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This simple method teaches how to make perfectly tender, juicy, and great-tasting baked chicken breasts. A perfectly seasoned chicken dinner is just 3 quick steps away!

Ready in less than 30 minutes, these perfectly seasoned chicken breasts will have dinner on the table fast. Serve with your favorite easy side dishes, like Instant Pot Baked Potatoes, Spaghetti Mac and Cheese or Seasoned Rice and a simple green veggie.

A glass dish with 4 baked chicken breasts
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Baked Chicken Breast Recipe Highlights

  • Simple and Delicious Seasoning: My easy chicken seasoning is the best for chicken, pork or even fish!
  • Fast and Easy: With this recipe, you can have an easy baked chicken breast dinner in less than 30 minutes!
  • Simple and full of flavor: No need to add complicated sides, just serve with some Garlic Bread and your favorite vegetables or salad for a fast dinner your family will absolutely love.
  • Tender and Juicy: White meat often gets a bad rap for being dry and flavorless. But this baked chicken recipe is so tender, juicy and has so much flavor you can hardly tell the difference. Plus it’s a much healthier protein than dark meat.
  • Tested and True Method: This has been my go-to method for years for this quick and easy chicken dinner.
  • Makes Great Leftovers! I always cook a couple of extra for adding soup, casseroles, chicken salads or my favorite Chicken Caesar Wraps. Keep it in a sealed bag in the fridge for a few days, or pop it in the freezer if you’re not using it right away for juicy chicken breast any time. So great for meal prep!

Ingredients for Baked Chicken

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – I prefer to buy these fresh and then freeze them, but a bag of frozen is fine too. Keep in mind that in the frozen bags, they often include rib meat and have added salt and moisture.
  • Olive oil – Rub this on the meat to lock in moisture and help the seasoning to stick.
  • Chicken Seasoning This is my tried and true all-purpose seasoning blend of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika or chili powder, salt and pepper. It’s simple, and in the right blend it’s a powerful flavor enhancer.
  • Garnish – This is of course totally optional, but a garnish of fresh parsley for a little vibrant color makes everything look and taste just a little better.
4 baked chicken breasts with seasoning and parsley in a clear baking dish

How to Bake Chicken Breasts

See recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

  • Pound chicken to an even thickness. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place chicken between two pieces of parchment paper or in a sealed plastic bag and lightly pound with a meat mallet. This will tenderize the meat and also help the chicken to cook faster and more evenly.
  • Rub all over with olive oil. You could also use melted butter, or a variety of different types of oil, like avocado or corn oil.
  • Season the chicken well. Rub salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and onion powder all over the chicken. I like to add a sprinkling of salt over the top just to make sure it’s properly seasoned. Sometimes I’ll use chili powder instead of paprika.
  • Place the chicken side by side in a glass baking dish. Arrange each piece of chicken in the opposite direction and you should be able to fit 4 pieces in a 13×9-inch dish. For best results, they can be close together but not on top of each other. They will shrink slightly as they cook.
  • Roast in the oven at 450℉ for about 15-20 minutes. It doesn’t sound like a long time, but at the higher temperature the chicken will cook fast.
  • Cook chicken to 165℉. Once the chicken reaches the optimal temperature, remove the pan from the oven and tent with foil to allow the chicken time to rest. Check out my free downloadable Meat Temperature Chart for more information on proper temperatures.

Pro Tip: Patting the chicken dry with paper towels will help the seasonings to stick. Don’t skip this step.

chicken breasts in a glass dish with seasoning
baked chicken breasts and tongs

How Long Does it Take to Bake Chicken Breasts?

Boneless skinless chicken breasts are very lean, so it’s easy to overcook them. I always set my oven to 450℉, but maybe you want to cook something else at the same time and need the oven at a lower temperature. You can still get good results using this guide.

Here’s how long to bake chicken breasts at each temperature:

  • 350℉: 30-35 minutes
  • 375℉: 25-30 minutes
  • 400℉: 22-25 minutes
  • 425℉: 18-22 minutes
  • 450℉: 15-18 minutes

Keep in mind that the exact time needed will depend on the size and thickness of the meat. It’s super handy to keep a digital instant-read thermometer in your kitchen to get the temp just right.

My favorite meat thermometer.

Thermopro Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer

I highly recommend investing in a meat thermometer for your kitchen. It’s very affordable and often on sale! This is the one I’ve used for years and it has a hundred thousand positive reviews.

Know the Proper Internal Temperature for Chicken

No matter what part of the bird, all chicken should be cooked to 165℉. Use a digital meat thermometer and stick the pointy end into the center of the thickest part of the meat, or for bone-in chicken, the thickest part near the bone. Once the internal temperature registers at least 160-165℉ you know it’s time to tent and rest.

