How Long To Cook Chicken Breast In Foil

Juicy Broiled Chicken Breasts

by Lavina //

posted Jan xx, 2022

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Learn how to make tender, perfectly seasoned, juicy baked chicken breasts in the oven with an easy method that works every fourth dimension! You tin cube, shred, or slice them, so use for meal prep and in sandwiches, salads, pastas, soups, etc.!

A sliced seasoned and baked chicken breast fanned out in a white round plate and garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

How-do-you-do friends!

Today, I'm sharing a basic and easy recipe that I recall anybody will find useful. I'm talking about simple, everyday baked craven breasts. But not just any old chicken breasts. We have hither juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned chicken breasts that are oven baked. And they have Non been dried out even though they're boneless and skinless chicken breasts!

Craven breasts are notoriously known as hard to cook without drying them out. This is due to the way they're shaped, and considering they come up in all sorts of sizes. However, with my easy method, I have always yielded moist and incredibly flavorful chicken breasts.

This is a back-pocket recipe that you can depend on whenever yous need cooked chicken for other dishes. Remember quick and easy pastas, soups, chicken salads, and pizzas to name just a few. I make this ALL the time and utilize it for repast prep about every other week. And then I thought it'south about fourth dimension I shared my method and piece of cake recipe with you guys. 😊

In this post, I'll be going over my personal foolproof process for making perfectly tender and juicy baked chicken breasts. I'll too be answering some frequently asked questions in regards to getting the best result equally possible, and provide you with some pro-tips that I've learned over the years.

Let'due south jump in, shall we?

INGREDIENTS

You lot will need the following ingredients to make these juicy baked chicken breasts:

Chicken Breasts: You lot tin use fresh or frozen. You will need to fully thaw frozen chicken breasts if using the latter. I used 4 craven breasts that were almost 7 ounces / 200 grams each.
Olive Oil: To lightly brush the foil on the baking tray with, and also to castor the chicken breasts with to go along them nice and moist during baking. Feel free to use any other cooking oil y'all prefer.
Seasoning Blend: I use an everyday seasonings combination of kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder hither. Merely you are welcome to add whatsoever extra spices, seasonings, and dry out herbs if you similar. Feel gratis to use a store-bought blend if you prefer. Alternatively, you can also go on it simple and merely season with kosher salt and blackness pepper. This is what I do when I'grand using the chicken in other recipes that have a lot of flavor and seasonings already.

HOW TO Brand JUICY Baked CHICKEN BREASTS

Prep oven: Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Line a baking tray with a canvass of aluminum foil. Brush the foil lightly with nearly a half tablespoon of olive oil.

Brand seasoning alloy: Combine kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, paprika, and garlic pulverisation in a small bowl. Mix with a spoon or use a small whisk to combine the spices and seasonings until fully integrated.

Castor with oil: Brush the remaining olive oil on all sides of the chicken breasts. (The oil helps to keep the chicken breasts juicy during blistering and allows the seasonings to meliorate stick to them.)

Four raw chicken breasts on a foil lined baking tray, and a pastry brush is brushing oil on the one in the front.

Season: Then sprinkle the seasoning mixture on both sides until they are fully coated. You can use your fingers to rub the seasoning into the breasts.

Four uncooked seasoned chicken breasts on a foil lined baking tray.

Bake: Identify the chicken breasts (plump side up) on the foil lined baking tray and broil for 20-22 minutes, turning once using tongs halfway through, or until the chicken has fully cooked through. You can make sure that they are fully cooked past piercing the thickest role of the breasts with an instant read thermometer. It is safe to eat once it reads 165°F/75°C.

Rest: Remove the baking tray from the oven and allow the chicken rest for x-12 minutes to lock in all the juices. Transfer the craven breasts to a chopping board, making sure to let whatsoever actress liquid/juices drip onto the foil before placing them on the board.

Four seasoned and baked chicken breasts on a foil lined baking tray.

Cube, Slice, or Shred!: And so employ a sharp knife to cut into cubes, slice, or shred with two forks.

That's it! Now you can use them in other recipes that call for cooked chicken or for repast prep!

Full ingredient amounts/instructions in the recipe bill of fare below.

I sometimes piece them thinly and so add together them to pastas, or use them on elevation of lunch salads. Thinly sliced craven breasts are also peachy for using on thin crust pizzas besides.

Thinly sliced seasoned and baked chicken breast garnished with chopped fresh parsley.

Merely yous tin can also piece them into thick pieces and take it on a salad for lunch, or with some steamed or stir-fried veggies for a nice and low-cal dinner.

Close up of a seasoned and baked sliced chicken breast that's fanned out in a white round plate and garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

When I shred them, it'due south unremarkably for soups like my Spicy Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup and Hearty Pumpkin Chicken Soup.

Shredded chicken on a chopping board with two silver forks.

Merely most oft, I cube them to make chicken salad sandwiches for lunch, like this Mango Chicken Salad Sandwich.

Mango Mayonnaise, diced chicken, chopped coriander, chopped spring onion in a mixing bowl.

