We’ve cracked the code to completely flavorful and juicy oven baked hen breast! Our foolproof technique makes use of easy methods and a scrumptious seasoning mix. Say hey to a hen dinner you’ll need to make time and again!
Why we love this recipe
There’s nothing like a rockstar hen recipe to headline dinner, and have we bought one which’s value raving about. Presenting, our greatest oven baked hen breast recipe! As cookbook authors and recipe specialists, Alex and I’ve examined this recipe again and again to get it simply best for you. Fortunately, it’s become one in every of our go-to hen dinners we make on a weeknight!
The hen breast comes out so juicy and completely seasoned with our favourite easy seasoning mix. Alex and I each grew up consuming baked hen recipes, and that is our spin on the basic. Similar to our pan seared hen breast and baked hen thighs, it has turn out to be a go-to technique in our home. Bookmark it and tell us what you assume!
“This recipe might be the best hen recipe I’ve ever made. The seasoning combine was very tasty and gave the hen plenty of taste, particularly the smoked paprika! The hen breasts additionally got here out very juicy and tender. It was an easy and flavorful dinner: I’ll little question make this once more and have already added it to the recipes I save!” -Annika
Elements for oven baked hen breast
Listed below are the elements you’ll want for oven baked hen breast:
- Hen breast: Search for boneless skinless hen breast, and purchase natural hen if in any respect potential. Should you’ve made our different hen recipes, you would possibly anticipate to butterfly the hen or purchase it in cutlets. However for baked hen, we’ve discovered it’s finest with pounded complete breasts.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is our cooking oil of alternative for hen, however you need to use any impartial oil and even melted butter.
- Spices: A customized mix of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and dried oregano infuse main savory taste to the hen breasts.
Ideas for baked hen breast
There are a couple of ideas for making one of the best juicy, well-seasoned oven baked hen. Actually, in testing this recipe we had some unlucky un-delicious hen fails. We make the errors so that you don’t must! Right here’s what to learn about baked hen:
- Buy high quality hen. In some commercially raised chickens, the breast muscle turns into more durable and denser than regular, leading to a mushy texture when cooked. Buy the very best high quality hen breast yow will discover, natural if potential.
- Pound the hen to an excellent thickness. Pounding the hen is crucial for serving to it to prepare dinner by means of evenly.
- Cook dinner the hen to an inner temperature of 165°F when measured with a meals thermometer. Keep away from overcooking the hen, which may dry it out.
- Add sufficient salt. This is a matter we see lots with many cooks. Whilst you don’t need to oversalt, you’ll want sufficient for the flavour to shine! This recipe calls for two teaspoons salt for two kilos hen breasts.
- Permit the hen to relaxation for five minutes earlier than serving. This ensures most juiciness.
Easy methods to keep away from “woody” hen breast
In testing this recipe, we had an issue with baked hen breast that got here out with a mushy texture. It was not the kind of hen we usually purchase, and after some analysis we discovered was because of the high quality of hen.
“Woody” hen breast is a situation that impacts commercially raised chickens the place the breast muscle turns into more durable and denser than regular. Even with correct cooking, woody hen breasts can have an unappealing, mushy texture. To keep away from this situation, attempt to buy as high quality of breast as potential.
Troubleshooting baked hen breast
Listed below are a couple of different widespread issues you would possibly encounter when making baked hen breast:
- Overcooking: Hen breast is lean and cooks shortly. Overcooking the hen dries the meat out and causes the protein fibers to contract and toughen, which may result in a mushy texture. Cook dinner the hen to an inner temperature of 165°F (74°C), then take away it from the warmth supply instantly when it reaches that temperature.
- Freezing and thawing: Repeated freezing and thawing of hen can harm its cell construction, inflicting moisture loss and probably affecting the feel.
- Spoilage: Within the early levels of going dangerous, hen can turn out to be a bit mushy earlier than creating a noticeable off-odor. At all times examine your hen earlier than cooking. A slimy texture or sturdy scent means it’s spoiled and must be tossed out.
Storing leftovers
Leftover cooked hen shops for 3 to 4 days refrigerated. It’s finest eaten instantly after cooking, however it works made forward too. Reheat it in a skillet on the stovetop for a minute or two over medium warmth earlier than serving.
Easy methods to serve it
This baked hen breast is one in every of our high simple dinner concepts as a result of it’s simply that easy! (Us, in actual life: “What’s for dinner? Let’s make that baked hen once more.”) Listed below are a couple of easy sides dishes for hen that don’t require an oven and bowl meal concepts:
- Add a grain like white rice, lemon rice, seasoned quinoa or farro.
- Add a pasta like orzo, couscous, linguine, or garlic butter noodles.
- Add a inexperienced salad like arugula salad, kale salad, chopped salad, or Mediterranean salad.
- Make it right into a essential dish salad by serving it sliced over Caesar salad, apple salad, taco salad, or hen pasta salad.
- Add it to bowl meals like a fajita salad, burrito bowl, rice bowl, or farro bowl.
A couple of extra hen dinners
There are such a lot of nice hen dinners, and this baked hen is in our corridor of fame! Listed below are a couple of extra of our favorites:
Dietary notes
This baked hen recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free.
Often requested questions
The perfect baking temperature for boneless, skinless hen breast is usually round 425°F (220C). The cooking time will fluctuate relying on the thickness of the hen, however it often takes about 20 minutes.
No, it’s not essential to flip the hen whereas baking. Baking it on one facet permits the highest to brown and develop a flavorful crust.
There are numerous methods to season baked hen! You should utilize a pre-made spice mix, create your personal with herbs and spices like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin, or marinate the hen in your favourite sauce or dressing. You can even do this baked Greek Hen recipe.
- 4 boneless, skinless hen breasts (about 8 ounces every)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- Freshly floor black pepper
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220C). Transfer a rack to the higher third for the oven.
- Pat the hen breasts dry, then flippantly pound the thick finish of every piece of hen with a kitchen mallet or rolling pin till the hen breast is roughly the identical thickness all the way in which throughout.
- Place the hen breasts on a rimmed baking sheet and brush either side with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, stir collectively the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt and black pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning throughout either side of the hen. In case you have time, relaxation as much as half-hour earlier than baking for max taste.
- Place the baking dish within the oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes, till the hen is flippantly browned and the inner temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) when measured with a meals thermometer.
- Take away from the oven and permit the hen to relaxation 5 minutes earlier than serving to make sure juiciness. Slice into items and serve. Leftovers final 3 to 4 days refrigerated.
- Class: Important dish
- Methodology: Baked
- Delicacies: American
- Food plan: Gluten Free