How Long to Bake Chicken Breast: Times by Weight, Cut and Temperature
Everything you need to know about cooking boneless, skinless chicken breasts as well as bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts.
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The amount of time needed to cook chicken breast in the oven at 375°F varies: 20 to 30 minutes for boneless, skinless chicken breasts and 35 to 45 minutes for bone-in, skin-on breasts. Whether you’re focused on flavor, texture or food safety, following a few basic guidelines can help you achieve perfect results, no matter which type of chicken breast you choose.
In This Article
- Boneless vs. Bone-In Chicken Breast: What's the Difference?
- What Temperature To Bake Chicken Breast
- Chicken Breast Bake Times by Type and Weight
- What Temperature Should Chicken Breast Be When It's Done?
- How Long Should Chicken Breast Rest After Baking?
- How to Store Baked Chicken Breast
- Recipes for Baked Chicken Breasts
Boneless vs. Bone-In Chicken Breast: What's the Difference?
Bone-in, skin-on chicken breast takes longer to bake than boneless, skinless breast of the same size, but the bone and skin help it stay juicier. How long you cook your chicken breast in the oven depends largely on its weight and whether it’s boneless, skinless or bone-in, skin-on. While the two types of chicken breasts are neighbors in the meat case, they couldn’t be further apart in flavor and appearance. Bone-in, skin-on might feel more intimidating to cook, but the fat rendered from the skin and the intact bones generally make for juicier, tastier baked chicken breast.
What Temperature To Bake Chicken Breast
375°F is the standard oven temperature for baking chicken breast because it cooks the meat through evenly without drying out the exterior. It’s tempting to want to bake chicken breast at a higher temperature to save time — and some recipes do call for baking chicken breast at 400°F to 425°F for a shorter cook time and more browning — but the higher heat leaves less margin for error before the outside overcooks.
Chicken Breast Bake Times by Type and Weight
If you’re following a specific recipe, then don’t deviate. Otherwise, follow this general formula:
- Cook large, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 20 to 30 minutes in a 375°F oven.
- Cook large, bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts for 35 to 40 minutes in a 375°F oven.
One thing worth noting: If you’re using a convection oven, your chicken will cook faster since the hot air keeps the temperature inside the oven more stable. Be sure to check your chicken a few minutes sooner so that it stays moist and juicy.
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What Temperature Should Chicken Breast Be When It's Done?
Chicken breast is cooked (and is safe to eat) once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. The best way to know that your chicken breast is done, is to take its temperature on an instant-read thermometer by inserting the probe into the thickest part of the breast. If you don’t have an instant read thermometer, you can also cut into the thickest part of the chicken with a paring knife to make sure there’s no visible pink meat.
How Long Should Chicken Breast Rest After Baking?
Rest baked chicken breast for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Resting baked chicken breast after it comes out of the oven allows the juices to redistribute (instead of spilling out when you cut into the chicken) ensuring a moist, flavorful bite.
How to Store Baked Chicken Breast
Baked chicken breast can be stored for up to 4 days in the refrigerator or up to 4 months in the freezer. It’s important to cool it completely before storage and to use an airtight container. If you’re using a resealable plastic bag, be sure to remove all the air from the bag before placing it in the freezer.
Recipes for Baked Chicken Breasts
Once you’ve mastered how long to cook chicken breasts, you can experiment with different types of dishes, flavors and more. Here are some baked chicken breast recipes to get you started.
An herb or spice blend sprinkled on and rubbed into chicken breasts will add a pop of color: these chicken breasts are covered with Italian seasoning and Parmesan and bake along with polenta rounds and tomatoes.
MATT BALL WWW.MATTBALLCAMERA.COM
Give chicken breasts the hasselback treatment, then slide in pieces of Canadian bacon and Swiss cheese for rich flavor.
Jason Clairy, Clairy Productions Inc.
A quick glaze can brightens up baked chicken breasts in this recipe that combines apricot jam, mustard and rosemary into a marinade that browns nicely as it bakes.
Renee Comet
Sometimes you can dress up chicken breasts after they’re done baking: fresh basil and a balsamic reduction are the finishing touches on this baked caprese chicken.
Matt
Baking chicken breasts on a simple bed of fresh herbs and citrus slices and topping with your favorite spice or herb blend can be enough. Try this no-peek tomato chicken where chicken breasts get lots of help — on the bottom — from rice and tomatoes.
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