridge and use the chicken within 4-5 days.
To freeze: repeat the steps above but instead place your chicken in the freezer. Cooked chicken breast will stay good in the freezer for about 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, simply thaw it in the refrigerator and enjoy it cold with salad recipes or heat it up in the microwave for warm recipes.

Recommended tools for baking chicken

Get all of our fav kitchen essentials here.

Use baked chicken in these delicious recipes

California Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad: Gorgeous California roasted sweet potato kale salad with dried cranberries, avocado, sweet & spicy pistachios and a creamy garlic tahini dressing.
Blow Ya Mind Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Pot Pie: Incredible cheddar broccoli chicken pot pie with an easy, homemade crust that will literally blow ya mind!
Cheesy BBQ Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats: Delicious, low carb BBQ chicken stuffed zucchini boats topped with melted cheddar cheese.
Damn Good BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Jalapeño Cashew Dressing: BLT pasta salad made with fresh corn, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, creamy avocado and crispy bacon.
15-Minute Healthy Moroccan Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad: Healthy greek yogurt chicken salad recipe made with delicious Moroccan-inspired spices like cinnamon, cumin and turmeric.
Crunchy Rainbow Thai Peanut Chicken Wraps: Bright, fresh crunchy rainbow Thai-inspired peanut chicken wraps packed with veggies like red cabbage, carrot, spinach and red bell pepper.
4 Healthy Mason Jar Salads: Healthy meal prep salad recipes packed with plenty of veggies and protein, and are tossed with incredible, homemade dressings.

I especially love adding this easy baked chicken to fresh salads. Get all of our chicken recipes here!

Don’t forget these methods for cooking perfect chicken

How to Grill Chicken Breast that’s Perfectly Juicy
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken
How to Poach Chicken Breast
How to Make an Easy Roasted Chicken

I hope you love this simple tutorial on how to bake the perfect chicken breast! If you try it out be sure to leave a comment and let us know how you used your perfectly cooked chicken. Enjoy, xo!

Oven Baked Chicken Breast - Juicy and Ready to Serve in 30 Min | Ambitious Kitchen (7)

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How to Make Juicy Baked Chicken Breast

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Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

ServesServes 4 servings

Learn exactly how to bake chicken breast in the oven so that it's perfectly juicy and ready to use in your favorite recipes. In this easy tutorial, you'll learn how long to bake chicken breast, what temperature is best for baking, and plenty of tips and tricks along the way. Marinades and recipes included!

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
1 tablespoon olive oil
Freshly ground salt & black pepper
Optional:
try one of our delicious chicken marinades

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add your chicken breast to a large bowl with olive oil, salt & pepper, or marinate it in your favorite marinade for up to 24 hours.
Once you’ve coated the chicken breast with oil, salt & pepper (or the marinade), place it on your prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F.
Let the chicken rest on the pan for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it so that the chicken retains moisture. Serve however you’d like or add chicken to your favorite recipes.

Recipe Notes

To store: let the chicken breast cool completely and transfer it whole, shredded or cubed to an airtight container. Place the container in the fridge and use the chicken within 4-5 days.

To freeze: repeat the steps above but instead place your chicken in the freezer. Cooked chicken breast will stay good in the freezer for about 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, simply thaw it in the refrigerator and enjoy it cold with salad recipes or heat it up in the microwave for warm recipes.

Method by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats

Oven Baked Chicken Breast - Juicy and Ready to Serve in 30 Min | Ambitious Kitchen (2024)