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This Oven Baked Chicken Breast recipe makes an easy, delicious, no-fuss weeknight chicken dinner, or can be used in many other main dish recipes that call for cooked chicken.
Why I Like This Oven Baked Chicken Breast Recipe
This Oven Baked Chicken Breast recipe is a staple in our house. It is so easy that even Mr. Flavor Mosaic can make it. Best of all, it turns out moist, tender, and juicy every time, and can be used to make other recipes. Since it takes only 25 minutes to make, you can have it on the dinner table fast!
Table of Contents
- Why I Like This Oven Baked Chicken Breast Recipe
- What Recipes Can I Make Using Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
- What To Serve With Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
- Cooking Chicken In A Cast Iron Skillet
- How To Make Oven Baked Chicken Breast
- How Do I Know When The Chicken Breast Is Done?
- What Seasoning Do I Use For Oven Baked Chicken Breast
- Change Up The Seasonings For Chicken
- Recipe
- Reviews
What Recipes Can I Make Using Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
The best part, other than letting the chicken bake in the oven and forget it, is that you can cook this recipe ahead of time and then use it in so many different recipes that call for cooked chicken. I love to cook this on a Sunday afternoon, and then can use it to make other recipes during the week.
Instead of roasting a whole chicken in the oven, you can save yourself time by baking these chicken breasts in advance. Yes, you could use a store-bought rotisserie chicken in these recipes, but this way, you can customize the seasoning on the chicken to just the way you like it.
Below are some of my favorite recipes that use this Oven Baked Chicken Breast:
- Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole
- Easy Kung Pao Chicken
- Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- Chicken Tetrazzini with Asiago Cream Sauce
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup, and many more chicken recipes.
If you prefer to use chicken thighs, be sure to check out my Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Bacon and Ranch recipe.
What To Serve With Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
In addition, this Oven Baked Chicken Breast goes well with many of your favorite side dishes, such as Asiago Bruschetta Roasted Asparagus, Lemon Asparagus Asiago Brown Rice, Honey Glazed Carrots, Rice Pilaf, and Oven Roasted Green Beans.
It is important that you like the base recipe, this Oven Baked Chicken Breast in this case, before adding it to other recipes. You want the chicken to be moist and not dry and be seasoned to your taste but not overly seasoned if you are going to be using it in other recipes.
Cooking Chicken In A Cast Iron Skillet
Even though this Oven Baked Chicken Breast is baked in the oven I like to use a cast iron skillet. That way, if I want, I can start cooking the chicken in the skillet on top of the stove and then let it finish in the oven. That way I can brown the chicken to sear in the juices, and let it finish cooking in the oven.
The cast iron skillet is nice because it is oven-safe, and heats evenly throughout the skillet. This results in moist, tender, juicy chicken.
How To Make Oven Baked Chicken Breast
- Brush the chicken with olive oil. (You can also use your favorite oil, such as coconut oil, or melted butter.)
- Season the chicken. (I like to use salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and rosemary or Italian seasoning.)
- Brown the chicken first in a cast iron skillet on the stove. Don’t cook it all the way through, just brown it on both sides to seal in the flavor and juices.
- Transfer the chicken to the oven to finish cooking. Be sure your skillet is oven safe. Otherwise, transfer the chicken to an oven-safe dish. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees F. to finish cooking the chicken all the way through.
How Do I Know When The Chicken Breast Is Done?
You will know that the Oven Baked Chicken Breasts are fully cooked when the chicken is no longer pink on the outside or inside, and the juices run clear. However, the only way to ensure that the chicken is fully cooked is to insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast, and when the temperature reads 165 degrees F, then the chicken is done.
What Seasoning Do I Use For Oven Baked Chicken Breast
Start with boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, some olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and rosemary, or if you prefer, Italian seasoning. It is critical not to overcook the chicken to prevent it from being dry.
To help the chicken stay moist rub the chicken breasts with a little olive oil before cooking. This helps the seasonings stick to the chicken and helps prevent it from drying out.
Change Up The Seasonings For Chicken
Never have boring chicken again. How? Use the same cooking method but change the seasoning. Next time you make this chicken try a different seasoning mix to make it feel like a whole new recipe and not the one you had for dinner last week. Here are a few recommended seasoning blends that work well with this Oven Baked Chicken recipe.
