How Long to Bake Chicken Breasts at 425°
Ever wonder how to bake juicy chicken breasts at 425°? Baking chicken at this higher temperature produces tender, juicy chicken breasts with little effort! Season them up with your favorite spices (my go-to spice blend is below) or marinate them for even more flavor!
What readers are saying...
“We eat a lot of chicken and I love how simple this recipe is. Also love the serving suggestions with rice and broccoli. Bookmarking!“
-WANDA
Juicy. Easy. Perfect…everytime!
We’ve all had dry chicken breast…right?! I’ve sure had my share! Ick! The “secret” to perfectly juicy boneless, skinless chicken breasts is the magic number: 425°F!
The high heat helps seal in the moisture by cooking the chicken quicker, leaving it super juicy and NOT dry! Just let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking and you’ll have perfect chicken every time!
Tender, juicy chicken breasts are SO VERSATILE! From salads to pasta to healthy meal preps, you can use this easy chicken recipe for just about anything!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make these delicious, juicy oven-baked chicken breasts:
EASY SEASONINGS AND MARINADES
DIY: The seasoning blend above is my go-to seasoning for chicken (I included the exact recipe in the recipe card below).
All-Purpose Seasoning: I like an all-purpose seasoning like this Montreal Chicken Seasoning or a nice, spicy Cajun blend!
Teriyaki: A good store-bought teriyaki sauce makes an excellent marinade. Our personal favorite is this Soyaki from Trader Joe’s.
Aglio Olio Seasoning (Trader Joe’s): This is my all-time favorite seasoning! It’s similar to an Italian seasoning with a tiny bit of spice! It’s perfect on EVERYTHING!
BBQ: We love an all-purpose BBQ seasoning like this one — it’s smokey and delicious on chicken!
HOW LONG TO BAKE CHICKEN BREAST AT 425°
Note: Oven temperatures may vary so ALWAYS check your chicken with an instant-read thermometer!
Large Chicken Breasts (3/4 to 1 inch in thickness): Bake larger chicken breasts for 23-25 minutes at 425°F or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Medium Chicken Breasts (less than 3/4 of an inch in thickness): Bake medium chicken breasts for 15-20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
HOW TO BAKE CHICKEN BREASTS AT 425°: STEP-BY-STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!
Step 1: Rub each chicken breast with vegetable oil.
Step 2: Season each breast generously with seasoning/spices. I have provided the recipe for my go-to chicken seasoning in the recipe card, but feel free to use a prepared seasoning or a combo of your favorite spices.
Step 3: Bake chicken breast at 425°F for 23-25 minutes for larger (thicker) chicken breasts and 15-20 minutes for smaller (thinner) chicken breasts. Oven temperatures vary so be sure you check for doneness using an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast. Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F.
BEST TIPS FOR JUICY, OVEN-BAKED CHICKEN BREASTS
- Don’t skip the oil, it helps add moisture and helps the seasoning stick to the chicken. If you must skip it, spray each side of the chicken breasts generously with cooking spray and then add seasonings.
- Remember, cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken breasts. It’s always a good idea to set a timer for the low end of the cook time range. Then begin checking it with a meat thermometer.
- Try to use breasts that are similar in size for even cooking. If some of your chicken breasts are SUPER thick on one side (Costco chicken comes to mind!), place raw chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap. Then, pound out the thicker side with a meat mallet or rolling pin until the breasts are more or less an even thickness.
- If you prefer thinner chicken breasts, slice each breast lengthwise–this will also double the servings! 🙂
Casey’s Top Tip: Remember to test the internal temperature of your chicken breasts in the largest part of the breast for the most accurate reading. If you are using large chicken breasts, remove them from the oven when the internal temp reaches 160° — this will allow for carry over cooking when they come out of the oven.
STORAGE & REHEATING
- Storage: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Chicken breast can dry out when reheating. For juicy reheated chicken, place chicken in a pan with a splash of water or chicken stock. Cover with a lid and heat on medium until heated through.
- Freezing: These baked chicken breasts freeze up great!! Cool chicken completely. Then place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Cooked chicken breasts freeze well for about 4-6 months.
BEST WAYS TO USE OVEN-BAKED CHICKEN BREAST
Baked chicken is SO versatile! Here are a few ideas:
- Healthy Dinner: Pair it with rice and a green veggie or salad for a light dinner.
- Chicken Salad: Making chicken salads from this oven-baked chicken recipe is one of my favorite ways to use it! Try my California Chicken Salad or this delicious Chicken Salad Without Mayo for a healthy twist!
- Healthy Meal Prep: A simple chicken and veggies meal prep is perfect for healthy, quick lunches.
- Salads: This Caesar salad is delish with added chicken, and so is this Chopped Thai Salad with a to-die-for peanut dressing!
- BBQ Chicken Macaroni Salad: The best mac salad EVER and so great with added chicken!
- Pasta: Season your chicken with Cajun seasoning and add it to this delicious Cajun Chicken Spaghetti or dice it up and use it in this SUPER easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta!
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
425°F is the best temperature to bake your chicken breasts. This higher temperature allows the chicken to cook more quickly and gives it less of a chance to dry out. No one wants dry chicken breast!!!
YES!!!! As mentioned above, the super-hot oven cooks the chicken quickly and allows it to remain juicy. IMPORTANT: Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing! This will ensure extra-juicy chicken!
I hope you love these juicy, oven-baked chicken breasts! If you make them, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
USE YOUR BAKED CHICKEN IN THESE RECIPES…
Juicy Oven-Baked Chicken Breast at 425°
Ingredients
- 3 large or 4 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts See Pro Tip below
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil olive oil works, too
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 2 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Prepare Spices: Combine spices in a small bowl (or use your own seasoning blend).
- Season: Rub each chicken breast with oil on both sides. Sprinkle seasoning generously on both sides of the chicken. Rub the seasoning in with your hands so the chicken is well-coated.
- Bake: Place chicken in a baking dish and bake for 23-25 minutes for large breasts and 15-20 minutes for medium breasts or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Tip: The size of the chicken breasts will affect cooking time. Since chicken breasts vary widely in size, start checking the temperature on the low end of the cook time (large breasts, start checking at about 23 minutes and medium breasts start checking at about 15 minutes). This will ensure you don't overcook the chicken!
- Rest: Important! Remove chicken breasts from the oven and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
This was such a quick and easy meal that was packed with flavor! A great recipe for a busy weeknight and easily, a new favorite dish!
The perfect guide. My chicken came out perfectly juicy
We eat a lot of chicken and I love how simple this recipe is. Also love the serving suggestions with rice and broccoli. Bookmarking!
Book marking this for next time I need to cook chicken breasts in the oven!! Thank you!
Thank you, so much for this information! I definitely needed it since I have been one to dry out chicken!