What Temp to Bake Chicken (Best Oven Temperatures for Chicken Breasts, Thighs, Wings, and Whole Chicken)
on Mar 11, 2023, Updated Nov 01, 2023
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Have you wondered “What Temp to Bake Chicken” to get the perfect tender and juicy meat? Whether you are baking boneless or bone-in chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken wings, or roasting the whole chicken, we’ve got you covered with how to bake chicken in the oven with different oven temperatures, as well as some tips to cook them perfectly every time!
What Oven Temp to Bake Chicken
When it comes to baked chicken, the oven temp is a major factor for ensuring the meat is not only safe to eat, but also juicy and tender. If the oven temp is too high, you risk burning the chicken, but if it’s too low, you’ll end up with undercooked chicken.
There are two basic major options for baking chicken:
- Baking at 350°F to 375°F: This is the traditional method whereby a 4-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast is roasted at 350°F to 375°F for 23-30 minutes.
- Baking at 400°F to 450°F: Baking for less time at a higher temperature is a great way to get juicier chicken! Try baking chicken breasts at 400°F for 18-25 minutes.
Internal Temp for Baked Chicken
Although chicken is safe to eat at 165°F, most pieces taste best when cooked to higher temperatures:
- Chicken wings taste best when cooked to 190°F, which allows the collagen to break down for more tender meat.
- Dark meat like legs and thighs should be cooked to 180°F, which allows the connective tissues to break down
- If you’re grilling a whole bird, it’s normal for the breasts to be 165°F while the thighs and legs will reach 175-180°F
To measure the internal temp, we recommend using an instant-read thermometer. Insert the probe horizontally through the thickest part of the chicken and wait for the reading on the screen.
Another option is to use a wireless dual-probe thermometer, which allows you to remotely monitor the internal temp during the entire cooking process. With this handy device, there’ll be no need to open the lid of the grill to check the temperature of the meat. There’s even an option to have the thermometer beep when the chicken has reached the desired internal temp.
What Temperature to Bake Chicken Breasts and Cooking Time
We find that baking chicken breast at high temperature of 450°F / 230°C gives us the juiciest results. It can be daunting to put meat in such a hot oven, but it really does work wonders for beautiful roast chicken.
After lots of testing, we’ve determined that you should cook chicken breasts for 15-25 minutes at 450°F depending on size and whether they’re boneless or not.
What Temperature to Bake Chicken Thighs and Cooking time
Bake chicken thighs at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160-165°F. Similarly, chicken legs require a similar amount of baking time.
Bake boneless chicken thighs the same way, but for 10 minutes less, or about 15-20 minutes.
What Temperature to Bake Chicken Wings
If you like crispy chicken wings, we recommend baking them in a 400°F oven for about 40 minutes.
If you have extra time, you can reduce the oven temperature to 170°F and keep them in the oven for 20-30 more minutes to get the skin extra crispy.
What Temperature to Roast Whole Chicken
Unstuffed: A 4-pound whole chicken will take about 80-90 minutes at a temperature of 350°F, while a larger 7-pound chicken could take up to 2 hours and 20 minutes. In general, add 20 minutes for each additional pound.
Stuffed Chicken: Follow the guidance of unstuffed chicken, adding an extra 15-30 minutes of baking time in total.
How Long to Bake Boneless Chicken Breasts At Different Oven Temperatures
| Oven Temperature | Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Bake Time |
| 350°F (177°C) | 25-30 minutes |
| 375°F (191°C) | 23-30 minutes |
| 400°F (204°C) | 22-25 minutes |
| 425°F (218°C) | 18-22 minutes |
| 450°F (232°C) | 15-18 minutes |
Turning on an oven’s convection/forced air will usually reduce baking time by 5-10 minutes. Instead of relying on cooking time alone, always check doneness by using an instant-read thermometer.
How Long to Bake Bone-in Chicken Breasts
If you are baking bone-in chicken breasts, simply add 8-10 minutes to the bake times of the boneless skinless chicken breasts.
How to Tell When Chicken is Done Cooking
The best way to tell if the baked chicken is done is by measuring the internal temp with an instant-read thermometer. When chicken has reached a temperature of 165°F, you can be sure that all the harmful bacteria has been eliminated, making the meat safe to eat.
We recommend removing the chicken from the grill at 160°F and allowing it to rest for a few minutes. During this time, the internal temp will increase by 5-10°F.
Tips for the Best Oven Baked Chicken
While baking times and temperatures are important, there are a few other tips for juicy baked chicken:
- Brine: If your chicken is not pre-brined, you can dissolve ¼ cup salt in 1 quart (4 cups) of water in a large pot. Then add the meat, immersing it completely and placing in the refrigerator for 1-4 hours.
- Rub with oil or butter: Rub your chicken with oil or butter before baking. It will help to keep it moist while making seasoning stick to the meat.
- Bake: Following the guidance above until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Rest: Instead of cutting into the meat right out of the oven, let it rest covered with foil for 5-10 minutes so the juices can redistribute through the meat. This simple step produces much juicier chicken.
FAQ
Is It Better to Bake Chicken at 350 or 400 F degrees?
Baking the chicken for less time at a higher temperature is a great way to get juicier chicken, so we recommend cooking it between 400 to 450 F in the oven for the best result.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Chicken at 400 F Degrees?
It will take about 18 to 25 minutes to bake chicken breasts at 400°F in the oven.
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How to Bake Chicken in the Oven (With the Right Temp)
Ingredients
- 3-4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- 1 pound baby red potatoes, halved
- 12 cherry tomatoes, or grape tomatoes
- 1 lemon, sliced into rings
- 4 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, optional
- 3/4 pound green beans, trimmed
- fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and set your oven rack to the top half. Set aside a large baking sheet.
- Scatter potatoes and tomatoes across the baking sheet. Add chicken breasts in the middle a few inches apart. Rub chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon oil.
- Sprinkle minced garlic, oregano and thyme across pan. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the rest of olive oil evenly across. Toss to mix well. Place several lemon slices on top of chicken.
- Butter a piece of parchment paper, and cover the chicken and vegetables with buttered parchment paper (butter side facing down)
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, adding green beans for the final 10 minutes. If the chicken looks pale, you can always put it under the broiler for the final 3 minutes.
- Check doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the middle of the chicken breast. Remove from the oven as soon as it reaches 160°F (71°C). Alternatively, as soon as clear juice starts to seep out of your chicken breasts, it means that they are cooked through.
- Remove the chicken to a serving plate or carving board. Cover with foil and let it rest for 5-10 minutes to let the juices redistribute through the meat before serving.
Notes
- Smaller chicken breasts (4 oz) need to be baked for 18-20 minutes, while larger chicken breasts (8-10 oz) will take 25-30 minutes to bake.
- Add 8-10 minutes of additional baking time if you use bone-in chicken breasts.
- Remove chicken from the oven when the internal temperature reaches 160°F, as the temperature will rise a few degrees during resting.
- Use leftover baked chicken to make Chicken Avocado Rollups, Chicken Noodle Soup and Chicken Fried Rice. Cooked chicken lasts 3-4 days in the fridge.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