- Chicken Seasoning (For that Roasted or Rotisserie Chicken flavor)
- Fajita Seasoning – give the chicken a Mexican flair
- Easy Homemade Greek Seasoning Mix– for a Mediterranean flavor
- Cajun Blackening Seasoning Recipe – for a zesty New Orleans flavor
You can have this Oven Baked Chicken Breast on the dinner table in 30 minutes or refrigerate, or freeze it to use it in other recipes later on. It is a great staple recipe to keep on hand.
Try serving this chicken with a homemade Rice Pilaf recipe with vermicelli.
If you want to cook a whole chicken, try making this Oven Roasted Chicken.
Before the step by step recipe card, here are some additional recipes that you can use this Oven Baked Chicken Breasts in for later in the week. Keep scrolling down to get the printable recipe.
More Chicken Recipes Cooked In A Cast Iron Skillet
- Chicken Vesuvio – Dinner In A Skillet – Chicken Vesuvio is an Italian-American garlic chicken and potatoes dinner cooked in a cast iron skillet with sugar snap peas and carrots in a white wine sauce for a hearty, rustic chicken dinner.
- Oven Roasted Chicken – Don't buy that pre-cooked Rotisserie Chicken!! Make your own savory, tender, juicy Oven Roasted Chicken in a roasting pan or cast iron skillet, seasoned just the way you like it, and save yourself the money!
- Easy Skillet Chicken Breast Weeknight Dinner – This Easy Skillet Chicken Breast Weeknight Dinner is simple and delicious cooked in a cast iron skillet and can be on the dinner table in 30 minutes.
- Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry – A fast, easy, healthy, and delicious Asian stir fry with chicken and vegetables in a flavorful teriyaki sauce that can be cooked in a cast iron skillet and on the table in 20 minutes. It tastes so good that the whole family will love it!
Check out these other oven baked chicken recipes:
- Hasselback Chicken Stuffed with Bacon, Ranch, and Cheddar
- Baked BBQ Chicken
- Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole
- Easy Kung Pao Chicken
- Honey Balsamic Sheet Pan Chicken
- Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
- Pecan Crusted Chicken Recipe
Be sure to visit the Chicken Recipe Collection on Flavor Mosaic for more recipes.
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Recipe
Ingredients
Oven Baked Chicken Breast
- 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 4 chicken breast halves boneless, skinless
- Sea Salt and Freshly Cracked Black Pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon rosemary or Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Brush chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season all sides of chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and rosemary.
- In a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- When the skillet is hot, add the seasoned chicken to brown. Cook for about 2 minutes. Turn and cook for another 2 minutes.
- If you are using a cast iron or oven-safe skillet, place the skillet with the chicken in the preheated oven and bake at 400 degrees F. for 20 minutes. If your skillet is not oven-proof, transfer the chicken to a baking dish.
- When the chicken is cooked, remove from oven, and let rest for about 10 minutes.
Video
This recipe was originally published April 11, 2016, and republished with updated information and a how-to video on February 1, 2019.
Rach's Recipes says
This looks really good! My kids love baked chicken breast and I’ll try making this for them. I’ve tried making it with a little creole seasoning and that works well too, have you tried it? Highly recommended. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Michele says
Hi, Thanks. Yes. I love adding creole seasoning. Check out my recipe for Cajun Blackened Chicken also. https://flavormosaic.com/cajun-blackened-chicken/
Charlotte says
Delicious every time – even pleased teenagers! Thank you so much for this recipe.
Michele says
I’m so glad everyone liked it! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know. Be sure to check out our other awesome recipes as well.
Stephanie Martinez says
What kind of rice is that?
Michele says
I think that was a packaged rice pilaf. I don’t remember which brand.
Andrea says
Do you have a recipe for the rice that you made with this! Looks so yummy!
Michele says
It is a rice pilaf. Several have asked for the recipe. So I will add that to my list of recipes to make! Thanks for the suggestion.
Mrs. KDG says
Hello! So, how long would I leave the chicken in the oven if I skip the cast iron skillet step? I don’t have one yet!
Michele says
Hi Mrs. KDG,
It does not have to be a cast iron skillet. I just like those. Any oven-safe skillet would work. You could use a skillet that is not oven-safe, but then you have to transfer the chicken to another pan. If you skip the skillet step and go straight to the oven, I would check the chicken at 20 minutes and if it is not fully cooked, add about 5 minutes.
Suz says
Made as written and love this recipe! My cook time was a little less as my chicken breasts were on the small side. So quick and easy to make, and packed with the right amount of flavor. Served with roasted brussels sprouts and mashed sweet potatoes. This will be a go to recipe for us. Thank you!