How long do i cook boneless skinless chicken breast

Looking for a quick, simple, and healthy way to prepare boneless skinless chicken breasts? Look no further! Easy oven baked chicken breasts are so easy to prepare with just a few pantry basics you will be making these all the time.

Salt, pepper, and olive oil are all you need to make this healthy lean protein your whole family will enjoy. A truly versatile meat, boneless skinless chicken breasts are a staple of every well-rounded diet. Sliced on top of a simple green salad, diced in a chicken salad, shredded for tacos or nachos or simply eaten as is you will never run out of healthy family-friendly options.

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With these oven baked chicken breasts, simple truly is best. You’ll be surprised how delicious and versatile boneless skinless chicken breasts can be. Perfect for a quick and healthy weeknight meal after a trip to the gym. Leftover oven baked boneless skinless chicken breasts can easily and quickly be transformed into a myriad of other dishes.

How To Make Easy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts

Y’all these oven baked boneless skinless chicken breasts could not be easier. The secret to perfectly cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts (no matter what cooking method) is to pound them to an even thickness prior to cooking.

Even thickness means even cooking. After pounding the chicken breasts a simple seasoning of olive oil, salt, and pepper and a short trip into the oven and mouths will be watering.

What You Need:

Here’s what you’ll need from the store. The exact amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Kitchen Tools Needed:

• Meat mallet
• Baking dish -or- foil lined baking sheet
• Instant read meat thermometer

Ingredients Needed:

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Chicken Baking Tips

How Long to Bake Chicken Breast

In a 375 degree oven, 4-6oz pounded chicken breasts should only take 20-25 minutes. The internal temperature should be 160 degrees.

As always, an instant-read digital meat thermometer comes in real handy. Allow your oven-baked boneless skinless chicken breasts to rest for 5-10 minutes prior to slicing or serving. This allows the chicken to finish cooking and all the desired juices to redistribute giving you a perfectly juicy chicken breast.

Pound Chicken Evenly

When cooking boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounding the chicken breasts to an even thickness is absolutely essential. This will ensure even cooking. Cooking an unpounded chicken breast, the thinner portions will overcook and dry out very quickly while waiting for the thicker portions to cook through.

To pound chicken breasts, I like to put my chicken breasts between two layers of plastic wrap, parchment paper, or doubled-up Ziploc bag. This helps to contain the mess and limit splattering raw chicken aka potentially food bourne pathogens all over my kitchen. Safety first, kids.

Then using a meat mallet, I like to take out my frustrations of the day on my poor unsuspecting chicken. An even thickness of 1/2 to 3/4 inches is ideal.

No meat mallet? No problem. Use a rolling pin. Just make sure whatever tool you use to pound your chicken gets a good washing in hot soapy water after the fact.

Can I Modify the Seasonings?

Yeah you can! Have a little fun with it. Low sodium diet? Simply omit the salt and replace it with a no salt seasoning blend such as Mrs. Dash.

Using your chicken breasts for tacos or nachos? Sprinkle with taco seasoning. Garlic lovers? Reach for the garlic powder. All you have is garlic salt? Substitute it for regular salt. Italian seasoning? Sure, why not? Play around. Experiment. Suit it to your family’s tastes.

Make More. More is Better.

Debating how many boneless skinless chicken breasts to make? Make ’em all. Cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts will last 3-4 days when properly stored. You can also freeze them for up to three months. Simply defrost, dice, and toss into an easy pasta dish or tucked into a quesadilla.

If you decide to make extra boneless skinless chicken breasts, it is imperative that you don’t overcrowd your baking dish. There should be space between every piece of chicken. This airflow helps for an even cooking process. Overcrowded the chicken will steam and give you a different outcome.

Can’t fit them all in your selected baking dish? No worries. Simple line a baking sheet with tin foil and space your boneless skinless chicken breasts accordingly.

Print Recipe

This Baked Boneless Chicken Breast recipe is tender and juicy. With a 15 minute prep time and just 20 minutes in the oven, you'll have a delicious homemade dinner in no time.

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

2

• Meat Mallet

• Baking Dish

• Instant Read Thermometer

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts aprox 4-6oz each
• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

• Using a meat mallet, place each chicken breasts between pieces of wax paper and pound to even thickness (1/2 – 3/4 inches is usually the best.)

• Place chicken breasts in shallow baking dish.

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees

• Brush both sides of chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

• Place in middle oven rack and let cook for 20-25 minutes. Check with instant read thermometer for doneness. Internal temp should be 160 degrees.

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 713mg | Potassium: 425mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 37IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked boneless chicken, baked chicken breast

Servings: 2 people

Calories: 161kcal

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