{Perfectly} Baked Chicken Breast
Updated
Updated
This Oven Baked Chicken Breast recipe is coated in a simple, but flavorful seasoning mixture, cooked to tender and moist perfection in less than 20 minutes! It’s a foolproof, delicious weeknight dinner go-to that will never let you down.
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5 STAR REVIEWS
Baked chicken breasts do not need to be boring! They never disappoint me thanks to this simple baked chicken breast recipe that is a constant lifesaver when I’m struggling with dinner choices. The chicken breasts bake up so tender and delicious (in just 20 minutes!) that nobody complains about chicken for dinner again.
My seasoning blend provides the chicken with a gorgeous and flavorful crust, and even though brown sugar is the main ingredient, don’t fret about it being sweet – it’s savory. Pinky promise. The brown sugar (and high/fast cooking – see tips below) actually helps the chicken cook up all nice and juicy!
Oven Baked Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 4 (6 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 & 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, (cut back to 1/2 teaspoon if using table salt)
- 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- chopped fresh parsley, , for garnish
- roasted vegetable and rice pilaf, , for serving (or choose your favorites!)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound each chicken breast to a little more than 3/4-inch at the thickest part. (Make sure your fillets are all the same thickness to ensure even cooking.)
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, smoked paprika, pepper, and garlic powder until thoroughly combined.
- Place chicken on the foil; drizzle with the olive oil and massage into the chicken on both sides. Sprinkle with the seasoning, on both sides, coating as much surface area as possible.
- Transfer to the oven and cook for about 18 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees F. (Times can vary depending on the size and thickness of the breasts and your oven. I usually pull the chicken out of the oven when it reaches 162 degrees, then allow it to climb to 165 as it rests on the pan.)
- You want to allow the chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before slicing to lock in the juices.
- Serve with your favorite sides and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!
4 Keys to Making The Best Baked Chicken Breast
Chicken Breast Size. Chicken breasts can vary in size between 5 and 10 ounces, so the cooking time can vary. If baking more than one breast, make sure they’re all the same weight, so they cook at the same rate. Make sure your fillets are all the same thickness to ensure even cooking. Pound each breast out to a little more than 3/4-inch at the thickest part (0.6″ to be exact!)
What Temperature to Bake Chicken Breast. I’m willing to bet you’ve been baking your chicken at 350 for 1 hour, right? I did that for years, as well. Stop doing that! The best temperature to bake chicken breasts at is 425 degrees F. Cooking them fast at a higher temperature seals in the juices and the key to caramelization.
How Long to Bake Chicken Breast. So, you’ve pounded the chicken breasts out to 3/4-inch even thickness and preheated your oven to 425 degrees F. But how long do you bake them for? Large chicken breasts (7-8 ounce) take about 20-22 minutes to cook. Medium-sized breasts (5-6 ounces) take about 18-20 minutes. They are finished cooking when an internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. (I usually take them out of the oven when they reach 162 and then let them climb to 165 as they rest on the pan.) The safest way to test for doneness is with an instant read thermometer.
Let the Baked Chicken Rest Before Slicing. Allowing the baked chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before slicing locks in the juices and keeps the chicken breasts super moist!Let the baked chicken rest before slicing
Storing Leftovers
Cooked chicken should be cooled completely, then stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for up to 4 days.
What to Serve with Baked Chicken Breast
Make it a meal served with any of our roasted vegetables or rice dishes. Particular reader favorites include our roasted broccoli or roasted carrots, mashed cauliflower or mashed potatoes, and mushroom rice or rice pilaf. Any of those are a winning combination your entire family will love.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!
I have made this recipe about 30 times, it’s in our weekly rotation! It is delicious and always comes out perfectly !!! Thank you!
I made this today for friends for lunch they loved it! I sliced it up, we put it over our salads! The chicken was moist & delicious! Definitely use a mallet & make them all the same size & let it rest after baking!
This Is Now One Of Favorite Go To Chicken Breast Recipes. Juicy & Flavorful. Everyone Loved It.
I have been experimenting with different recipes for baking chicken breasts and your recipe is the best yet.Thank you
My daughter usually won’t touch baked chicken, but she love this.. Thank you so much.
This was so good. I always have trouble working with chicken breasts. Not this time. Simple yet excellent..
A really tasty great recipe. Love how easy it is as well.
This has changed my life for the better! I will Always make my chicken this way. So Easy, Simple, and Dee-licious!
So easy! I had everything in my spice cabinet & it was done so quickly! I roasted some asparagus at the same time – they cook at the same time & temp.
Always delicious!
Entire family loved this!
Best chicken ever! So flavorful and tender.
Really easy and quick to make. My very picky daughter ate two chicken breasts!!
I loved this recipe. The chicken was moist, tender and delicious!
