Name: Juicy 30-Minute Baked Chicken Breast
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 4 medium sized chicken breasts – about 2 pounds, or 7-8 ounces each (or two large chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally so you have 4 thin pieces); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon dried parsley; 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional); 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil

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This baked chicken breast recipe is an absolute staple for meal prep! Not only are they super easy to make, but the chicken breasts come out perfect every time – juicy, moist, and incredibly flavorful. Say goodbye to dry, bland chicken for good! Ready in less than 30 minutes and gluten free, dairy free, paleo, Whole30, and keto friendly.

The best baked chicken breast

Boneless skinless chicken breasts are a staple in so many home kitchens!

They are well loved because they’re versatile and cook relatively quickly, but if they end up overcooked or under seasoned they lose a lot of their appeal.

But this recipe is here to prove that it’s possible to make moist and juicy oven baked chicken breasts that come out perfect every time!

A real must try if you’ve ever struggled to cook crave worthy chicken breasts at home.

They’re perfect for dinner served with some of your favorite side dishes, with pasta, over salad, in sandwiches, or shredded for tacos or soup!

Would be perfect served over this Hearty Kale Caesar salad, shredded into this Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pie Soup, or drizzled with some Tahini Dressing and served alongside Roasted Sweet Potatoes!

Why you’ll love these baked chicken breast

They are:

Moist and juicy
Perfectly seasoned
Fast, easy, and simple to make
Versatile
Gluten free, dairy free, Whole30 compatible, paleo, and keto friendly
Good for meal prep
Ready in less than 30 minutes
Absolutely delicious!

Four oven baked chicken breasts on a large speckled platter, one breast sliced into strips with the juicy interior showing.

Ingredients for baked chicken breast recipe on various ceramics, on a light cream colored background.

Spices for baked chicken breasts in a small ceramic dish

Ingredients and substitutions

These oven baked chicken breasts are made with just a few simple, pantry friendly ingredients. There are a few substitutions you can make that I’ll share below.

Here’s what you need

Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Make sure you look for chicken breasts that are each about the same size so they bake evenly.
Olive oil or avocado oil – Both olive oil and avocado oil work for this recipe. You’ll use it to coat the chicken breasts with the spices.
Simple seasoning blend – My favorite spice blend for baked chicken breasts is salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, dried mustard, and dried parsley. But the seasoning blend is where you can make this recipe your own! Feel free to leave out any of the spices listed in the recipe or swap them for your favorites. It’s equally delicious without paprika and chili powder for a more “basic” (versatile) flavor profile.

Can you make this baked chicken recipe with boneless chicken thighs?

This recipe could totally be made with boneless skinless chicken thighs if that’s more your style. You will want to reduce the cook time slightly since boneless chicken thighs cook faster than chicken breasts.

What are some other seasoning options?

If you want to try a different spin on the seasonings feel free to experiment! Salt and pepper are generally the only non-negotiables that I always include, but the amounts for those can be adjusted to your taste.

Here’s some ideas to get you started

Basic seasoning – Salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder and/or onion powder
Greek – A simple combo of oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and dill, makes a delicious greek themed spice blend.
Italian – Any combination of oregano, rosemary, thyme, basil, marjoram, and sage.
Blackened – A store bought cajun seasoning would be delicious, or a homemade blend of paprika, cayenne, onion powder, garlic, powder, basil, oregano, and thyme.
Curry spice – Any store bought curry powder would make a vibrant, tasty seasoning.
Southwest – Your favorite taco seasoning or a blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano.

How to make

Making juicy, moist, and super flavorful baked chicken breasts has never been easier. No crazy steps or gadgets required: all you need is a few basic kitchen tools and a hot oven!

