Easy Oven Baked Chicken Breast

Key Takeaways: Oven Baked Chicken Breast

• Quick and easy. Chicken breasts bake in about 20 to 25 minutes at 425°F, making this a simple option for busy weeknights.
• Juicy every time. Even thickness, high heat and a short rest help keep the chicken tender instead of dry.
• Simple and versatile. The basic seasoning works for an easy dinner or for adding cooked chicken to salads, wraps, pasta and casseroles.

Why I Love This Recipe

This is my go-to method for oven baked chicken breast because it’s simple, reliable and uses ingredients I almost always have on hand. The chicken turns out tender and flavorful with just olive oil and a few basic seasonings.

For more easy chicken dinners, try my baked chicken Parmesan, chicken Milanese or chicken Madeira.

Ingredient Notes

Find the full printable recipe with detailed measurements below.

• Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts. If they are overly plump, slice them in half horizontally so they are easier to pound down to desired thickness.
• Olive oil: Olive oil helps the seasonings stick to the chicken and adds flavor while it bakes.
• Kosher salt & black pepper: I use kosher salt because the granules are larger than table salt, so I know when I use the same amount, it will flavor it nicely, but won’t be as salty. Use both salt and pepper to taste. 
• Seasoning: Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika. You can replace smoked paprika with regular paprika if want. 

Chicken Seasoning Variations

• Try onion powder, thyme, oregano or even chili powder.
• Easy spice blends are great like lemon pepper seasoning, cajun, Greek seasoning or fajita seasoning. Turn it into a blackened chicken recipe!
• Use your favorite chicken marinade or try this Chipotle chicken recipe!

How to Make Oven Baked Chicken Breast

Step 1: Place the meat in a zip-top bag. Use either a meat mallet or rolling pin to lightly pound the breasts until they are an even thickness. I like mine about 1″ thick for fast even cooking. Trim the fat and pat dry with a paper towel. 

Step 2: Coat the cutlets in olive oil, and don’t be afraid to use your hands to make sure it’s coated evenly. Rub the combined seasoning mixture all over the chicken breast and place them in a single layer in a greased 9×13 baking dish. 

Step 3: Bake chicken in the oven until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F. If you’ve pounded your chicken to the thickness of about 1″ this should take about 15-20 minutes. Give or take a few minutes depending on the thickness of yours.

Step 4: You don’t want to slice into it right away, otherwise, you’ll lose all the juices and the pieces will dry out. Instead, remove the casserole dish from the oven and just let it stand for about 5-10 minutes to give the juices time to redistribute and settle. Then, slice and serve or serve whole.

Best Tips for Juicy Chicken Breast

• Pound it to even thickness. This is the single biggest thing you can do for juicy chicken. Even thickness means even cooking, no dry edges while the center catches up.
• Slice horizontally first. If your breasts are extra thick, slice them horizontally before pounding. Even easier if they are still slightly frozen.
• Use a meat thermometer. Pull the chicken the moment it hits 165°F. Overcooking is the number one reason chicken goes dry. This is my favorite meat thermometer.
• Let it rest. Give it 5 to 10 minutes before slicing so the juices redistribute back through the meat.

Serving Suggestions

• Soups and casseroles. Shred or dice the chicken and stir it into creamy chicken noodle soup, pasta bakes or your favorite casserole.
• Salads. Slice it over a Caesar salad, add it to a chopped salad or use it to make classic chicken salad.
• Meal prep. Bake a batch ahead of time, then portion it into lunches with rice, roasted vegetables, pasta or salads throughout the week.
• Wraps and sandwiches. Slice thin for chicken club lettuce wraps, wraps, paninis or an easy chicken sandwich.