How long to bake skinless chicken breast

How To Bake Chicken Breasts in the Oven: The Simplest, Easiest Method

The simplest, easiest way to bake moist and tender chicken breasts in the oven.

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How long to bake skinless chicken breast

(Image credit: Leela Cyd)

This is the cooking method that made me realize that boneless, skinless chicken breasts can be pretty darn delicious. They don’t have to be dry and boring. They can, in fact, be moist, tender, and full of flavor — something I actually look forward to having for dinner.

I learned this way of cooking chicken in culinary school. It’s technically called “dry-poaching,” but that sounds fussy for what is essentially an incredibly simple technique. Here’s how you, too, can make the best-ever chicken breasts in just a few steps.

Why This Parchment-Paper Method Is So Effective

There is so little fat in a boneless, skinless chicken breast that it’s hard to cook it without the meat ending up dry or just plain tasteless. With this method, we take advantage of the steady, all-surrounding heat of the oven, but just before putting the breasts in to bake, we cover them with a piece of parchment paper. The paper acts almost like the chicken’s missing skin, protecting the chicken and preventing it from drying out.

Think of this method as a cross between braising and roasting. The chicken bastes in its own juices and the result is tender, juicy chicken breasts that are succulent and never dry.

The Versatility Can’t Be Beat

This way of cooking chicken is incredibly easy and it’s never failed me. I also love it for when I want to cook several chicken breasts all at once, as when I’m cooking for a big family meal or to prep lunches for the week. In the recipe below, I season the chicken with just salt and pepper, but you can use any spices you wish or adapt it to your favorite recipes.

Super versatile, super dependable. If you’ve struggled with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, this is definitely the method to try.

The simplest, easiest way to bake moist and tender chicken breasts in the oven.

Ingredients

  • Butter or olive oil

  • 1 or more

    boneless, skinless chicken breast

  • Salt and pepper

  • Other spices or seasonings

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 400°F and prepare the pan. Heat the oven to 400°F with a rack in the middle position. Rub the pan and one side of the parchment paper with butter or olive oil; this prevents the chicken from sticking.

  2. Prepare the chicken. Pat the chicken dry and rub with a little butter or olive oil, if desired. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and any other favorite seasonings.

  3. Transfer to the baking dish. Place the chicken breasts in the baking dish, spaced slightly apart. You can also tuck herbs or lemon wedges around the chicken for extra flavor.

  4. Cover with the parchment. Lay the parchment, butter-side down, over the chicken. Tuck the edges into the pan and press the parchment down so that it's snug around the chicken. The chicken breasts should be completely covered with the parchment.

  5. Bake until the chicken is 165°F. Transfer the chicken to the oven until the chicken is completely opaque all the way through and registers 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. Start checking after 20 minutes; total cooking time is usually 30 to 40 minutes.

  6. Serve. Serve the chicken immediately, or let it cool and refrigerate for up to a week.

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Let's face it, chicken breasts are really bland. Especially when there's no skin (i.e. fat and flavor). And baked chicken breasts have a reputation for being even worse! When you don't sear it at all over the stovetop, you're losing out on texture too. It doesn't have to be this way. There are ways to make this innately boring cut of meat into something really delicious that will have the whole family excited. And no, it doesn't always mean stuffing the chicken. 

At what temperature should I bake chicken? 

We find that a 375° works perfectly. With the spice rub, you'll get some nice color and caramelization, and the chicken will cook through nice and evenly. 

How can I make my baked chicken taste better? 

Make a spice rub! It's kind of amazing how much of a difference brown sugar, garlic powder, and paprika (all ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry) can do. Not only does it add a slightly smoky, sweet taste, but it makes your chicken look way prettier. (Naked salt-and-pepper chicken breasts are a very sad sight to behold.) 

This is by no means the only seasoning route you can go. Craving Tex-Mex? Try 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder. The flavor combinations are endless. Just remember that in the world of spices, a little bit goes a long way.  

Placing chicken breasts over a bed of lemon slices is an easy and affordable way to infuse a ton of fresh flavor. Limes and oranges work well too!

Do I need to cover the chicken while it's cooking?  

It's not necessary. In a baking dish without a TON of extra room, and on top of a bunch of lemon slices, the chicken stays nice and juicy. 

What pairs well with this chicken? 

A LOT. The flavors from the spices go well with something super simple like Spinach Salad with Apples and Feta or salad with a bit more flair, like our Southwestern Chopped Salad. It's a wonderful cookout main that will compliment anything from Potato Salad to Elote.

How long should I bake the chicken breasts?  

It depends on the size of your chicken breasts. If they're large, you're looking at 20 to 25 minutes. One of the most common mistakes with baked chicken breasts is leaving them in the oven for too long. For people without a ton of kitchen confidence, it can be tricky to tell if chicken is cooked through unless you slice into it, which can cause all those flavorful (lemony) juices to escape. 

You'll get the hang of being able to tell just by feel (it should be firm but not rock solid) but until then, we recommend using a thermometer. 165° is your magic number for cooked-through chicken.

Do I need to let the chicken rest? 

Yes. Regardless of how hangry you are, let the baked chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. Cut too early, and you might end up a dry and bland chicken breast atop a messy pool of juices. 

For more amazing chicken recipes, check out our cookbook Insanely Easy Chicken Dinners.

How should I store the chicken?

We recommend letting the chicken cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container. Leftovers will keep 3-5 days after baking. 

What are fun ways to use leftovers?

Our go-to: throw it in a quesadilla! You can also bulk up a simple salad or make a super flavorful chicken salad sandwich. 

How to prevent dried baked chicken 

There’s a couple things you could do to prevent “dried chicken” when baking. Creating a brine with salt, sugar, and water is a great way to sustain moisture in chicken. It’s not going to make the chicken sweet or salty, it's just going to aid in making a tender juicy chicken. Also consider   cooking the chicken breast with the bone in. This can help supplement juiciness as well. 

How to use this chicken in other recipes

A simple easy chicken breast recipe like this could be used in a few ways. You could add the chicken on top of the rice like the curried chicken and garlic golden rice. How delicious would it be if you made a chicken salad sandwich with baked chicken breast. Get inspired to amplify your pasta salad similar to this chicken pasta salad.

Have you made this recipe? Let us know how you liked it in the comments below. 

Editor's Note: This recipe was edited July 19th, 2022

Baked Chicken Breasts - Delish.com

Parker Feierbach

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How long does it take for boneless skinless chicken breast to bake?

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Toss the chicken breasts with olive oil, herbs, and spices (per recipe below). Lightly grease a baking dish or pan so the chicken breasts don't stick. Bake chicken breasts for 22-26 minutes or until they reach 165°F.

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400?

The reason why baking chicken breast at 400 F is better than 350 F is that cooking them at a high temperature will require fewer minutes and will garner more color.

How long does it take to bake boneless skinless chicken breast at 350?

chicken breast at 350°F (177˚C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165˚F (74˚C).

How long does it take to bake boneless skinless chicken at 400?

A medium size chicken breast (5 to 6 ounces each), takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes to bake in a 400 degree oven. I always bake chicken breasts at 400 degrees Fahrenheit as the high temperature helps seal in the juices (and the flavor).