I’m 76 and apparently have been making chicken wrong my entire life. Juiciest chicken ever. We’re never to old to learn new things.
Awesome recipe! I will never go back to cooking boneless breasts on 350 again. Finally juicy breasts! Thank you so much!
Just made this today. It was excellent!
What??? This chicken was so jucy and flavorful! It cooked up really fast. It took less time and I accidently over cooked it, but it was still jucy. Leftovers the next day we’re still jucy. I thought it would dry out over night. No it did not. I’m blown away!
So juicy and tender. I didn’t have any olive oil so I used butter. I’m sure it was not as healthy but it was delicious.
So tender & juicy! Wonderful flavor. I didn’t have enough seasoning but I tend to overdo it.
Made this recipe tonight for dinner with Rice pilaf, baked potatoes and Cesar Salad! Let me start off by saying this chicken dish was AMAZING! Everyone loved it in my family! That is not always an easy task somehow tonight I picked a winner! Thank you so much for this idea for a quick dinner!! We’ll definitely be making this again!!
Very flavorful! My 12 year old son and I made this so I could teach him how to make baked chicken. He absolutely loved it and insists we HAVE to make it again! ? (I’m a vegetarian, so I can’t give an opinion). My other kids and husband all loved it as well!
This is the second time I made this recipe and it is delicious. I didnt change a thing.
My family loved it. Trying to get them to eat healthier. Used jasmine rice and broccoli as sides. I heard no complaints. Clean plates.
This was the best baked chicken recipe I have ever made! I was wondering what is the best way to reheat the leftovers to keep it moist?
I just looked at this recipe and followed it up with my big beautiful chicken breast,,been in oven for a few minutes now and I am excited to try this one,, thanks and I will post the results later today,,
Super easy and perfectly delicious! I followed recipe exactly with the only addition 1/4 t of Tony Chachere’s which was a perfect touch of heat to offset the sweet of the brown sugar. Thanks for the rec of cooking at 425 for shorter time. Perfectly cooked! This will go into my rotation!
Easy and excellent tasting!!
Fantastic! Especially if you catch the breasts as they get done if they are kind of different sizes. I used 2 tsp of coconut sugar this time instead of the 1.5 Tbsp of brown sugar, smoked garlic salt as well as garlic powder and regular paprika instead of smoked bc of the garlic salt. Honestly hard to stop eating it. Best texture, so much less fussy than doing them pretty much any other way. It’ll be my go-to. Thank you!
I cannot even believe how delicious this was. I’ve been baking chicken breasts for over 60 years and they’ve never come out like this. We are never to old to learn news ways of doing things.
Made this today to put in salads, so easy & delicious! This is a keeper for me.
Do you cover the chicken breast?
No
My kids are very picky but they gobbled this right up!
I pound it to 1/2 inch thick and have taken some liberties with the spice rub and even added tumeric once. It truly comes out super tender. Its my new favorite way to prepare chicken breast.
Apparently I’ve been baking chicken wrong my entire life. I’m 64 years old and this is best chicken I’ve ever made. You’re never to old to learn something new!
This was so good. I was baking chicken wrong all these years too! It was so moist and tender. I will always cook chicken at this temp.
This is truly the BEST. Instead of pep, I used red pepper flakes for that kick! Instead of cutting up the breasts, I just added 10 more minutes and it’s still super juicy! And instead of sides I made it over rice and gravy!
Easy, delicious recipe! We ate it all!! Thank you for sharing!
My thermometer for my chicken was broken. I overthink it, but that’s the reason I’m gonna make it again. I will get a new thermometer because of the rub on the chicken was delicious made up for it.
I’m 65 and apparently have been baking chicken breast wrong my entire life. I’m so thrilled to have found this recipe. Perfectly moist, flavorful chicken and in half the time. Thank you!
Very good flavor!
Even the pickiest eater in my house LOVED this chicken!!
Delish
This was a very moist and simple dish to make. Will make this again.
I made this along with the roasted broccoli and the mushroom rice. I didn’t add the parsley because no one in the family likes it. The flavor profile was great though. The rice bake was good, I think next time I will not add cheese.
There wasn’t cheese in the recipe…
How about cooking in an air fryer ? I’ve done it about 16 minutes, turning at 8
I L O V E this recipe! I make it every few months. I double the seasonings and liberally rub the chicken. Easy make, easy bake, easy clean up
I made this chicken last night and it was DELICIOUS!! The seasoning was perfect and the chicken breasts were so juicy and tender. After over 40 years of cooking chicken at a low temperature for a longer amount of time, I have finally learned the perfect way to cook it! Thank you for this terrific recipe!
This recipe is everything it says it is. Easy, juicy, really flavorful chicken. I’ve made it several times now. It will be part of the regular rotation. Thanks for the great recipe!
