Made with just 4 ingredients, this chicken breast recipe is foolproof and delivers the most flavorful, juiciest, tender chicken. It’s packed with bold flavor and works perfectly for a quick weeknight dinner or simple meal prep.
The Best Meal Prep Chicken
Chicken is one protein I make in bulk weekly for us. I use this recipe because it works. I get tender, juicy, flavorful chicken each and every time. There are no complicated steps, no guesswork, and definitely no dried chicken. This recipe proves that simple ingredients can make an amazingly delicious meal.
At least 1 to 2 nights a week, it’s the main dish with assorted sides; the rest of the time, it’s used in salads, wraps, nachos, and even pizza toppings. Whether you’re feeding the family, stocking up the fridge for the week, or need a dependable go-to recipe, this is one you’ll want to put on your weekly dinner rotation.
TKW Family Love
This was SOOO easy and SOOO good!! I had 2 big 12oz chicken breasts so I split them and pounded flat and used a BBQ seasoning I had. They only took about 17 minutes to cook and I rested them for about 10 minutes. They turned out very juicy and tender-served BBQ sauce on the side. This is a very versatile recipe as you can change up the seasoning or sauce easily! Definitely a keeper!!!
#thekitchenwhisperer
Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts Ingredients
When I first met Mr. Fantabulous, he only ate plain chicken. He couldn’t be bothered with seasonings (as he lived on his own at that time), which had me in utter shock. I had to introduce him to flavor, even something as simple as a salt-and-pepper rub on chicken. One bite of truly seasoned chicken, and it was bye-bye to the plain chicken. To this day, I still make a batch of baked chicken breasts for us weekly, some 30 years later.
This recipe took me less than 5 minutes to put together, and while it baked in the oven, we were able to get other stuff done around the house.
- Large Chicken Breasts: boneless and skinless
Chef Lori’s Tip: SIZE MATTERS
In this recipe, my boneless skinless chicken breasts were huge (a little over 10 ounces), so they took longer to cook than, say, a smaller one. Here’s a guide to cooking times based on breast size. As always, please rely on a MEATER or meat thermometer to ensure your breasts are cooked to the right temperature and prevent them from under- or overcooking.
- Small (5-6 oz) ~20 minutes
- Medium (8 oz) ~21-26 minutes
- Large (>8 oz) ~26+ minutes
How to Oven Bake Chicken Breasts
I should tell you that it’s best to pound your chicken to an even thickness to ensure even cooking. But I didn’t do that in this recipe. Instead, because my hands were hurting pretty badly, I opted to ‘shape’ the breasts in the pan just before putting them in the oven.
Essentially, once they were all seasoned, I tucked the thinner ends under themselves to form a more uniform piece of chicken. This allowed for more even cooking and, honestly, saved my hands. Either method works, so go with your preference.
- Preheat the oven, then lay the chicken breasts, ‘rough’ side up. Drizzle some olive oil over, then sprinkle half of the seasonings. *Note: You can mix the seasonings together first if you wish before sprinkling them on.*
- Flip the breasts over so the ‘smooth’ side faces up, drizzle with more olive oil, and season with the remaining seasonings. Do not crowd the pan, so try to leave space between the breasts, as you want the heat to circulate around the breasts.
- Bake for about 26 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. *My breasts were HUGE, so they actually took about 38 minutes. I rely on my MEATER thermometer every single time. You really should use one as well.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for ~5 minutes for the juices to reabsorb into the chicken.
Oven Baked Chicken Breasts FAQs
- Can I use bone-in? Absolutely! Just know that it will require longer to cook and reach 165°F. Add another ~10-15 minutes, but as always, rely on a meat thermometer.
- Can I use frozen chicken? For best results, thaw the chicken before baking. This ensures even cooking and better texture.
- How do I keep chicken breasts from drying out? RELY on a meat thermometer each and every time. This is why I recommend the MEATER, as it goes into the flesh while it’s baking, and you can keep track of it on your phone.
- Can I double this recipe? Definitely! I typically make 8 huge breasts a week on a large half-sheet pan for main meals and for meal-prep lunches, salads, wraps, and even pizza toppings.
- Can I customize the seasoning? Of course! Swap in your favorite seasoning blends, herbs, or even marinades.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Aside from the amazing flavors and how juicy it is, you’ll love this recipe as it’s trustworthy and reliable. With just 4 ingredients and a no-fail method, it delivers tender, juicy chicken every time.
- JUST 4 INGREDIENTS: You don’t need to break the bank for maximum flavor without the fuss.
- JUICY & TENDER EVERY TIME: This oven-baked method locks in moisture so your chicken never turns out dry.
- WEEKNIGHT READY: Quick to prep and hands-off while baking, making it stress-free.
- MEAL-PREP FRIENDLY: Stores and reheats beautifully, making it usable in a myriad of ways!
How to Reheat Baked Chicken Breasts
- Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the chicken and veggies in an oven-safe dish. Add about a 1/4 cup of stock to keep the chicken moist. Loosely cover with foil and bake for about 20 minutes, or until heated through.
How to Serve Oven-Baked Chicken Breasts
This is such a great ‘base’ recipe. Not only is it a start on its own, served with some roasted boursin asparagus or candied carrots, but it also rocks when used in meal-prep recipes!
- WRAPS: Use it in my cheesy bacon pickle wrap or my crunchy Thai chicken salad wrap
- SALAD: Add it to my Arugula Berry Pastina Salad or my Cold Thai Noodle Salad
Other Ways to “Bake” Chicken Breasts
Air Fryer
The cook time on these will vary depending on the size of your breasts.
- Small (5-7oz) ~14 minutes
- Medium (8-9oz) ~16 minutes
- Large (10+) ~18 minutes
Here’s what I used:
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Easy Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
Made with just 4 ingredients, this chicken breast recipe is foolproof and delivers the most flavorful, juiciest, tender chicken. It’s packed with bold flavor and works perfectly for a quick weeknight dinner or simple meal prep.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: chicken dinner, oven baked chicken breasts, meal prep chicken, high protein chicken, easy weeknight chicken
- Method: oven and air fryer
- Cuisine: chicken dinner, oven baked chicken breasts, meal prep chicken, high protein chicken, easy weeknight chicken
Ingredients
- 3–4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons Cluckalicious Seasoning
- 1 1/4 teaspoons All Purpose Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and place them “rough side” up in an 11″x8″ baking dish, 9 x 13″ baking dish, or half sheet pan.
- Drizzle half of the olive oil over top and half of the Cluckalicious Seasoning and All Purpose Seasoning*. *Alternatively, you can mix the 2 seasonings together and then sprinkle them on.
- Flip the breasts over so the ‘smooth’ side faces up, then drizzle on the remaining olive oil and seasonings. If you didn’t pound your breasts to even thickness, tuck the thinner ends under themselves to form a more uniform piece of chicken. Do not crowd the pan, so try to leave some space between the breasts. Insert a MEATER thermometer.
- Bake for 26-32 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 165°F. Since my breasts were about 10 ounces each, they took close to 38 minutes to cook. This is why I stress the importance of using a meat thermometer all the time.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for ~5 minutes for the juices to reabsorb into the chicken before carving/serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
*Nutrition and yield are based on 3 large breasts, where 1 breast gives 2 servings
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