FAQS AND PRO-TIPS

I've answered some frequently asked questions and provided tips on baking chicken breasts below. These answers take come from personal experience and trial and error over the years, as well equally from reading and researching online and in cookbooks. If at that place's annihilation else you'd similar to know or are wondering, let me know in the comments and I'll be sure to reply!

Exercise I NEED TO BRINE THE Chicken BREASTS First?

No, information technology is not compulsory. Brining the chicken in a salt and water solution DOES indeed make the craven breasts more than tender because it helps to dissolve the meat fibers. Yet, I normally skip this stride to relieve time since I'm usually making the chicken to get in some other recipe like a pasta dish or chicken salad. I still get tender and juicy baked craven breasts without brining.

But if yous exercise have some extra time on your easily, you can brine the chicken breasts before proceeding with the recipe if you similar. To make the saltwater brine, dissolve ¼ cup kosher salt in one quart of water in a large bowl. Add together the chicken breasts to the basin. Allow the craven breasts to sit in the brine for xxx minutes to up to an hour. Then rinse them thoroughly with cold water. Pat-dry with paper towels and proceed with the recipe as per normal.

Practise I NEED TO FLATTEN THE CHICKEN BREASTS WITH A MEAT MALLET?

If your chicken breasts are quite plump on the superlative front end side, you can pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness with a meat mallet. When it comes to baking chicken breasts, I usually don't find this necessary if they are are v-7 ounces / 140-200 grams each or smaller. However, I will pound them to virtually one-half an inch thick when using larger sized chicken breasts. Flattening them to an even thickness will promote more fifty-fifty cooking. It'll likewise prevent you from catastrophe up with juicy perfectly cooked tops, with dried-out and tough overcooked bottoms/tips.

A side notation: When pan-frying chicken breasts, a meat mallet and pounding to even thickness is NECESSARY in order to prevent them from crimper up in the pan. The heat hits the craven more directly when in a pan on the stovetop than it does in the oven. If you lot are curious, you can find out more about the importance of using a meat mallet when pan-frying chicken breasts in my Spicy Asian-Cajun Craven Salad recipe post.

WHAT'South THE All-time OVEN TEMPERATURE TO BAKE THE Chicken BREASTS?

A lot of sites on the internet will tell you that information technology's all-time to cook at a higher temperature (anywhere between 400°F-450°F/205-230°C) for a shorter duration (anywhere betwixt 15-21 minutes). However, I personally detect that cooking at 350°F/175°C for 20-22 minutes yields the best results. The crust is not too crispy or too soft when you lot melt at this moderate/medium temperature. And the chicken nevertheless becomes incredibly juicy on the inside.

COOKED CHICKEN INTERNAL TEMPERATURE

The FDA recommends cooking craven until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F/75°C.

This is a safe temperature for consuming craven. Having said that, a couple of degrees over will withal give you juicy chicken breasts. Mine normally end up at virtually 172-175°F/78-79°C with the mentioned baking temperature and time.

I highly recommend investing in a food thermometer if you want to make sure your craven (or any other meat or fish you melt) is safe to eat. I've tried several over the terminal couple of years, and am finally happy with one that really works and is easy to use: Thermapen Mk4 by ThermoWorks. You can get a quick and authentic reading with information technology easily for all types of cooking needs. So, do wait into it if you are in the market for a new instant read thermometer. (This is Not an affiliate link. But after trying so many, I truly believe that they're i of the best food thermometer producers out at that place. I highly recommend the Thermapen Mk4!)

Fork holding up a piece of chicken above a plate with a sliced baked chicken breast that is garnished with chopped fresh parsley.

HOW LONG TO BAKE THE Chicken BREASTS?

Depending on the thickness and size of your chicken breasts, the cooking time will vary. It can range from eighteen-22 minutes when cooking at an oven temperature of 350°F/175°C. If yous have smaller chicken breasts, the melt time volition exist less and range from 15-18 minutes. It'southward best to check with a food thermometer to ensure that your chicken breasts have reached an internal temperature of 165°F/75°C. This will ensure that it's safety to eat.

DO I NEED TO FLIP THE Chicken DURING BAKING?

Commonly information technology is not necessary to flip the seasoned boneless and skinless chicken breasts unless your oven has uneven rut distribution. Most people actually don't. However, I personally like to turn them in one case during blistering to ensure that they melt and chocolate-brown evenly on both sides. In addition, I discover that they also look better once fully cooked.

HOW LONG TO Wait BEFORE SLICING, CUBING, AND SHREDDING?

You tin can slice the chicken after resting for at to the lowest degree 10-12 minutes after baking. But if you're making information technology to use for other recipes (not immediately serving/consuming), it'due south best to expect until the chicken is completely absurd. Same goes for cubing. The cooler the chicken is, the easier it volition be to cutting it without accidentally shredding it. Y'all can shred the chicken breasts after resting for x-12 minutes to lock in all the juices.

STORING AND FREEZING CHICKEN BREASTS

The baked chicken breasts tin can exist stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three-four days. But if y'all'd like to freeze them, be sure to shred, dice, or slice them first earlier transferring to individual and portioned nutrient storage containers or freezer bags. The chicken will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you'd similar to apply them, be certain to defrost in the fridge overnight or until fully thawed. Reheat in a pan on the stovetop or in the microwave for a minute or two, then utilise as per your needs.