The time it takes to reach the proper temperature can vary by size. These times are based on 450℉ in my recipe:

  • 6-ounce breasts:  13-16 minutes.
  • 8-ounce breasts: 16-19 minutes.
  • 12-ounce breasts: 22-26 minutes.

FAQs

What is the Best Temperature to Bake Chicken at?

I have tested boneless skinless chicken breasts at a variety of oven temperatures and have found that the higher temperatures seal in the juices and produce the juiciest baked chicken. In my opinion, 450℉ is the best temperature to bake chicken at, but going as low as 425℉ would work fine.

Is it better to cook chicken in the oven covered or uncovered?

It really depends on the recipe. Typically, I cook chicken uncovered to give it a chance to brown evenly. But for a recipe like Chicken and Rice Bake, covering the pan with foil is crucial to seal in the moistrure.

Does this recipe work with other types of chicken?

The seasoning blend I use for this chicken recipe is simple and easy, using spices that are usually readily available. It is my favorite blend and I use it with a variety of recipes. It works great with boneless or bone-in breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks, and in the oven, on the stovetop or even on the grill! Just rub the seasoning into the chicken and cook accordingly.

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be cooked at the same temperature as this recipe but may need an extra 5-10 minutes depending on size. Bone-in chicken will always take much longer; at least an extra 20 minutes. Chicken tenders work wonderfully as well and should just take about 10 minutes.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

You can prep the chicken up to 24 hours in advance and keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator. Remove from the fridge while the oven preheats and bake as directed.

Can I double the recipe?

Absolutely! It’s easy to double as long as you have the oven space. Double the amount of chicken and seasoning but cook for the same amount of time.

chicken breasts on a white platter

Serving Suggestions

The beauty of this recipe is that it is incredibly versatile. You could serve it with just about anything from pasta to salad and have a delicious meal. My go-to meal is serving with roasted red potatoes and salad. But here are some favorite sides to serve with chicken:

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerator: Store leftover cooked chicken up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Perfect for meal prepping for the week and for using in a variety of recipes from salads to soups.

Freezer: Cool completely and store cooked chicken in a freezer safe container for up to 6 months. I recommend wrapping each breast in parchment paper before freezing for easy portioning.

Expert Tips

White meat can be tough to get just right. It’s all too easy to overcook and end up with dry, rubbery chicken. I’ve got lots of expert tips to share when it comes to my favorite chicken breast recipes.

  • Add healthy fat with olive oil. Rubbing the chicken with a little olive oil before baking helps add moisture to the chicken and also helps the seasonings stick to the breast.
  • Keep the seasoning simple. I use a very simple seasoning of salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and chili powder or paprika. Oregano, thyme, Italian seasoning or even taco seasoning are also great to use. Pick the spices, herbs and flavors you enjoy.
  • Chicken breasts do best at a high temperature (roasting) around 425-450℉. This allows the meat to cook quickly and retain a lot of moisture. Lower temps result in a longer cooking time and a higher chance of dry chicken, which is not something anyone wants!
  • Make sure to let the chicken rest. When cooked at a high temperature the juices in the chicken quickly rush to the center, so when you cut into it right away, all those juices come pouring out and boom – dry chicken. Resting allows the juices to redistribute through the breast and gives you a tender, juicy piece of meat every time.
chicken breast, spoon with juices
  • Serve with the juices. Adding a drizzle of the juices from the pan with add extra flavor and moisture to the meat.
chicken breast with the end sliced away
  • Slice against the grain. This will result in the most tender, easy to chew chicken.
  • Use a deep baking dish. I use this baking dish (or one similar) for making my baking chicken. You could also use a foil or parchment lined rimmed baking sheet, but a high sided baking dish seems to do better at keeping the meat juicy.
  • Add a topping. Try topping with some Homemade Garlic Butter to mix with the juices for extra flavor.
sliced chicken on a white plate with green beans and potatoes

More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

If your family loves this baked chicken breast recipe as much as mine does, try some of our other favorite chicken dinners, like Creamy Baked Chicken, Easy Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks and Juicy Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken.

Or try one of these chicken recipes next:


Recipe

Baked Chicken Breasts

4.75 from 249 votes
Learn how to cook tender, juicy baked chicken breasts with this easy 3-step method. Just 5 minutes of prep time and 18 minutes in the oven.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 4 medium size breasts
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika or chili powder

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Pound chicken breasts lightly so they are of even thickness.
  • Pour olive oil in a 13″ x 9″ baking dish. Lightly coat the chicken with the oil to coat it, then place chicken breasts side by side in the dish.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and chili powder (or paprika). Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over both sides of the chicken and rub it in with your hands. Place chicken breasts side by side, making sure there is no overlap.
  • Bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until juices are clear or a meat thermometer reads 160-170 degrees. *Note – depending on the size of your chicken breasts, it could take longer. Mine were pounded to less than an inch thick.
  • Cover with foil and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes while the juices settle before slicing.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

Store leftover cooked chicken breast up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Perfect for meal prepping for the week and for using in a variety of recipes from salads to soups.
In the freezer, cool completely and store cooked chicken breasts in an airtight container for up to 6 months. I recommend wrapping each breast in wax paper before freezing for easy portioning.

