In this post I’ll show the super simple process I use for how to bake boneless skinless chicken breasts!
Confession: Cooking meat well has always been something that I’ve struggled with. But especially when it comes to chicken. I’m a bit paranoid about giving people food poising by under-cooking chicken. So for years I would serve dry, chalky chicken breasts. At least we weren’t being killed by under-cooked chicken, I thought!
Then I figured out a method for baking chicken breasts that consistently resulted in juicy, perfectly done meat! I discovered how to bake boneless skinless chicken breasts perfectly while cooking a recipe from The Pioneer Woman. To my surprise, the chicken turned out really well. It was a surprise because of my previous track record. Ha! But then I realized that I could use the same method whenever I made chicken!
Today I’d like to share that method with you so you no longer have to break out in a cold sweat at the thought of cooking boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
My first tip starts with the chicken itself: buy the highest quality chicken that you can afford. I would love it if our local grocery stores sold pastured chicken. But the best I can find is organic. It’s really high quality, and I almost never have to trim the meat before cooking.
How to Bake Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Put your chicken breasts in an appropriately sized baking dish. You want it to be big enough so that the chicken pieces don’t touch each other. You can also line the pan with parchment paper to make cleanup easy.
Season generously with salt and pepper. You can also add other herbs and spices according to the type of recipe you’ll be using. For example, add Italian seasoning if the chicken will be going in a pasta dish. Sprinkle on some cumin or chili powder if it’s for a Mexican-themed dish. You get the idea.
Bake in a preheated 425° oven for 23-30 minutes. Here’s the important part: cook the chicken JUST until it reaches 165° F (74° C). It’s okay if you go a few degrees over. But the goal is to bring the chicken just up to a safe cooking temperature. If you go too much over that amount, your chicken will be dry. Not what we’re going for.
To make sure you don’t over cook boneless skinless chicken breasts, you have to start checking them with a thermometer early. Start by doing a test and 23 minutes, and go from there. After you do it a few times, you’ll get a feel for how much longer you need to bake them to reach the proper temp.
Then, let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing into it.
So there you have it: a super simple guide for how to bake boneless skinless chicken breasts. It really is that easy. I’ll be using this method in an upcoming recipe, so make sure to give this a try to prepare yourself!
Even though this is a really simple process, I’ve included a printable recipe below.
More chicken recipes:
- Chicken Wild Rice Stuffing Casserole
- Coconut and Chicken Curry Soup
- Chicken and Biscuit Pot Pie
- Roasted Chicken in Sauce
- Chicken Caprese Salad
- Healthier Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
- Chicken Waldorf Salad
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Soup
How to Bake Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
This super simple method will help you to make perfectly cooked chicken every time.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (218 C).
Place the chicken breasts in a pan, making sure they don't touch. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
Bake in preheated oven for 23-30 minutes JUST until the chicken registers 165 degrees F (74 C) in the largest part of the chicken piece on an instant read thermometer. Make sure to start checking for doneness at 23 minutes.
Remove from oven and transfer to a plate. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
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