Every meal can be enhanced with chicken breasts, which are a fantastic source of protein.
Moreover, you can use various marinades and spices to give this mound of tender flesh a flavorful taste.
However, the art of baking the perfect chicken breast is a culinary skill many home cooks strive to master.
There is nothing worse than a dry and tough chicken breast.
Cooking chicken breasts in the oven can be tricky, especially when you don’t know how long to bake them.
So, how long does it take to bake chicken breasts?
Baking a large chicken breast (7oz or 200g) will take around 20-22 minutes.
On the other hand, baking a medium size chicken breast will take about 18 – 20 minutes at 220C / 425F.
However, the time may vary depending on your oven’s temperature and the thickness of the chicken breast.
This article explains how long it takes to bake the perfect chicken breast.
Moreover, it provides a simple recipe for making chicken that will please everyone.
A Simple Recipe for Baking Chicken Breasts
Baking is one of the best ways to cook chicken.
Simply baking chicken breasts in this recipe produces tender, juicy meat without drying out the inside or frying the surface.
To me, white and moist chicken is ideal, with just a little crunch on the outside and not too soggy inside.
What’s Needed:
- Four chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (approximately 5 to 6 ounces each)
- Olive oil, one tablespoon
- A teaspoon of paprika
- Seasoned salt, 1/2 teaspoon
- Ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon
- Chili powder, half a teaspoon
- Onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon
- Garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon
Instructions
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Preheat your oven to 400° F (204°C).
- Ensure that your chicken breast is at room temperature. This way, it will have time to cook evenly throughout.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil, and set it aside. You can as well use a casserole dish for baking.
- Ensure the chicken breasts are dry by patting them with paper towels.
- Score the chicken breasts by making four diagonal cuts. Each should be about 3/4″ long, in the thickest part of the breast (about 1″ from where it attaches to the bone). The width of these cuts should be about 1/8″ wide and evenly spaced out across the breast.
- Mix paprika, seasoned salt, ground black pepper, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder in a bowl.
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts with the mixture in the bowl. As a result, each piece will have a uniform coating throughout its surface for even baking.
- Set aside at room temperature after seasoning for 30 minutes before baking. This process helps seasonings permeate the meat more evenly throughout each piece of chicken breast.
- Place the seasoned chicken breasts on a baking sheet or in a casserole dish sprayed with olive oil. Use your hands to rub olive oil into the chicken breasts.
- Bake the seasoned chicken breasts for 15 minutes per side until cooked through. They should still be pink in the middle (165°F). Each breast will take a different amount of time, depending on its size and thickness.
- Remove from the pan and let cool slightly before slicing into strips or chunks as desired. This will allow juices from cooking to redistribute into the chicken, so it’s not dry or tough.
- Serve with your preferred side dish and enjoy.
This fool-proof recipe delivers your dinner to the table in one healthy bite.
It helps you create a simple yet flavorful meal using a few simple ingredients.
5 Common Mistakes People Make While Baking Chicken Breasts
Nothing is quite as comforting as a juicy, golden brown chicken breast.
It may take longer to cook, but it’s worth it.
However, some people make mistakes when baking chicken breasts, and they end up hating the results of their cooking.
Here are the top five:
Not using the correct temperature
The right temperature for baking chicken breasts is 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you use a different temperature, your chicken breasts might be overdone or underdone.
The right temperature is crucial for getting crispy skin and succulent chicken.
Cook it well on both sides to maximize caramelization and moisture retention.
Using the wrong pan size
Baking chicken using a small pan is not recommended.
The chicken ends up dry as it doesn’t get enough space to cook evenly.
It’s okay to cook just a few chicken pieces at a time if you have a small pan.
Alternatively, use a larger pan if you have it.
Not seasoning the chicken breasts properly
If you’re baking chicken breasts, season them well.
Place generous amounts of seasoning on both sides of your chicken breasts, and rub with your fingers.
By doing this, the chicken will be evenly seasoned as it cooks.
Overcooking the chicken
Often, people overcook chicken when baking it.
Overcooking can lead to burnt edges and a less desirable texture for your meal.
Use a thermometer to ensure your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165° F before taking it out of the oven.
If it’s still too raw in the middle after five minutes, return to the oven for another five minutes and check again.
In this way, your chicken will be more tender when you’re ready to eat it.
Using too much salt
Adding salt to chicken breasts helps retain moisture by pulling out moisture from the meat fibers.
Oversalting will cause your chicken to be hard and dry on the outside while tender on the inside.
To prevent this, put one quart of warm water in a large bowl.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and mix well.
Place the chicken breasts in the bowl and allow them to rest for a few minutes.
For best results, you may brine the chicken breasts for 15 minutes or up to 6 hours in the refrigerator.
Tips for Baking the Perfect Chicken Breast
Baking chicken breasts is a simple process.
Yet, keep a few things in mind to ensure your chicken turns out perfectly in the oven.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F before placing the chicken in the oven. Then, crank the chicken to broil after removing it from the oven. This way, you’ll get a nice golden brown crust on your chicken breast, which will help keep it moist.
