Best Baked Hen Breast – Good Hen, Each Time!

setembro 30, 2024

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My methodology for Best Baked Hen Breast leads to good hen, each time! Tender, juicy, flavorful, and hands-off too.

easiest baked chicken breast in a pan

At first look, the title Best Baked Hen Breast may not scream: “tremendous thrilling recipe!”, however right here’s what IS thrilling:

It really works. My methodology for baking hen breasts works each single time. It’s a recipe you’ll be able to depend on.
It’s versatile. Function is with a few sides, or chop the baked hen and use it in dozens of different methods (together with the Korean-inspired hen and rice bowl I can not cease consuming — extra on that beneath…)
It’s household pleasant. My husband and three children have by no means not cleaned their plates of this 3 ingredient, 30 minute meal. Such a gem!
It’s arms off. Ship the baking dish into the oven then kiss it goodbye — don’t name us, we’ll name you, baked hen breast.
It’s make-ahead. Prep all the dish as much as 24 hours forward of time then bake straight out of the fridge.

So whereas this straightforward baked hen recipe isn’t successful any ingenuity awards, it’s one which I simply love having in my again pocket as a result of I do know it all the time seems nicely. I’m assured it’ll turn out to be a brand new go-to for you, too!

Watch The way to Make It

Baked Salad Dressing Hen

My Mother made a model of this recipe usually after I was rising up, calling it “Salad Dressing Hen”. She’d marinate hen breasts in salad dressing then saute them in a skillet. It was all the time so good and simple for her, too.

That stated, BAKING the hen breasts is even simpler as a result of its utterly arms off and also you don’t have to marinate it. Plus it makes for essentially the most tender and juicy hen — I swear by this methodology!

A bunch of individuals have requested on my Baked Hen Thighs submit tips on how to adapt the recipe for hen breasts too, so I believed I ought to lastly share it.

Elements Wanted

Hen breasts: I like utilizing 7-8oz boneless, skinless hen breasts, although you probably have smaller or larger ones readily available, that’s effective too. Try the “ideas” part beneath.
Salad dressing: a drizzle of Zesty Italian salad dressing not solely retains the hen breasts moist as they bake within the oven, however gives tons of taste. You need to use just about any vinegar/citrus primarily based dressing like Balsamic French dressing, Lemon Dressing, or an Asian-style French dressing.
Seasonings: I all the time add extra seasonings, spices and/or dried herbs to the hen earlier than baking. Sometimes simply garlic salt and black pepper, or garlic powder, salt, and pepper. That stated, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, or no matter seasonings or seasoning blends you’re keen on are effective so as to add.

sliced baked chicken breast on a plate

The way to Cook dinner Hen that Doesn’t Dry Out

It’s comprehensible that you simply’d suppose baking hen breasts would lead to dry and chalky hen, however this recipe disproves that!

As an alternative of baking at a decrease temperature like 350 levels for an extended period of time, we bake the hen breasts at the next temperature, 400 levels, for simply 20 minutes. A decrease cooking time at the next temperature leads to completely cooked, juicy hen breasts each single time.

Plus, for the reason that salad dressing surrounds the hen breasts in moisture because it bakes, I discover the hen can go above the 165 diploma benchmark for doneness and nonetheless keep good and juicy.

sliced baked chicken on a platter

What to Serve with Baked Hen Breast

Because the hen breasts bake at 400 levels for 20 minutes, I usually roast greens on a baking sheet within the oven on the identical time. Listed here are some straightforward facet dish concepts to spherical out the meal:

Use Baked Hen in these Recipes

The baked hen breasts are unbelievable to make use of in different recipes too — such an excellent meal prep instrument! Bake then chop or shred the hen and add or use it in these recipes:

Oh! These Korean-inspired Hen and Rice Bowls — I get up dreaming of them! Scoop cooked white rice right into a bowl then prime with chopped Baked Hen Breasts, drizzle with toasted sesame oil and gluten free Tamari, then squeeze on a little bit of Siracha and a teaspoon or two of mayonnaise (lazy woman’s Spicy Mayo, y’all). Add a ton of chilly kimchi then devour. Actually good with sauted mushrooms, too. OBSESSED!

