How to bake chicken breast and for how long

several chicken breasts baked in a baking sheet

4.80 from 10 votes

How to bake chicken breast and for how long

Find out how to bake chicken breast and for how long in order for it to come out juicy and tender. Learn also how to season properly to get super flavorful chicken breasts that the entire family will love. It is so simple! You can even make a large batch in 30 minutes and freeze some to use in your favorite dishes later or to meal prep for the week.

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories204 kcal

Author Denise Browning

Cost $ 0.75 per person

Equipment

oven
baking sheet

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts preferably boneless and skinless (if bone-in it will take more time to bake)
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 oz taco seasoning or see homemade seasoning recipe in the notes (You may need to add salt to store-bought taco seasoning, about 1 teaspoon per pound of chicken)

Instructions

Start by preheating the oven to 425° F (220°C) for about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, place a plastic wrap on top of the breasts and pound them with a mallet to ensure they will have an even thickness. Brine them in salty water for at least 15 minutes (see notes) at room temp if you have time to do so; otherwise, skip this step.
Brush the breasts all over with oil, season them well on all sides, and press it on with your hands to get the seasoning to stick.
Grease a baking sheet with a bit of olive oil (or line one with foil and then grease). Place the breasts in the pan and transfer to the preheated oven.
Bake the chicken breasts for 10 to 25 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts: 5 oz (10 to 13 minutes), 7 oz (14 to 18 minutes), 10 oz (19 to 24 minutes), and 12 oz (22 to 25 minutes). Make sure to flip each breast halfway through their cooking time. Take them out of the oven when they reach 160° F (71°C).
Let them rest for 3-5 minutes before serving. The internal temp will rise during this time reaching around 165° F (74°C). Make sure to cut against the grain!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

If you want, you can glaze your chicken breasts too! To do this, sauté 2-3 minced garlic cloves with 2-3 tablespoon of butter on medium heat for about 1 minute. Then, stir in ¼ cup of honey and let it cook for 1-2 minutes. Then glaze the breasts with the mixture.
You can use the brine recipe from my roast turkey! Or buy them already brined. But if you are always in a hurry like me, you can skip this step and still obtain good results.

Homemade seasoning recipe

There are many different prepackaged seasoning blends out there, such as taco and Cajun seasoning. But you can make your own at home.

One of my favorite homemade seasonings is this one: just mix together 4 teaspoon of paprika, 2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar (skip if you are on a keto diet or sub for dried herbs such as oregano or thyme or Italian seasoning), 2 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of salt per pound of chicken, ½ teaspoon of ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. If you enjoy heat, add ½ teaspoon chili powder or cayenne.

Of course, you may also use any dry rub of your choice, about 3 tablespoon for 4 breasts.

Whatever seasoning you choose, make sure to brush oil on the breasts and then season them well. Press the seasoning on with your hands in order for it to stick on the breasts.

Storage

Store baked chicken breast in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 2 months! It is one of those easy freezer meals that you will want to make often.

Nutrition

** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

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