Easy, Juicy Baked Chicken Breast Recipe
Chicken… we love it yet it is hard to get that perfect juicy, tender and flavorful chicken breast, which is why this recipe exists.
Servings: 2
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast. Chicken thigh works too but would be lesser time. The preference is fresh chicken or you can purchase frozen of which you will have to completely thaw before using.
- Olive oil or butter. Olive oil is healthier but butter is tastier of course.
- All-purpose seasoning or the seasoning for the taste you are going for whether it is garlic, BBQ, Italian/Greek, Asian, Mexican, Cajun etc.
Optional
- Brine or marinate... not really optional, do it!
Instructions
- Prepare. If you marinated then just add some extra spices and oil you cooking platform so it doesn’t stick. If you didn’t marinate toss and rub your chicken in 2-3 tbsps. of olive oil (or butter) and add your spices and/or sauces. If doing it plain you can just do salt & pepper but ideally add a little chicken or all-purpose type seasoning.
- Place your chicken either in a large baking dish or to save dishes I often just use foil and place directly in the oven.
- Bake. Baking anything tough as really everyone has their own ideas whether it is slower longer or hotter faster. I prefer to bake at high heat at 450 degrees for 15-18 minutes pending the size of breast or thigh. This seals in all the juices of the breast and gives you the most tender juiciest chicken!If you have a meat thermometer then you will want the internal temperature at 165F (74C).
- Rest. I prefer to rest any meat I cook as cutting into it right away will release all of the juices vs. locking all the juices within. You can cover your chicken with tinfoil or just use the tinfoil it was cooking in and wrap overtop. Do this for about 5 minutes before serving. This also helps you prep any final things you wanted to do.