How to Bake Chicken Breasts at 350°
Wonder how to bake chicken breasts at 350°? I share all the tips and tricks in this post to help you achieve perfectly seasoned, juicy chicken breasts every time. Whether you serve it with a tasty side dish or on top of a salad, this easy recipe for juicy oven-baked chicken breast won’t disappoint!
Quick note: If you need to cook chicken breasts at a higher temperature, you can find all you need to know in this post on How Long to Bake Chicken Breasts at 425°F.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make these baked chicken breasts (at 350°):
INGREDIENT NOTES
Chicken breasts – In order to cook quickly and efficiently, I like to use skinless boneless chicken breasts. Boneless breasts are lean and cook faster than bone-in chicken breast.
Seasonings – A simple blend of spices, including brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and lemon pepper is enough to give this chicken great flavor.
HOW TO MAKE BAKED CHICKEN BREASTS AT 350°: STEP-BY-STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full step-by-step instructions with exact ingredients will be in the printable recipe card below!
Step 1 & 2: In a small bowl, combine spices.
Rub chicken breasts with olive oil and coat them with the spice mixture. Press the spice mixture onto the chicken breast so it sticks. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
Step 3: Bake chicken breast in a preheated oven at 350° for 40-43 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F with an instant-read thermometer. Remove the chicken from the oven and allow to rest. Cut against the grain and serve.
RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS
- Start with dry chicken breasts. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible. This will help the seasonings stick better.
- Thin out the chicken. If the chicken breasts are uneven, place the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound on the thicker side to make them uniform thickness.
- Enhance flavor with extra marinating time. If time allows, refrigerate the seasoned chicken breasts for a few hours or overnight to enhance flavor.
- Don’t overcook the chicken. To avoid dry and rubbery chicken meat, remove the chicken breasts from the oven as soon as it reaches 165°F with an instant meat thermometer.
- Let chicken rest first. Don’t be tempted to dig into the chicken right after pulling it out of the oven. Give time for the juices to redistribute the meat thoroughly, keeping it moist and flavorful.
- Cut against the grain. Cut perpendicular to the natural grain lines in the meat to shorten the muscle fibers that results in tender meat.
Time-Saving Tip
Double the recipe and cook extra chicken breasts for convenient future meals throughout the week.
STORAGE & REHEATING
Storage: Store leftover chicken breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Place the chicken into a microwave-safe dish and cover with a damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat in short intervals until warmed through.
Freezing: Wrap each chicken breast individually in plastic wrap or foil and place them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat.
ADDITIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS
ADDITIONS:
- Fresh herbs – After baking, sprinkle on a handful of chopped fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or thyme for a little freshness.
- Dijon mustard – Enhance the flavor profile and add a tablespoon of Dijon mustard to the spice mixture.
- Citrusy freshness – Squeeze the juice of a lemon or lime after cooking chicken breast to give some refreshing brightness.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- Use your favorite seasonings – Try Cajun seasoning for a sweet and smokey flavor, or go with something classic like ranch seasoning, chili powder, or Italian seasoning.
- Try different cuts of chicken – This seasoning makes flavorful chicken, no matter the cut. Try chicken wings, bone-in chicken thighs, or chicken legs. Just cook until the instant read thermometer registers 165°F.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
This will depend on multiple factors, such as the thickness of the chicken breast, the type of chicken breast, and whether or not it was at room temperature before cooking it. Generally, a large chicken breast (think Costco-sized!) will need approximately 40 minutes to cook to a safe internal temperature.
The most foolproof way to know that the chicken has cooked through is to check the internal temperature of the chicken with an instant-read meat thermometer. It should reach 165°F to ensure the chicken is cooked through.
Yes, you can marinate the chicken for 2 hours or overnight for more flavor, using the seasonings in the recipe card.
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I hope you love these chicken breasts baked in the oven at 350°! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
How to Bake Chicken Breasts at 350°
Ingredients
- 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 2 1/2 lbs.
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp lemon pepper
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray it lightly with cooking spray. Unpack, then pat chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and place them on your baking sheet.Tip: If your chicken breasts are super "uneven" and much thicker on one side, put the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound out the thicker side until it is more-less the same thickness as the rest of the chicken breast.
- Spice it up: In a small bowl combine spices (brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and lemon pepper). Rub chicken breasts with olive oil then coat with spice mixture (about 1 tsp per breast). Press the spice mixture onto the chicken so it sticks. OPTIONAL: Place chicken in the fridge for 2 hours or up to overnight to allow the spices to flavor the chicken. **This is totally optional but provides great flavor and great if you want to prep ahead (See Note 1).
- Bake: Place chicken in a preheated oven and bake for 40-43 minutes or until the internal temperature has reached 165°F. Allow a few minutes for the chicken to rest, then slice and enjoy. Note: The cooking time is for 4 large chicken breasts–about 2 1/2 lbs. If you are cooking less or if your chicken breasts are smaller, reduce cooking time…start checking the internal temperature at about the 20-25 minute mark.
Notes
- Start with dry chicken breasts. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible. This will help the seasonings stick better.
- Thin out the chicken. If the chicken breasts are uneven, place the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound on the thicker side to make them uniform thickness.
- Enhance flavor with extra marinating time. If time allows, refrigerate the seasoned chicken breasts for a few hours or overnight to enhance flavor.
- Don’t overcook the chicken. To avoid dry and rubbery chicken meat, remove the chicken breasts from the oven as soon as it reaches 165°F with an instant meat thermometer.
- Let chicken rest first. Don’t be tempted to dig into the chicken right after pulling it out of the oven. Give time for the juices to redistribute the meat thoroughly, keeping it moist and flavorful.
- Cut against the grain. Cut perpendicular to the natural grain lines in the meat to shorten the muscle fibers that results in tender meat.
I used to be afraid to bake chicken on my own. But you gave me the confidence! And it turned out really good!
So good! Perfect for meal prep to get ahead for the next few days!
This chicken came out perfectly moist and delicious! Thank you so much!
I have googled this soooo many times! 🤣 so glad to have found a detailed post about it!
I don’t know if my 5 star rating came through. This chicken was so delicious served on top of a salad with a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness. Your step by step instructions were so helpful. Highly recommend!