For years, I have been avoiding boneless skinless chicken breast since it can be a bit fickle to cook. Overcook it just a bit and it becomes super dry. I have tried many different methods with some success and a lot of failures. Now, using this method, I can cook perfectly moist chicken breast every time without thinking. So I thought it would share it. Enjoy!
Why Does This Recipe Work?
The olive oil in this recipe is the key to roasting super juicy chicken breast. Without the skin, the moisture is free to exit stage left as the meat cooks. The olive oil has a much higher boiling point, so it locks in the moisture as the meat cooks. As a bonus, it acts as a sticky layer for any seasoning to stick to. I always hate when I sprinkle my seasonings on the meat and it bounces off.
Ingredients & Equipment
Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast: Any size will do. I have yet to have this method fail to deliver a final juicy meal. Make sure they are thawed all the way through before cooking.
- Olive Oil: Coat each breast in quality olive oil to seal in the moisture and ensure tasty results.
- Sea Salt: Skip this if you have brined your meat. If not, sea salt will enhance the flavor significantly.
- Black Pepper: Always on hand, this will also add some depth to the flavor of the cooked chicken breast.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet: You need a good baking sheet for baking anything, and this baked chicken breast is no exception. These have lasted me 5+ years with no sign of slowing down.
- Toaster Oven: This is my mini oven for baking small items when my main oven is occupied, or it just makes sense. Bonus, the little pan that’s included is perfect for baking 2 chicken breasts.
- Cutting Board: For meat, I recommend plastic cutting boards since they just pop in the dishwasher if needed. My thick plastic boards are old and beat up, but just wont die.
Preparation
Baking the Chicken Breast
- Preheat your oven to 350*F.
- If present, remove the skin, bones, and trim excess fat from each chicken breast. Rub each side with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper on both sides, or your own seasoning of the day.
- Place the prepared chicken breast on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 30 minutes.
- At 30 minutes, check the temperature (165*F) with a meat thermometer. If it’s cooked through, remove it from the oven and place on a cutting board to rest for 5 minutes.
- After the rest period, enjoy however the mood strikes you!
Roasted Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Non-Stick Baking Sheet
- Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Breast Boneless, Skinless
- 4 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tsp Sea Salt
- 2 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F
Dress the Chicken
- If present, remove the skin, bones, and trim the excess fat from each chicken breast.
- Rub each chicken breast all over with olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper on each side.
Cook the Chicken
- Place the dressed chicken on a baking pan and place it in the oven for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, check for an internal temperature of 165°F with a meat thermometer and remove the pan if cooked through. Add 3 minutes cooking for every 5°F needed to get to 165°F.
- Remove the chicken to a plate and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before cutting.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- To date, this hasn’t failed to cook through any sized breast, or over cook them to a noticeable degree.
- Aluminum Foil under the chicken can help with clean up.
- Sprinkle any other seasoning your heart desires after the olive oil, the salt and pepper are just a basic recipe.
How long does it take to cook chicken breast?
This recipe calls for baking the chicken breast for 30 minutes at 350*F. The low and slow cooking along with the olive oil seals in the moisture for super juicy chicken. This is the only way I know how to make juicy chicken breast that stays juicy after it cools.
How should I season Baked Chicken Breast?
This recipe calls for salt and pepper, allowing anyone with a kitchen to make perfect chicken. However, you can sprinkle any seasoning you want after the olive oil. I haven’t tested breadcrumbs with this recipe.
What’s the difference between roasting and baking?
“Roasting involves cooking foods, like meat, potatoes, chicken, and vegetables, that already have a solid structure before you begin cooking. Baking, however, refers to foods without initial structure, like cupcakes and cookies.” Read more into it here. I use the word interchangeably, but I guess we are more baking the chicken since we arent caramelizing the outside of the breast at all.
What temperature to bake chicken breast?
The best temperature to bake chicken breast is 350*F for 30 minutes. This allows the chicken to cook all the way through but it doesn’t brown the skin. It doesn’t maintain all the moisture, leaving you with juicy chicken breast for your meal.
How do you bake chicken without drying it out?
The secret to baking chicken breast without drying it out is cover it with something and don’t bake it too long. This recipe calls for a coating of olive oil, which acts as the barrier to seal in the moisture. The results are amazing.
Do I need to let baked chicken breast rest?
Absolutely. 5 extra minutes on the cutting board is ideal before cutting into it. If you skip the rest, you can watch your moisture spill out as you cut into it. After the rest, the extra moisture relaxes back into the meat and stays there, leaving your chicken extra juicy.
Pairings and Uses for Perfect Chicken Breast
Boneless skinless chicken breast is great for just about everything, especially when it’s cooked right.
- Slice it thin and put it on a salad or in pasta.
- Chop it, cool it, and make it into a chicken salad.
- Be healthy and eat it plain with steamed vegetables. This is the only recipe I’d recommend for that.
- Chop or shred it to use it in our Shepherd’s Pie Recipe!
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This came out perfect, thanks for such as easy recipe. It’s my go-to method from now on.