Nutrition

Calories: 215kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 32gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 563mgPotassium: 559mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 45IUVitamin C: 1.8mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.6mg
Keyword baked chicken

Kristin Maxwell

Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook.

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Comments

    1. Hi Kari, generally you will use the middle rack of your oven unless the recipe specifically says to place it higher or lower.

    1. I don’t recommend it. When you bake from frozen, the outside tends to dry out because it cooke much faster than the inside.

  1. What is your suggestion if I would like to add potatoes to the dish to roast with it in one dish pan? Would time and temperature change?

    1. Same temperature. Roast the potatoes for about 15-20 minutes, then add the chicken to the pan and continue roasting until the chicken is finished. If you try to cook it all together the chicken will overcook and dry out.

  2. This was an easy and delicious recipe for chicken breasts. They came out juicy, tender and flavorful. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

  3. My daughter shared this recipe with me and it is a hit at her house, and now it’s a hit at my house! The chicken was juicy, and flavorful – which I always find to be a bit hard to do so this is a keeper of a recipe!!!

  4. I found this recipe over a year ago on your site and it is the best way I’ve ever found to bake chicken breasts!! I LOVE IT!! It’s on the menu for tomorrow and my mouth is watering just thinking about it!! Thank you for sharing this!!! I just had to tell you… again… how much I love it!! And… baked potatoes your way also!! Best Ever!!!!

    Fixed this for my brother, and now it is the only way he cooks them as well!!!

  5. I made this with chicken tenders instead of breasts. They only took 10 mins to cook and came out perfect! Juicy and full of flavor!

  6. I made 5 chicken breasts and am on a very specific diet. So I had to measure the chicken breast in grams before cooking. I actually diced the chicken breasts because of this reason, tossed it in olive oil and the seasoning. I have a convection oven so did this recipe at 420 for 15 minutes.

    Foil over it after it came out. Was cooked, juicy and delicious.

    Now all I have to worry about is it being juicy after being in the fridge. We shall see!

    1. how did it do in the fridge? this is my biggest issue with meal prepping chicken! I can never eat it after re-heating it because of how dry it gets. would love to know how this worked out for you!

      1. I use this recipe all the time now. No problem with dry ess. I put the chicken in separate meal prep containers (I use the fitpacker meal prep containers). When I reheat I damp a paper towel and put it over the container (no cover) and heat up like normal. Comes out great!

  7. This method to cook boneless skinless chicken breast was spot on! Made it in a cast iron pan and it turned out perfectly! I did use Canola oil though instead of olive oil and still had some smoking in the oven. Great recipe!!

  8. Another great alternative is using mayo. U know, sounds gross, but when the mayo bakes, it completely changes and the chicken comes out moist and flavorful and you definitely don’t taste mayo.

  9. Great recipe! I can’t help myself – I always overcook chicken and we are of course, always disappointed in the results! This recipe is so simple that even I did it right! Next time, I’ll take the chicken out of the oven a bit before they reach 165 degrees so it will be even juicier. And yes, the pan juices were so good! Thanks for helping me to break a bad, old habit!

  10. I was on the verge of heating up pizza for my family last night, but wanted to find something I could easily make instead. Super easy, super quick, and everybody gobbled it up up (I’m a vegetarian so I can’t comment on the taste.) The chicken was juicy and the cooking time was perfect. Threw together some rice and vegetables and everything was done in 20 minutes. I’ll make this again for sure.

    *I made half the recipe (literally just halved everything) and it came out great.

  11. Absolutely delicious! This is the best baked chicken I have ever made. Super moist and that drizzle of the baking juice is just perfect!

  12. This is my second time trying this, and it is fantastic! I love trying new recipes, and not only is this easy, it’s delicious and such a time-saver! I have a litter of kiddos who usually don’t ALL love what I make each night. But this is the one exception! Thanks so much

  13. Such an easy recipe with moist and flavorful results. This will be my go-to recipe for baked chicken breasts from now on.

  14. Have mercy! I have avoided baked chicken for years because it always taste like crap. NO MORE! Baked chicken has made a return thanks to this recipe. I used olive ail and zero smoke. Who knew I should be cooking at a higher temp? You did! So glad I stumbled on your recipe.