Delicious, quick and super easy to make! Love the spice blend. I paired the chicken with some zoodles. Will definitely make this again.
Never baked chicken at 425 before, but now I always will!
This a very simple yet delicious way to bake chicken breasts
This was fantastic! Easy, fast, moist and so tasty!
I made this for lunch vey delicious thanks
Made this recipe tonight. So easy and SO delicious!! Will definitely be making again!
Delicious! Made as directed. Watch time closely, mine was done at the earliest stated times.
Wow I made this as I needed to use some chicken and veggies before they expired. The chicken was so delicious and so easy to make. Halfway in I added some fresh veggies. Delicious dinner will make this chicken again and again.
Quick & Easy, tastes delicious. Will add to the rotation!
This is an awesome recipe and so easy and delicious!!
My first attempt at chicken breasts, and it was easy to follow/make and tasted great!
Thanks for sharing! :)
This was amazing! Followed exaction and family over it! Thank you for sharing.
Super delicious.
This was excellent and fast. I made on one sheet pan and did roasted asparagus on another. Cooked at about the same I removed the asparagus a few minutes before the chicken. Was fast and delicious. Will make again, thought the seasoning might be great on a whole roasted chicken as well.
My family loved it.
I’ve been baking chicken breast wrong my entire life. Wow. This chicken was so moist and tender and the spice blend was perfection. My new go-to, thank you!
Fantastic! Just made this and i think pounding the chicken to uniform thickness is so important. And the seasoning blend was perfect! Thank you!
The cooking instructions were perfect for a moist chicken breast! So great to finally not have dry chicken breast!
This came out just as described. Juicy and delicious! My family loved it! Definitely a keeper!
This was fantastic chicken!! I personally didn’t love the Italian seasoning, but my husband said it was a great contrast. I’ll chalk that up to personal preference more than a faulty recipe. All in all, it was amazing. The chicken was so juicy and full of great flavors. Will absolutely make this frequently. Also, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen you on TikTok and you’re just lovely.
Our entire family loved this recipe!
This was such a delicious recipe! Everyone loved the rub!
This chicken was so juicy and tender. I will make it again. Thank you!
I really loved this chicken. I t was only for one person so I shortened the recipe but it was absolutely the best chicken Zi have made in a while.
So juicy and seasoned perfectly. Maybe the best oven baked chicken I’ve ever tasted!
Quick. Delish
Very moist chicken!
A family pleaser! Easy to make, moist, easy clean up.
I feel like my entire baked chicken life has been a lie. This is how I’ll make it from now on!
Soooo good!!!
Delicious and so moist – and yes, easy!
So simple and delicious. I’ve been baking chicken wrong my entire life. This is my go to from now on!
This is a great quick recipe . It always comes out super moist and flavorful.. Thanks so much.
Chicken perfection!
Ashley I have a quick question do you use dark or light brown sugar ?
Easy and quite tasty
Such an easy, tasty, healthy way to cook chicken! We loved it!
So simple and great tips! It was delicious ?
I have made this delicious chicken! Now I want to know how long it would take with a whole chicken, weighing 3lb. ?
Hi Deborah – here’s our recipe for a whole roast chicken: https://bellyfull.net/roast-chicken-recipe/
Family loved this chicken it was moist and flavour full, made cheesy risotto with broccoli awesome
Thanks for the chicken breast recipe! Delicious & will make it again but next time I’m going to have the spices ready to use in an airtight container! Gotta get a new thermometer though. My chickens almost dried out . Glad I kept checking. I used the Target brand organic chicken. They come already thinned out.
Goodbye dry baked chicken! This recipe was wonderful, I love baked chicken but no matter what I did it would turn out dry. Well thanks to this recipe, those days are over! I used this recipe in your Chicken Pot Pie Cobbler and it was amazing! I am new to your site and I am an instant fan!
Really nice little spice blend, awesome because not only tasty but easy and had all the ingredients. Always looking for a way to change up chicken breasts!
I whipped this up in a hurry tonight and I loved it. Lots of flavor!
I used to really shy away from making chicken breast because it always seemed too dry with little flavour. This recipe changed that, thank you!
I’m currently on the Keto diet due to PCOS which causes insulin resistance so to make this 100% “keto friendly” for me, I used the monk fruit brown sugar and it was VERY delicious as well. Just thought I’d post in case anyone else is doing keto as well :) amazing recipe! Will definitely make again! Kids loved it too and they can be picky!
Thank you… I was 100% wondering if I could sub the sugar for something… yay!!!
This was easy and tasted great! It took slightly longer to cook than the recipe called for but I loved it. Will definitely make it again!
Omg this is the best chicken recipe ever!! And I’ve tried a ton. Thank you thank you for posting this!! Best chicken recipe ever!!
