Easy Baked Chicken Breast
Take chicken from bland to grand with this easy baked chicken breast recipe! You’ll get perfectly seasoned, juicy, and tender chicken every single time with just 5 minutes of prep.
- 4 chicken breasts (boneless skinless)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil ((or as needed))
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
- Take the chicken breasts out of the fridge (it's good to let them warm up a bit first before baking). Preheat your oven to 450F and move the rack to the top third of the oven.
- Combine the spice rub ingredients in a small bowl.
- Add the chicken breasts to a baking dish or foil-lined baking sheet and coat all over with olive oil, followed by the rub (use your hands).
- Bake, uncovered, for 18-20 minutes for medium-sized chicken breasts (try 15 minutes for small ones, and you may need longer for very large ones) or until an instant read thermometer registers 160F. Let rest for 5 minutes until juices redistribute and it comes to 165F (safe chicken temperature). Slice or serve as-is, and spoon the pan juices over top if desired.
Why you’ll love it
This oven baked chicken breast recipe is ideal to put into your weekly rotation since it’s great for quick dinners and meal prep or even onto a salad. It’s simple, inexpensive, and requires nothing fancy to taste amazing. No brining or tenting is necessary.
Take the guesswork out of cooking chicken in the oven with my reliable method and irresistible homemade seasoning rub that’s savory, really flavorful, and herbaceous. There’s nothing worse than dry chicken and wasted ingredients, and we’re not having any of that.
What you’ll need
Spice rub – my signature mixture has smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, Italian seasoning (a blend of fragrant dried herbs that comes all in one jar), and salt & pepper. You’ll be able to find all of these in the spice aisle at any major grocery store no problem.
Pro tips
Since sizes vary so much, it’s impossible to give an exact time that works in every instance for how long to bake chicken breast. That’s why an instant read meat thermometer is so important for this recipe. It’s very easy to overcook them and they turn out dry, so the only sure way to know that they’re ready is with this inexpensive tool.
Our kitchen has tested extensively at different temperatures, and we found that 450F is the best temperature to bake chicken breasts at for approximately 18 to 20 minutes.
Resting is such an important step! It only takes an extra 5 minutes, but it has two functions: it allows the chicken to come up to a safe temperature (165F) and it redistributes the juices so the chicken stays tender.
How to bake chicken breasts
Take the chicken out of the fridge, and let it warm up a bit. Preheat the oven. In a small bowl, combine the spice rub ingredients. Add the chicken to a 9×13 baking dish or a foil-lined baking sheet. Using your hands, coat all over with olive oil.
Spread the spice rub over the chicken evenly. Bake, uncovered, in the oven until an instant read thermometer registers 160F. Take out of the oven, and let it rest for five or so minutes to let the juices redistribute and the final internal temperature reaches 165F. Enjoy!
Substitutions and variations
The seasoning variations are endless. You can definitely play around with what you’ve got in your pantry. If you want to add a touch of sweetness to this rub, add in a tablespoon or two of brown sugar. Or use my Homemade Blackened Seasoning instead.
This recipe would work with chicken thighs. Just cook them for a bit longer until they reach 175F. Thighs don’t become tender until they reach a higher temperature than chicken breasts.
Try my Easy Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe instead.
What to serve with baked chicken breasts
This is such a versatile main course. It goes great with many side dishes like my Garlic Mashed Potatoes, these Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, or Creamy Garlic Sautéed Mushrooms, or my Simple Risotto.
If you’re looking to serve it with (or on top of) a salad, a quick homemade dressing is the way to go. Try a classic like my popular Easy Caesar Dressing, or discover a new favorite like my Homemade Olive Garden Dressing!
I garnished it with a little fresh parsley for a pop of color, but that’s totally optional. Sometimes I use this irresistible Cowboy Butter. Even Italian Gremolata or Chimichurri works.
Leftovers and storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. I recommend storing in individual containers.
Reheat them up in the oven at 350F in a baking dish until warmed through. You could also add a splash of chicken broth and cover with foil to restore a little of the moisture.
