There’s nothing easier or more versatile than boneless skinless chicken breasts for dinner. You can grill them, slow cook them, pan-fry them and even cook them in a pressure cooker. But my go-to has always been baked chicken breasts.

Despite best efforts, sometimes baked chicken can come out dry, tough and unappetizing. Luckily, Taste of Home’s Test Kitchen has a baking method that results in tender and juicy chicken breasts every time. Keep reading for the simple step-by-step instructions on how to bake chicken breasts.

What temperature should I bake chicken breasts?

Our Test Kitchen has found that baking chicken breasts in the oven at a higher temperature of 425°F locks in moisture and gives you a juicy chicken breast. As a bonus, cooking at such a high temp means that the chicken only has to bake for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the thickness, so you can get dinner on the table in a flash.

No matter what temperature you cook chicken breasts at, they should always be baked to an internal temperature of at least 165°.

Psst: Here are mistakes to avoid when cooking chicken.

How to Bake Chicken Breasts

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 4 ounces each)
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Step 1: Brine

To start, brine your chicken in a mixture of water and a few tablespoons of salt for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will boost the natural flavor and moisture of the chicken breasts and will leave you with a super tender piece of meat. This is the one step that will really ensure your chicken won’t be dry or tough.

If you’re still not convinced, check out everything you need to know about brining.

Step 2: Season the chicken

When your chicken is done brining, drain the brine and blot the chicken breasts completely dry with a paper towel. Then, brush with olive oil and sprinkle on the salt, pepper and any additional seasonings. These spice blends are an easy way to amp up flavor.

Test Kitchen Tip: If your chicken breasts are very thick on one end and not on the other, you’ll want to pound them with a meat mallet until the breast has an even thickness. This helps the chicken cook evenly. A small skillet or saucepan can also be used if you don’t have a meat mallet on hand.

Step 3: Bake the chicken breasts

Transfer the chicken breasts to a greased baking dish or sheet pan and pop it into a 425° oven. Allow the chicken breasts to bake in the oven uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°.

Test Kitchen Tip: The temperature of the chicken is important. Under 165° puts you at risk of foodborne illnesses and over 165° will be dry and tough, so be sure to use a reliable thermometer, like ThermoWork’s Thermapen.

Step 4: Rest the chicken breasts

Once the chicken gets up to temperature, remove the chicken breasts from the oven and let them rest for about five minutes. Resting allows the juices to redistribute in the chicken, locking in the moisture so it doesn’t spill out once cut.

And that’s it! Dinner is ready to be served. Looking for more recipes? Learn how to make oven-fried chicken breast.

Tips on How to Bake Chicken Breasts

What do you serve with chicken breasts?

These baked chicken breasts are great with just about anything, but we think a salad, some potatoes or a veggie side dish would be especially great. Browse these other side dish recipes for even more ideas.

How do you store chicken breasts?

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.

You can also store cooked chicken breasts in the freezer. Simply wrap the breasts in foil, then place them in an airtight container or a freezer storage bag. Cooked chicken will last in the freezer for up to four months.

Once you master this technique, add some flair with some of our popular chicken breast ideas!

100 More Ways to Enjoy Chicken Breasts
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