We loved it so much, that my daughter is taking some for lunch.
Excellent flavor! Super Easy too!! The family loved it!
Excellent and so easy!
Omg!!! So simple and soo delicious! I was leery due to the brown sugar but trust me, DO IT! Thank you for sharing this!
Our whole family loved it!
It turned out perfectly!!! I didn’t have any brown sugar, but it tasted great! Thank You!!!
This recipe is the BEST! I have tried so many chicken breat recipes and they always dry out! Thank you Thank you! I finally have a win!
The flavors are amazing! I had to eat some right out of the oven. Im going to use for Chicken salad with grapes and pecans.
Who would ever have thought that baked chicken could be so tender and delicious. Thank you for this recipe.
Thank you for this chicken recipe. My young son absolutely loves it! He fondly calls it “Mom’s best chicken” and asks me to make it at least once a week. He’s a bit of a picky eater, so this one is a “win” in my book.
Amazing! Probably one of the first times I’ve cooked chicken breasts and they weren’t dry or over cooked. My boyfriend and I both loved and will make again.
This recipe is so delicious and delicious! No fuss no mess, I will use it over and over
Very tasty and an easy prep
The flavours were so wonderfully balanced, the chicken nice and moist. I actually just butterflied my chicken breast because there was still bones in them. The entire family ate it and loved it so thanks for this and can’t wait until the next time I make it again. Next time I just have to remember to make leftovers!
This chicken was distinctly better, and I have cooked for years. The seasonings and the olive oil ensured a juicy chicken breast.
Super easy, super flavorful, our new night time treat! Thank you—we needed an easy quick recipe.
I have tried SO MANY recipes to find the best way to cook chicken breast because my husband and I eat them for lunch as part of our meal prep. This is the best, juiciest, yummiest recipe I have found. We use truvia brown sugar and the flavor is amazing. I actually WANT to eat my chicken now lol!
I loved it so much! My husband and two little girls loved it
Super flavorful and super easy! Thank YOU!!
The best chicken recipe I ever made, thanks for sharing.
Was thinking of making this, looks delicious, however I only have the thinly sliced chicken breast on hand. What recommendations do you have for altering the recipe’s cook time/temp, etc.? Thank you!!
Hard to say without knowing the weight of the chicken breast, but if you pound it out as instructed, it will cook the same. Just check it 5 minutes early and in 1 to 2 minute increments until it reaches an internal temp of 165F
The entire family loved! Even the 1yr old!!
This comes out so good every time!
Easy recipe. True to its promise of moist, juicy goodness.
Very moist!
Great, no fuss/mess recipe for juicy chicken breasts. I like to have cooked chicken breast on hand and this recipe makes it so easy and quick.
So easy & so delicious! My chicken breasts were a little bit bigger, so they took about 25 minutes to bake.
Absolutely Delicious! This one is a keeper.
Great new dish for the family
I’m so glad I tried this recipe. My chicken has been disappointing lately. This was so good!
We loved this recipe. It was tender and juicy. It’s definitely a keeper. Thank you for sharing it
Nice flavor. Great information for different size breasts to produce juicy meat.
So good! It really was juicy and flavorful, not to mention easy. Thank you for sharing!
This was very good and easy to make. It was flavorful and juicy. It had a kind of barbecue flavor. I doubled the spices because what it called for wasn’t enough. Instead of Italian seasoning I used a teaspoon of oregano and a teaspoon of basil. I will make this again.
Chicken. Juicy,favorable. Will make again
Soooo good thanks !
Made this recipe last night – it was delicious!!!! Will definitely keep as a favorite!
Probably the most tender moist chicken breast I’ve ever baked! Something so simple, but I’ve been cooking them wrong for so many years. Thank you for this!
I made this for my family of 6, which includes 4 teenagers. Everyone loved it and asked that it be put on our regular meal rotation! By far, this was the juiciest, most tender chicken I’ve ever made. I paired it with cauliflower mash, and some fruit. So good!
This recipe is perfect. I have IBS, so I use garlic infused olive oil instead of adding garlic powder. Chicken comes out perfectly moist and flavorful. So far, I’ve made it twice.
Love this receipe!!!! I was doing 10 tenderloins so doubled the receipe, and I did 2 tablespoons of brown sugar instead of the 1 1/2, gave it perfect carmelized topping. The family Loveddddd it and said I have to make again soon.
I’ made this recipe and it is delicious. I shared it with my sister and she loves it also. Thanks for sharing this.
When you used the tenderloins, did you pound them flat or use them as is ?
My family loved this recipe. I made it on back-to-back nights.
Great Chicken Recipe! I only had 3 breasts and used all the rub so I would make more rub next time if I had 4 breasts.
Quick, easy and delicious