u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eu003cstrongu003eHow long does it take to bake chicken breast per pound?u003c/strongu003e

u003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003ePer pound, it should take anywhere from 20-30 minutes to bake your chicken breast. The reason why there is such a big range is that sometimes you can get 3 or 4 small chicken breast per pound and sometimes you can get 1 that is a full pound. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu003cmeta charset=u0022utf-8u0022/u003eFor best results, we suggest using a meat thermometer to check your chicken breast's internal temperature. To consume poultry safely, it should be at least 165ºF.

Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast (+ 6 Flavor Variations)

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By Lee Funke

4.91 from 30 votes

Published 8/1/2024

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There is a lot of controversy on the internet about the perfect oven temperature for baked chicken breasts. 400ºF? 350ºF? 425ºF?

I’ve been baking chicken breasts for 30+ years (okay, at least watching my mom do it!) and the perfect temperature that gets you juicy, tender chicken breast every time is 375ºF. At this temperature, you won’t dry out your chicken; it’s foolproof!

If you use a lower temperature you might end up with tougher chicken breast and if you use anything hotter, you might end up with a drier chicken breast with a more well done outside.

Sliced grilled chicken breast arranged on a white plate, showing juicy interior and golden-brown, seared exterior.

This post was updated on August 1, 2024 with more thorough information on how to bake chicken breast + new photos. If you’re looking for the 6 marinade ideas, scroll down past the recipe card!

Baked chicken was a childhood dinner staple of mine. Whether it was Italian chicken or a simple baked chicken and rice, we loved every bite. Plus, my mom was a huge fan of chicken breasts over chicken thighs, so it’s what we always had.

My preferred method to baking chicken breast is marinating it because it truly infuses your chicken with flavor and tenderizes it. In this post, we’ll teach you everything we know about oven-baked chicken breast along with 6 different ways to flavor it.

Oven baked chicken breast is:

High-protein: one 4 oz. chicken breast has 25g of protein. Um, yes, please!
So juicy: perfectly cooked baked chicken breast comes out so juicy.
Quick: you can have dinner ready in less than 30 minutes!
Versatile: chicken breasts can be flavored in so many different ways that it never gets old!
Flavorful: whether you’re using a chicken dry rub or a chicken marinade, chicken breast can be easily infused with flavor.
Meal-prep: when in doubt, make a double or triple batch. Baked chicken can be used for meal-prepping multiple meals throughout the week. Check out our best chicken meal prep recipes.

What kind of chicken breast should I use?

We recommend using boneless skinless chicken breast for this recipe, but bone-in will work too. You’ll need around 1 – 1.5 lbs.

It’s always best to buy high-quality meat, so try and look for organic, free-range chicken breast. This type of meat is not only better for you, but also tastes better.

Finally, you want to make sure that your chicken breast is all relatively the same size so that they cook evenly in the oven.

Raw chicken breasts on a plate with various seasonings and marinade ingredients arranged around it.

How to Bake Chicken Breast in the Oven – 3 Steps

Flavor Chicken

The two main ways to flavor oven baked chicken breasts for baking are dry rubs and marinades. You guys are absolutely obsessed with our 6 chicken marinade recipes post, and that is how the 6 baked chicken breast recipes in this post were made. Let’s break down both methods below.

Dry rubs give chicken breast a flavor infusion in a different way. Chicken dry rubs and chicken seasonings really add flavor to the outside of your chicken and the flavor is usually pretty strong. Dry rubs can help add texture and sometimes even a crust!
Marinades are essentially like a flavor bath for chicken breasts typically made from oil, spices, citrus, and other flavors. Marinades infuse your entire chicken breast leaving them moist and juicy. Marinate your chicken for at least 30 minutes, or for the best results, 2-4 hours.

How much marinade do you need for 1 lb. of chicken?

We suggest using around 1/2 cup of marinade per 1 – 1.5 lbs. of chicken breasts.

How much dry rub do you need for 1 lb. of chicken breast?

Use anywhere from 1-3 tablespoons of dry rub per lb. of chicken breasts. One thing to look out for is the amount of salt in your dry rub. Too much salt is never good.

More flavor ideas!

Salad dressings: salad dressings are our secret weapon for flavoring chicken breast! Try our lemon or Greek salad dressings for a chicken marinade.
Dry rubs: keep it simple with a pre-made taco or fajita seasoning. You can even use cajun or everything bagel! Get all of our homemade dry rub recipes here.
Sauces: hoping for ovenbaked chicken breast that’s a bit moister? Use a premade sauce such as buffalo, bbq, or enchilada sauce.
S&P: salt and pepper might sound boring, but if you’re hoping to make an all-purpose chicken breast for shredding or adding into chili/soup, boring is good!

here’s a tip

Short on time and ingredients? Pop over to the store and buy a store-bought salad dressing such as Italian or French and use that as a marinade for your oven baked chicken breasts instead!

Raw chicken breasts marinating in a seasoned sauce.

Bake Chicken @ 375ºF

How long to bake chicken breast at 375ºF?