- Pound your chicken breasts in cases where they’re thick in one area. It’ll even out the thickness and allow them to cook at the same rate.
- Do not use just any baking sheet or pan; utilize one with rims. Natural chicken juices will drip into the pan during the baking process, so try not to put too much grease in there, either.
- When baking your chicken breast, remove any fat that could cause bitter flavors. Pat dry with paper towels before adding the oil or seasoning blend to the chicken.
- Whatever seasoning blend you prefer is fine. Add spices like chili powder and paprika to meals to spice them up a bit. Coat both sides generously with seasoning before baking to achieve a perfect outside crust on baked chicken breasts.
- Adding oil is essential; the chicken will not be as juicy if you don’t use enough fat in your recipe.
- Keep the lid off while baking.
- Don’t overcook your chicken. You want it to be juicy and tender, not dry. One hundred sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) is the recommended internal temperature for chicken breasts. To check when this is done, use an instant read thermometer. If you don’t have one on hand, use a fork instead. Check how long the chicken breast changes from slightly pink to white throughout with a fork. Do not let it go gray or black before this happens.
- Pan drippings are worth saving. Give your sliced chicken breasts an extra flavor boost by pouring those drippings over them.
Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken Breasts
There are many ways to make side dishes to serve with chicken breasts.
Here are some ideas for you to choose from:
Sweet and sour cabbage
This dish is excellent for the holidays and will help you add a little something new to the usual dinner routine.
Serve it alongside your chicken breast, and enjoy.
Macaroni and cheese
This classic comfort food is a fun twist on the traditional meal.
It’s easy, quick, and delicious.
Plus, its creamy texture is perfect with almost any kind of chicken recipe.
Mashed or Scalloped Potatoes
You can’t go wrong with mashed or scalloped potatoes.
Baked sweet potato fries can also go well with baked chicken breasts.
If you’ve never tried them before, definitely give this one a try.
There will be no regrets.
Salad
If you’re looking for a simple side dish, consider a salad.
You won’t have to worry about it being too salty or sweet.
Add any of your favorite vegetables to make it more interesting.
You’ll love it.
Rice
Try rice if you’re looking for a slightly more traditional side dish.
You can serve this with almost anything, and it goes well with most kinds of chicken.
Storage Tips for Baked Chicken Breasts
Baked chicken breasts are almost always an excellent choice for dinner.
They’re quick, easy, and delicious.
If the leftover chicken breasts are not properly stored, they may spoil.
However, there’s no need to worry.
You can easily store your baked chicken breasts in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to make them into a delicious meal.
Here’s how:
- After baking your chicken breasts, let them cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
- Cover the baked chicken breast with plastic wrap if you’re storing it longer. Then, freeze it for up to three months.
- Store chicken breasts in a shallow dish to prevent them from being squashed by other foods in the fridge or freezer.
- Don’t leave any packaging open. So many things can get into our food, and most aren’t good for you. Don’t let contamination happen before or during storage. Use plastic bags or wrap your cooked food in foil before putting it into storage containers.
Conclusion
When it comes to chicken, there’s no disputing that a perfectly baked piece makes a huge difference to the enjoyment of eating.
It takes less than 25 minutes to bake, and you can vary the herbs or the glaze on the chicken to make it interesting to eat.
Plus, there’s no real downside to making too much.
You can store the leftovers in the fridge for later.
It’s also great for use in salads and sandwiches or as a part of dinner.
The possibilities are endless, as they say.
The above tips will help you make succulent and crispy chicken breasts every time.
Chicken Breast Bake Recipe
Equipment
- oven
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
Instructions
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Preheat your oven to 400° F (204°C).
- Ensure that your chicken breast is at room temperature. This way, it will have time to cook evenly throughout.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil, and set it aside. You can as well use a casserole dish for baking.
- Ensure the chicken breasts are dry by patting them with paper towels.
- Score the chicken breasts by making four diagonal cuts. Each should be about 3/4″ long, in the thickest part of the breast (about 1″ from where it attaches to the bone). The width of these cuts should be about 1/8″ wide and evenly spaced out across the breast.
- Mix paprika, seasoned salt, ground black pepper, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder in a bowl.
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts with the mixture in the bowl. As a result, each piece will have a uniform coating throughout its surface for even baking.
- Set aside at room temperature after seasoning for 30 minutes before baking. This process helps seasonings permeate the meat more evenly throughout each piece of chicken breast.
- Place the seasoned chicken breasts on a baking sheet or in a casserole dish sprayed with olive oil. Use your hands to rub olive oil into the chicken breasts.
- Bake the seasoned chicken breasts for 15 minutes per side until cooked through. They should still be pink in the middle (165°F). Each breast will take a different amount of time, depending on its size and thickness.
- Remove from the pan and let cool slightly before slicing into strips or chunks as desired. This will allow juices from cooking to redistribute into the chicken, so it’s not dry or tough.
- Serve with your preferred side dish and enjoy.
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I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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