Juicy oven baked chicken breast
Here is a recipe on how to make juicy oven baked chicken breast with simple steps and useful tips. It is effortless, easy to make, extremely versatile, keto-friendly, and delicious. No more boring and dry chicken breasts!
Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe!
- Easy-to make, effortless recipe
- Delicious, savory, salty and flavourful
- Juicy and tender chicken breast
- Perfect for meal preparation
- Versatile
- Gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free
- Keto-friendly, low in carbs
How to make juicy oven baked chicken breast?
Ingredients
2 large boneless skinless chicken breast– approximately 300 g (11 oz) each. Feel free to use more or less chicken breast, adjusting the other ingredients accordingly. If you increase the amount of chicken, slightly extend the baking time to ensure thorough cooking.
1/2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. grounded black pepper
Equipment
Baking Form – use a big enough baking form so the chicken won’t overlap.
Parchment Paper/Foil to save all the juices and prevent sticking.
Small Bowl for mixing the spices.
Instant Thermometer (optional). It is recommended to use an instant thermometer to achieve the best results and accurately measure the temperature of the chicken.
Step-by-step instructions
First, remove the chicken from the fridge and let it sit on the countertop for 15 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 230°C (446°F).
3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the spices.
4. Next, pat the chicken breast with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
5. Then, place the chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or a rolling pin to pound the thick part to even thickness.
6. After that, lightly oil the chicken breasts, then season them with salt, and rub them with the spices on both sides.
7. Finally, bake the chicken for 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the breasts.
8. Once the time is over, use a digital thermometer to check the temperature in the thickest part of the chicken breast. If it reads 69-71°C (157-159°F), remove the chicken from the oven. If not, bake for a few more minutes and check again. Alternatively, if you don’t have a digital thermometer, use a knife to check for clear juices without any pinkness. If needed, continue baking for a few more minutes.
9. Once done, remove the chicken from the oven, and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes.
How long should I bake chicken breast?
To achieve juicy and tender chicken breasts when baking at 230 degrees Celsius ( 446 degrees Fahrenheit), the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken breasts. Here’s a general guideline for baking chicken breasts at this temperature:
- If the chicken breasts are relatively thin (around 1.5 cm or 1/2 inch thick), baking time would be approximately 12-15 minutes.
- For thicker chicken breasts (around 2.5 cm or 1 inch thick), you may need to bake them for about 17-20 minutes.
I baked my large 300 g (11 oz), around 2.5 cm or 1 inch thick chicken breast for 17 minutes under 230 degrees C (446 F).
After 17 minutes the instant thermometer showed 69 degrees C (157 F) and I removed it from the heat.
In a couple of minutes the internal temperature reached 74 degrees C (166 F), so it’s an even higher recommended temperature.
Tips for the best oven baked chicken breast
- Bring the chicken to room temperature. Avoid baking cold chicken, as it can result in uneven cooking. Let the chicken sit on the countertop for 15 minutes after taking it out of the fridge.
- Pat the chicken dry. Use a paper towel to remove excess water from the chicken breast. This helps in achieving better browning and prevents steaming.
- Flatten the chicken. Pound the chicken breast to flatten it slightly. This step ensures more even baking and reduces the risk of overcooking the outside while the inside is still undercooked.
- Season generously and high. Season the chicken breasts generously and high with your desired spices and salt. This ensures even distribution of spices, and salt, and helps to achieve more uniformly seasoned chicken.
- Avoid overcrowding. Use a large enough baking sheet to ensure the chicken breasts have enough space without overlapping. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking.
- Rest the chicken. After baking, let the chicken breasts rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing or serving. Resting allows the juices to redistribute within the meat, resulting in a juicier final product.
- Use baking paper/ foil. Line the baking tray with parchment paper/ foil. This helps collect the chicken juices as the breasts cook and rest. The collected juices can be spooned over the hot chicken, creating a light gravy and adding extra flavor.
FAQ
Video recipe
Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken Breast
To make the chicken breast more keto-friendly, you can add healthy fats, fat-rich sauces, and dips or enjoy it in these recipes:
- Caesar salad. This is my favorite way of eating baked chicken breast.
- Serve with a fresh simple salad. Check out these simple salad recipes: cucumber salad and arugula salad.
- Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Spread cream cheese on lettuce leaves, add chicken slices,quick pickled red onions, fried mushrooms with bacon and onions, or any other desired filling.
- Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice. Chop baked chicken breast into small pieces and stir-fry it with cauliflower rice, diced carrots, peas (in moderation), and scrambled eggs. Season with soy sauce or coconut aminos and garnish with chopped green onions.
- Chicken Pesto Zoodles. Slice baked chicken breast and toss it with zucchini noodles (zoodles) and a homemade keto-friendly pesto sauce made with basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
- Serve with Keto Vegetables. Pair chicken breast with keto-approved vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, or green beans. Roast or sauté the vegetables in olive oil or butter to create a tasty and balanced keto meal.
- Pair with comforting mashed cauliflower.
- Make delicious chicken cobb salad.
- Chicken sandwich with bell pepper. Cut the bell pepper in half and use it as your “bread.” Fill it with sliced or shredded baked chicken breast, salad leaves, cream cheese, cucumbers, and anything you want.
- Chicken Avocado Bowl. Dice baked chicken breast and mix it with diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and feta cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs like cilantro or basil for a quick and refreshing keto-friendly bowl.
Try these keto recipes next:
Juicy oven baked chicken breast
Here is the recipe on how to make tender, juicy oven baked chicken breasts with simple steps and useful tips. No more boring and dry chicken breasts!
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, approximately 300 g (11 oz) each*
- 1/2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp. salt or to taste
- 2 tsp. paprika
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. grounded black pepper
Instructions
1. Remove the chicken from the fridge and let it sit on the countertop for 15 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 230°C (446°F).
3. In a small bowl, mix the spices together.
4. Pat the chicken breast with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
5. Place the chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or a rolling pin to pound the thick part to even thickness.
6. Lightly oil the chicken breasts, then season them with salt and rub them with the spices on both sides.
7. Bake the chicken for 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the breasts. See the notes** for additional guidance.
8. Use a digital thermometer to check the temperature in the thickest part of the chicken breast. If it reads 69-71°C (157-160°F), remove the chicken from the oven. If not, bake for a few more minutes and check again. Alternatively, if you don't have a digital thermometer, use a knife to check for clear juices without any pinkness. If needed, continue baking for a few more minutes.
9. Once done, remove the chicken from the oven, allow it to rest for 5 minutes, then serve.
Notes
*Feel free to use more or less chicken breast, adjusting the other ingredients accordingly. If you increase the amount of chicken, slightly extend the baking time to ensure thorough cooking.
** If the chicken breasts are relatively thin (around 1.5 cm or 1/2 inch thick), baking time would be approximately 12-15 minutes. For thicker chicken breasts (around 2.5 cm or 1 inch thick), you may need to bake them for about 17-20 minutes.