5 Ideas for Success

Whereas this baked hen breasts recipe is blissfully straightforward, there are just a few ideas to bear in mind when making:

Pound it out: my #1 tip for fulfillment is to make sure the hen breasts are the identical thickness from prime to backside earlier than baking. We do that by overlaying the hen with plastic wrap then gently pounding them to a fair thickness utilizing a meat mallet or rolling pin.
Slice in half: in case your hen breasts are bigger than 10oz, pound them out then slice them in half to make sure they bake in simply 20 minutes.
Select a dressing: I nearly all the time use Ken’s Zesty Italian salad dressing when making this recipe, however your favourite balsamic French dressing, lemon French dressing, or Asian-style dressing are all effective to make use of.
Prep forward: add the pounded hen breasts to a gallon-size Ziplock bag with the dressing and seasonings as much as 24 hours forward of time. When it’s time to bake, pour the contents right into a nonstick sprayed baking sheet then proceed with the recipe.
Go easy: should you don’t have a salad dressing readily available that you simply’d like to make use of, be at liberty to easily brush the hen breasts with further virgin olive oil then add your seasonings and bake as directed.

Alrighty, let’s get you some saucy, tender, tremendous straightforward BAKED hen!

Italian baked chicken breast on a plate

The way to Make Best Baked Hen Breast

Step 1: Pound the hen breasts to a fair thickness.

Whether or not you’re baking, sauting, or grilling hen breasts — my #1 tip for ensuring they cook dinner evenly is to pound them to a fair thickness first. That approach you don’t find yourself with a dry, skinny finish, and a uncooked, thick finish.

I discover 7-8oz boneless skinless hen breasts cook dinner completely in 20 minutes, although even when they’re bigger, pounding them out to a fair thickness helps them cook dinner quicker and extra evenly.

chicken breasts on a cutting board

Place the hen breasts on a clear reducing board then cowl with a chunk of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to softly pound them to a fair thickness.

Tip: Some hen breasts, just like the one on the far left within the photograph above, have a brilliant skinny finish. In these cases, pound the bigger finish to the identical thickness as the middle of the hen breast.
Tip: In case your hen breasts are 10oz+, pound them out then minimize them in half to make sure they cook dinner evenly.

chicken on a cutting board with a meat mallet

Voila! What began out as hen breasts in varied sizes and thicknesses, ends with consistency that leads to even cooking.

chicken pounded to an even thickness

Step 2: Season the hen breasts.

Place the hen breasts into the underside of a nonstick sprayed 9×13″ baking pan then drizzle the salad dressing of your alternative excessive. Subsequent add your required seasonings — I add garlic salt and pepper, and generally onion powder and paprika as nicely.

Use tongs or your arms to flip the hen round to evenly coat within the dressing and seasonings.

chicken breasts in a baking dish with italian dressing

Step 3: Bake.

Bake the boneless hen breasts in a 400 diploma oven for 20 minutes, or till the thickest a part of the biggest hen breast reaches an inside temperature of 165 levels as learn by a digital instant-read thermometer.

Pull the baking pan out of the oven then let it sit for 15-Half-hour earlier than serving and slicing. This offers the dressing and juices from the hen an opportunity to chill and thicken barely, which turns into essentially the most scrumptious sauce to drizzle over the hen.

unbaked and baked chicken in a baking dish

The way to Retailer and Freeze

My husband not too long ago got here residence from Costco with individual-sized packs of grilled, cubed hen breasts, that are tremendous handy — the excellent news is you’ll be able to simply make them your self utilizing the cooled baked hen breasts!

To Retailer: place leftover hen in an hermetic container with a lid then refrigerate for as much as 4 days.
To Reheat: microwave with a spoonful of the leftover baking liquid (or broth or water) till scorching, or air fry at 360 levels till scorching.
To Freeze: add the cooled, cubed or shredded hen breast to a freezer-safe Ziplock bag then take away the air, seal, and freeze flat. Thaw within the fridge, or add to soups / skillet meals from frozen.

I hope you’re keen on this tasty, versatile, straightforward baked hen breast! Take pleasure in!

sliced baked chicken breast on a plate

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