Here’s the step-by-step

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a large baking dish or rimmed baking sheet.
Pound chicken to even thickness. Using a meat pounder or a rolling pin pound the thickest part of each chicken breast until they are roughly the same thickness throughout. This helps the chicken cook evenly and prevents it from drying out.
Season chicken and bake. Add chicken breasts to a bowl and toss with all the spices and olive oil or avocado oil. Place in the baking dish, evenly spaced apart. Transfer to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, until cooked through and internal temperature reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rest and serve. Allow chicken breasts to rest for a few minutes before slicing. Brush with pan juices, slice, serve and enjoy!

Do you have to pound your chicken breasts thin?

Short answer: no, you don’t have to pound them to equal thickness, but I definitely recommend it.

It really only takes a minute or so, and will help ensure your chicken cooks evenly, and that the edges don’t dry out before the center is cooked through.

If you don’t have a meat pounder / meat mallet, a rolling pin or even the long side of a can of beans works just as well.

For less mess you can place the chicken breasts in between parchment paper or plastic wrap before you begin, but that’s not necessary.

Another good option is to cut your chicken breasts in half to make 2 thinner pieces per 1 chicken breast.

How long to cook chicken breasts

The exact amount of time it takes for your chicken breasts to cook will depend on their size and temperature of the oven.

At 425 degrees Fahrenheit…

Medium sized chicken breasts (about 7-8 ounces each) will take approximately 18-20 minutes to cook.

Smaller chicken breasts (5-6 ounces each) will cook in about 17-19 minutes.

And larger chicken breasts (above 8 ounces) will take anywhere from 20-24 minutes.

The best way to tell when they are done is to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.

What is the right internal temperature for chicken?

A safe internal temperature for chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best way to check the internal temp is with a meat thermometer. Always check the temperature in the thickest part of the meat for the most accurate reading.

Close up of a perfectly cooked baked chicken breast on a light colored platter.

A fork piercing a small bite of juicy baked chicken breast.

Tips for for the juiciest chicken breasts

Use equal sized chicken breasts. Using chicken breasts that are approximately the same size will help ensure that they cook within the same time frame. This will prevent some from drying out while the others still cook.
Pound to even thickness. Pounding out the thickest part of each breast until it’s roughly the same thickness throughout helps make sure each breast stays moist and juicy. This also shortens the cooking time, and is especially helpful if some of your chicken breasts are thicker than others.
Use a meat thermometer. Using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature is the best way to make sure the chicken doesn’t get dry and overcooked.
Allow chicken to rest before cutting and serving. Letting the chicken rest for several minutes before cutting and serving allows the natural juices to redistribute throughout the meat, for the juiciest possible meat!

Serving suggestions

This chicken is absolutely delicious on it’s own with your family’s favorite side dishes, but can also be used in a ton of ways for meal prep!

Here’s some ideas:

With rice and garlic asparagus
Over mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach
Chopped up and added to your favorite green salad
With a kale caesar salad
In a casserole
For tacos
With a yummy pasta
Shredded for soup, grain bowls, or other meal prep dinners
Thinly sliced for sandwiches
In stuffed peppers

Storage and reheating

Storing: Once cooked and cooled, baked chicken breasts will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheating: You could reheat these chicken breasts several ways. In the microwave, gently in a skillet on the stove top – flipping halfway through, or in the oven or a toaster oven at 300 degrees for 10 or so minutes. To keep them moist you may want to add a tiny bit of water (1-2 teaspoons) to the plate / skillet / baking dish.

Freezing: Chicken breasts freeze well! I recommend slicing, dicing, or shredding before freezing so that it thaws faster, and is easier to use when you’re ready to add it to a meal. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using, or throw frozen shredded chicken directly into a soup or casserole!

Baked chicken breast sliced on a light colored speckled plate, next to some steamed broccoli.

Did you love this recipe? Try these other easy chicken recipes!

Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Sheet Pan Shredded Chicken Tacos
Gluten Free Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
Nourishing Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Soup
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Gluten Free Chicken Patties

If you enjoyed this recipe, we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review it below! It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe.

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