MORE EASY PROTEIN RECIPES

Looking for more piece of cake and flavorful proteins for meals and/or repast prep? Below are some of my tried and true faves! ♡

Spicy Indian Pan-fried Salmon
Broiled Spicy Chicken Meatballs
Spicy Mexican Shredded Chicken
Crispy Pan-fried Tofu (coming next calendar week!)

Made THIS RECIPE? If you lot make this recipe, leave a annotate and review information technology beneath with a STAR rating! I always appreciate your feedback. Take a photograph and be sure to tag it with @thatspicychick on Instagram and hashtag it #thatspicychick so I can see.

Juicy Baked Chicken Breasts

Learn how to make tender, perfectly seasoned, juicy baked chicken breasts in the oven with an like shooting fish in a barrel method that works every time! You can cube, shred, or slice them, and and then use for meal prep and in sandwiches, salads, pastas, soups, etc.!

Prep Time: five
Melt Time: 20
Full Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4
Category: Dinner
Method: Bake
Cuisine: American

Scale

Ingredients

4 Chicken Breasts, boneless, skinless – cleaned and pat-dried with paper towels
1.5 – 2 TSP Kosher Salt, to taste
one TSP freshly croaky Blackness Pepper
1 TSP Paprika
1 TSP Garlic Powder
1.5 TBLS Olive Oil (or whatever cooking oil you prefer) – for brushing on the foil and chicken breasts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Line a baking tray with a canvas of aluminum foil and brush lightly with about a one-half tablespoon of olive oil (or whatever other cooking oil you prefer). (Note: If your chicken breasts are on the larger side and over 7 ounces / 200 grams each, I recommend pounding them with a meat mallet until they are most half an inch thick to promote even cooking.)
Combine kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Mix with a spoon or use a small-scale whisk to combine the spices and seasonings until fully integrated.
Castor the remaining olive oil on the chicken breasts, then sprinkle the seasoning mixture on both sides until they are fully coated. You can employ your fingers to rub the seasoning into the breasts. (The oil helps to proceed the chicken breasts juicy during baking and allows the seasonings to better stick to them.)
Place the chicken breasts (plump side up) on the foil lined baking tray and bake for 20-22 minutes, turning once using tongs halfway through, or until the chicken has fully cooked through. Yous can make sure that they are fully cooked by piercing the thickest part of the breasts with an instant read thermometer. It is condom to consume once it reads 165°F/75°C.
Remove the baking tray from the oven and let the chicken rest for 10-12 minutes to lock in all the juices. Transfer the chicken breasts to a chopping board, making sure to allow any actress liquid/juices drip onto the foil before placing them on the board. Use a precipitous pocketknife to cut into cubes, slice, or shred with two forks.
Shop in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or freeze in private and portioned storage containers or freezer numberless for up to 3 months.

Notes

Fresh vs. Frozen chicken breasts: Yous can use fresh or frozen. If using the latter, be sure to thaw the craven breasts completely before proceeding with the recipe.
Brining: Brining in a saltwater solution will intermission downwardly the craven fibers, which volition result in more tender cooked craven breasts. However, it is optional and non compulsory. If you lot would like to alkali your chicken breasts first, dissolve ¼ cup kosher salt in one quart of water in a big bowl and add the chicken breasts. Permit the craven breasts to sit in the alkali for 30 minutes to up to an hour, and then rinse them thoroughly with cold h2o. Pat-dry out with paper towels and proceed with the recipe as per normal.
Cook time variations: Depending on the thickness and size of your craven breasts, the melt time will vary and range from eighteen-22 minutes when cooking at an oven temperature of 350°F/175°C. If y'all have smaller chicken breasts, the cook time may range from 15-xviii minutes. It'due south best to bank check with a nutrient thermometer to ensure that your chicken breasts have reached an internal temperature of 165°F/75°C and is condom to consume. I highly recommend Thermapen Mk4 by ThermoWorks. Yous can become a quick and authentic reading with information technology very easily.
To thaw cooked frozen chicken breasts: Defrost in the fridge overnight or until fully thawed. Reheat in a pan on the stovetop or in the microwave for a minute or two, then utilise as per your needs.

Nutrition

Serving Size: one baked chicken breast
Calories: 290
Saccharide: 0.1g
Sodium: 672.4mg
Fat: 10.4g
Saturated Fat: 1.8g
Unsaturated Fat: 6.5g
Trans Fatty: 0g
Carbohydrates: i.2g
Fiber: 0.4g
Protein: 45.3g
Cholesterol: 146mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary based on several factors. It should only be used equally a full general guideline. For more information, please see our Disclosure.

This post may contain affiliate links. We are a part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an chapter advertizement program designed to provide a ways for us to earn a small commission (at no extra toll to you lot) past linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The nutritional data provided is guess and tin can vary based on several factors. Information technology should only be used every bit a general guideline. For more than information, please run into our Disclosure.