Wondering what’s the best Oven Temp for Chicken Breasts? Whether you’re using boneless or bone-in pieces, follow our tips to learn how you can make the most delicious chicken breasts in the oven!
When done right, oven-baked chicken breasts come out juicy and flavorful with a beautiful sear on the outside. Once you’ve learned the best oven temp, it couldn’t be easier to make scrumptious chicken breasts to serve with your favorite side dishes, pasta, and sandwiches.
Tired of overcooking, undercooking, and dry, flavorless meat? Keep reading to see our definitive guide for baking chicken breasts to perfection!
What Temp to Cook Chicken Breast in Oven?
Generally speaking, you can bake chicken breasts using an oven temp of 350-450°F. If you’re in a rush, you can use a higher temperature for faster cooking, but you’ll risk burning or drying out the meat.
We recommend preheating your oven to 425 to 450°F for the most delicious results. At this temperature, you’ll get juicy, tender meat on the inside with a nicely browned crust on the outside.
How Long to Bake Chicken Breasts
Not sure how long to bake chicken breasts in the oven? Use the chart below to see the expected cooking times based on oven temp and whether you’re using boneless or bone-in pieces.
| Oven Temp | Boneless Chicken Breasts | Bone-in Chicken Breasts |
| 350°F | 30 to 35 minutes | 35 to 45 minutes |
| 375°F | 25 to 30 minutes | 30 to 40 minutes |
| 400°F | 20 to 25 minutes | 25 to 30 minutes |
| 425°F | 18 to 22 minutes | 20 to 25 minutes |
| 450°F | 15 to 18 minutes | 18 to 22 minutes |
When it comes to oven-baked chicken breasts, cooking time will vary depending on the size of the pieces.
Smaller chicken breasts (4-6 oz) will typically be fully cooked 5 minutes faster than larger pieces (7-10 oz). Cooking time also depends on whether you’re using boneless or bone-in chicken breasts.
How Do I Tell When Chicken Breast Is Done Cooking?
The best way to tell when chicken breast is done cooking is to measure the internal temp. Insert the probe of an instant-read thermometer horizontally through the thickest section of the breast.
We recommend removing the chicken from the oven once it’s reached an internal temp of 160°F. Allow the meat to rest for 3-5 minutes, which should cause the temperature to increase by an additional 5 degrees.
The internal temp is the easiest, most accurate method of ensuring you get perfectly cooked, moist chicken breasts in the oven.
Other Methods to Check The Doneness
- Use your index finger to firmly press the center of the chicken breast. If it’s fully cooked, the meat should spring back. If it’s undercooked, the meat will feel a bit mushy. If it’s overcooked, the meat will feel very tough.
- Use a fork, toothpick or cake tester to poke a hole through the center of the chicken breast. If the juices run clear, this is an indication of doneness. If the juices look red or slightly pink, you’ll need to continue cooking the meat for a bit longer.
If you’re using the “juice test” method, avoid using a knife to slice the chicken. This will cause the juices to seep out, which can lead to dry, trashy meat.
How To Bake Chicken Breast
Are you baking chicken breasts in the oven? It’s easy to get delicious results when you follow these steps:
- Preheat your oven to 450°F and allow it to fully heat up before you start baking.
- Spray or rub a thin layer of oil on your baking tray or dish to prevent sticking.
- Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt, black pepper and your favorite herbs and spices. Place them on the greased baking tray in a single, even layer.
- Bake until they’ve reached an internal temp of 160°F, which should take around 22-26 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven.
- Use aluminum foil to form a tent-like shape and cover the baking dish. Allow the chicken breasts to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Tips for the Best Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
- Place the rack at the upper-middle position in the oven. This is the best placement for baking chicken and will ensure you get a nice sear on the outside of the meat.
- Allow the oven to thoroughly preheat before putting in the chicken. This ensures you’re cooking the meat at the right temperature.
- Use paper towels to absorb any excess moisture from the chicken breasts. This allows you to get a nice sear on the outside of the meat.
- Use a meat tenderizer to pound the chicken breasts before baking. When all the pieces are the same thickness, you’ll get more consistent results.
- An oven thermometer ensures more accurate baking. This handy device is great for making sure you’re using the desired oven temp.
- For crispy skin, avoid covering the chicken breasts. By using foil or a lid, you can inadvertently steam the chicken and lose the crispy exterior.
- Measure the internal temp to avoid over/undercooking. You can use an instant-read thermometer or a wireless dual-probe thermometer to check the internal temp.
- Allow the chicken to rest before slicing. This allows the meat to retain its juices so you won’t end up with dry chicken breasts.
FAQ
What’s The Best Oven Temperature For Cooking Chicken Breast?
We recommend preheating your oven to 425 to 450°F when baking chicken breasts. This oven temp is the sweet spot for keeping the meat moist and full of flavor.
How Long Does it Take to Bake a Chicken Breast at 400?
For medium (5-6oz) skinless, boneless chicken breasts, you can expect a cooking time of 20-25 minutes in a 375°F oven. Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts will need about 30-40 minutes. Convection ovens cook a bit faster and can shave off 5 minutes from the stated cooking times.
Is it Better to Bake Chicken at 350 or 400?
It’s possible to bake chicken at 350 or 400°F, but in our experience 375°F is the most ideal oven temp for chicken breasts. This temperature cooks the chicken fairly quickly without causing it to dry out.
Do I Need To Rest Baked Chicken Breast?
We definitely recommend allowing chicken breast to rest after removing it from the oven. If you slice the chicken without allowing it to rest first, you’ll be releasing all the precious juices.
Just 5 minutes of resting allows the chicken to retain its juices.
What’s The Difference Between Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts And Bone-In, Skin-On Chicken Breasts?
Skinless, boneless chicken breasts have been filleted and the skin has been removed. These pieces are great for salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes.
Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts still have the skin and bone and tend to be much juicier than boneless, skinless cuts. Bone-in, skin-on pieces take longer to cook than skinless, boneless pieces.
How To Store Baked Chicken Breast?
Baked chicken is great for meal planning or freezer prep. For meal planning or storing leftovers, allow the chicken to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
For longer-term storage, place the chicken pieces in a sealed, freezer-safe plastic bag and store for up to four months.
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Chicken Breast Oven Temp (+ How to Bake Chicken Breast in the Oven)
Ingredients
- 3-4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound baby red potatoes halved
- 12 cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4 pound green beans trimmed
- fresh parsley for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F and set your oven rack to the middle of the oven. Set aside a large baking sheet.
- Scatter potatoes and tomatoes across the baking sheet.
- Rub the chicken thoroughly with 1 tbsp oil and add to the middle an inch or so apart.
- Sprinkle minced garlic, oregano and thyme across pan. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil across evenly. Toss to mix well.
- Bake for 15-22 minutes depending on the size of your chicken breasts, adding the green beans halfway through.
- Several minutes before finishing, check the internal temperature using a quick-read thermometer. The chicken is done when it reads 160°F / 71°C.
- Let the chicken rest in the pan for 5 minutes before serving, ideally covered with aluminum foil.
- Garnish with optional parsley. Serve and enjoy!
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