Bake 1 lb. of chicken breast at 375ºF for 20-25 minutes. You know your chicken is done when the internal temperature reads 160ºF to 165ºF.

How do I know when my chicken is done?

The most scientific way to know that your chicken breast is done cooking is by using a meat thermometer. Stick the thermometer half-way into the thickest part of your chicken breast and then measure the temperature. It should measure at least 160ºF to 165ºF. to be safe to eat. (USDA)

No meat thermometer? Your chicken breast should be white in color and firm to the touch. We recommend cutting through the thickest part of the breast and pressing down on it with your finger.

Raw chicken breasts marinating in a dish.

Let chicken breast Rest

Once your chicken has reached 160ºF, remove it from the oven. Then, immediately transfer it to a plate to let rest for 5 minutes.

As the chicken sits, the internal temperature will raise 5ºF and reach 165ºF, which is a safe eating temperature for poultry.

Do I have to let my chicken rest?

It is important to let your chicken rest to not only come to a safe eating temperature but to become ultra juicy,

As the chicken rests, all of those yummy juices will settle and make your chicken so juicy and tender.

Sliced grilled chicken breast with crispy skin on a wooden cutting board, next to a chef's knife.

Baked Chicken Breast Q&A’s

How do you bake chicken without drying it out?

If you want juicy, tender baked chicken breasts, we recommend cooking your chicken at 375ºF and cooking it until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. This is about 20-25 minutes depending on the size and thickness of your breasts. Anything hotter/longer, will dry out your chicken.

Should I bake chicken covered or uncovered?

Bake your chicken breast at 375ºF uncovered. With this baking temp, you don’t have to worry about your chicken drying out.

How long does it take to bake chicken breast per pound?

Per pound, it should take anywhere from 20-30 minutes to bake your chicken breast. The reason why there is such a big range is that sometimes you can get 3 or 4 small chicken breast per pound and sometimes you can get 1 that is a full pound.

For best results, we suggest using a meat thermometer to check your chicken breast’s internal temperature. To consume poultry safely, it should be at least 165ºF.

Is skinless chicken breast healthy?

Boneless skinless chicken breast is extremely healthy. It’s high protein, low fat, and low carb.

Storage Suggestions

Let chicken cool completely before transferring into an airtight container such as a glass-meal prep container or plastic bag.

Store in the refrigerator for around 3-5 days.

How to reheat chicken: remove chicken from the refrigerator and transfer to a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 60-90 seconds. Alternatively, you can reheat on the stove-top or in the oven as well.

Can you freeze baked chicken breast?

We recommend freezing your chicken breast BEFORE it’s baked. If you make one of these delicious chicken breast marinades, simply place the marinade and chicken breast into a gallon-size bag and remove as much air as possible. Then, freeze for up to 3 months.

When you are ready to bake, remove the bag from the freezer and let thaw completely before following the directions in the recipe card.

Can you freeze already baked chicken?

If you’ve already baked your chicken breast, you can still freeze it! Let it cool completely and then transfer it into a freezer-safe gallon-size bag. Remove as much air as possible and freeze for up to 3 months.

Fajita Baked Chicken

Made with lime juice, garlic, and fajita spices, you will love this fajita baked chicken recipe! It’s not too spicy, but such a great Mexican chicken recipe. Pair this chicken with:

Baked Lemon Chicken

This baked lemon chicken is citrusy, juicy, and such a great main meal to serve any night of the week. Marinate your lemon chicken for at least 2 hours and then bake your breast in the marinade. Make sure to save some sauce for serving! Serve your baked lemon chicken with:

Baked Balsamic Chicken

Whip up a delicious balsamic chicken marinade and make this baked balsamic chicken. It’s made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, fresh basil, and other spices. Serve your chicken with:

Baked Teriyaki Chicken

Say hello to the most Baked Teriyaki Chicken! This chicken breast is marinated in our homemade teriyaki sauce, baked, and then shredded for serving. Serve it with:

Baked BBQ Chicken Breast

It doesn’t get any easier than baked BBQ chicken! Whip up this delicious semi-homemade bbq chicken marinade and then bake your chicken breast to perfection. Serve this chicken with:

Baked Italian Chicken

Make your own Italian chicken marinade with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and red pepper flakes. This baked chicken breast comes out tender and juicy! Serve it with:

Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.

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Steph

July 18, 2021 9:09 am

Recipe Rating :

Thank you for sharing your recipes! I already prepared 4 of them. I just have a noob question.. do i include the marinade sauce when baking? Or just the marinated chicken?

Last edited 3 years ago by Steph

Lee Funke

July 21, 2021 5:18 pm

Reply to Steph

You can include the marinade! It’ll add so much more flavor.

Mehreen

January 12, 2022 12:30 pm

Reply to Lee Funke

Please: when using spice rub, we bake the chicken the same way? But I guess chicken wouldn’t be as juicey as with a marinade. When to use a spice rub BTW? And thank you for sharing! This page is bursting with flavours. Can’t wait to try it out.