This Baked Chicken Breast is juicy and tender, with the best simple seasoning rub. It’s super easy to make and perfect for dinner any night of the week!

Sliced and whole baked chicken breasts in baking dish.

Baked Chicken Breast: A Weeknight Staple

I’m so excited to share with you my go-to chicken breast recipe: Baked Chicken Breast! Say goodbye to dry, flavorless baked chicken, because today I’m sharing my secrets to cooking the most perfect boneless chicken breasts in the oven!

Picture this: mouthwateringly juicy, fork-tender chicken breasts, hot from the oven and coated in the most delicious blend of savory seasonings. Slice them up and serve with mashed potatoes and green beans, or add them to salads, sandwiches and wraps.

I love that I can have this easy chicken recipe on my table in less than 30 minutes, with minimal hands-on prep time. It’s a staple in our dinner rotation, and I hope you’ll love it too!

I was looking for an easy recipe for chicken breasts and stumbled across this one. I had all the ingredients so I gave it a try. My husband, my son and I loved it. This will become a regular for us.

Gayle

Secrets to the Best Juicy Baked Chicken Breast

  • Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness. This makes the meat extra tender and helps it to cook through faster and more evenly. Otherwise, the thinner end of the chicken breasts may dry out while the thicker end finishes cooking.
  • Bake at 425° F. I’ve found this to be the best temperature for baking chicken breasts because the high heat cooks the chicken quickly and seals in the juices.
  • Don’t overcook it. Overcooking is one of the most common reasons why chicken turns out dry or tough. Use a meat thermometer to tell when the chicken reaches 165° F (the USDA recommended safe temperature for chicken) and take it out of the oven as soon as it is done.
  • Let it rest for 5 minutes after cooking, before slicing or serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, rather than running out onto your plate or cutting board.
  • For the most tender chicken, always slice it against the grain.
Sliced chicken breast on a plate.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need just a handful of ingredients for this recipe:

  • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: It’s best if each of the chicken breasts are approximately the same size so that they will finish cooking at the same time. Want to bake chicken thighs instead? You’ll love my Baked Chicken Thighs recipe.
  • Olive Oil: Rubbing the chicken breasts with a little olive oil adds moisture and helps the seasonings to stick to the meat.
  • Seasonings: I use a simple mix of spices that adds incredible flavor to the chicken: paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper. You can also add a teaspoon or two of brown sugar for an extra caramelized crust or some chili powder for a touch of heat. Sometimes I use Italian seasoning in place of the dried oregano.

More Seasoning Options

You can also season the chicken with my Chicken Seasoning, or Cajun Seasoning for a delicious spicy kick. If you prefer a marinade try my Chicken Marinade.

How to Bake Chicken Breast

Here’s a quick overview of the recipe steps. Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

Mix together the seasonings in a small bowl.

Pound the chicken. Place chicken breasts in a zip-top bag or between two sheets of parchment paper and pound them to an even thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.

Pounding chicken breast in a zip-top plastic bag with a meat mallet.

Season chicken. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and pat dry with paper towels. Drizzle them with olive oil and rub the oil over all sides of the chicken. Then rub the seasoning mixture over both sides of the chicken.

Drizzling olive oil on 4 raw chicken breasts in baking dish.
Sprinkling seasonings on 4 raw chicken breasts in baking dish.

Bake, uncovered at 425° F, until the chicken is cooked through.

Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Then serve as desired.

How Long to Bake Chicken Breasts

The cook time for boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the oven will depend on their size and thickness. Here’s a general guide for how long to cook chicken breasts at 425° F:

  • Small 5-6 ounce chicken breasts: 13-16 minutes
  • Medium 8 ounce chicken breasts: 16-19 minutes
  • Large 11-12 ounce chicken breasts: 22-26 minutes

The best way to tell when chicken is done is to use an instant read thermometer to test the internal temperature in the center of the meat. Chicken should be cooked to 165° F. When chicken is almost done it will finish cooking quickly. Once it registers 155° F, it probably needs just 1-2 more minutes in the oven. Watch it closely as it can quickly go from perfect to overcooked.

Four baked chicken breasts in a baking dish.

Serving Ideas

These chicken breasts go well with a variety of side dishes. Here are a few to try:

I’ve also used this recipe to cook chicken for Chicken Salad sandwiches and salads, like this Cobb Salad and Pesto Pasta Salad.

Meal Prep and Storage Tips

Baked chicken breast is a versatile protein to make ahead for quick meals throughout the week. I love having it in my fridge, ready to add to quick assembly meals like bowls, salads and wraps.

  • Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. 
  • Freezer: Store baked chicken in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Wrap the chicken well to minimize its exposure to air in the freezer. It is best to cut, slice or shred your chicken before freezing it. This way, you can thaw it and add it directly to your recipe. I recommend using frozen chicken in recipes such as casseroles, rather than eating it on its own.
Sliced and unsliced baked chicken breast in baking dish.

More Favorite Chicken Breast Recipes

If you love this baked chicken breast, try one of these chicken breast recipes next:

Four baked chicken breasts in baking dish with one breast sliced.
5 from 23 ratings

Baked Chicken Breast

Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes
Learn how to make the best juicy, tender, perfectly seasoned oven baked chicken breasts. This recipe is sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation! Serve the chicken with a few simple side dishes like mashed potatoes and green beans, or slice it up and add to salads, sandwiches or wraps.
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Ingredients

For the Seasoning:

  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano, or Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Other Ingredients:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425° F.
  • Combine the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl: paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir or whisk to mix. Set aside.
  • Place the chicken breasts in a large zip-top bag or between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound them to an even thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
  • Place chicken breasts in a baking dish. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Drizzle with the olive oil and rub over both sides of chicken.
  • Rub the seasoning rub over both sides of the chicken.
  • Bake chicken breasts according to their size: bake 5-6 ounce breasts for 13-16 minutes, bake 8 ounce breasts for 16-19 minutes, bake 11-12 ounce breasts for 22-26 minutes. Check that chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165° F by inserting an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the meat.
  • Remove the pan from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. When slicing chicken, slice it against the grain for the most tender result.

Notes

  • Store baked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • You may freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Wrap it well before freezing to minimize exposure to air.
Calories: 165kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 72mg, Sodium: 423mg, Potassium: 453mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 536IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
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