Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts or Thighs - Easy Recipe! (2024)

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This easy baked chicken recipe is one of our all-time favorite dinners! Bone-in and skin-on breasts (or thighs!) are marinated in a citrusy, garlicky glaze and then baked in the oven. You’re going to love this simple baked chicken.

Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts or Thighs - Easy Recipe! (1)

Table of Contents

  • Easy Oven Baked Chicken
  • What You’ll Need
  • How to Bake Chicken in the Oven
  • How Long Do You Bake Chicken For?
  • Do You Cover Chicken When Baking?
  • Internal Temperature for Chicken
  • Tips for Success
  • What Goes with Baked Chicken?
  • How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
  • Get the Recipe

    Easy Oven Baked Chicken

    Chicken is the star protein in our house. It’s affordable and pretty hard to mess up. Give me chicken in a stir fry, a soup, a taco – and I’m happy. But, this baked chicken recipe is so good it makes me more than happy! It makes me overjoyed. It’s easy, it’s tender and everyone loves it. What more can you ask for?

    This recipe has a simple, flavor-packed chicken marinade that honestly does most of the work for you. Let the chicken breasts or thighs soak up the marinade, then pop them in a baking dish, put them in the oven, and then walk away for 45 minutes. No need to stand over the stove, or fuss over a complicated recipe. Pour yourself a glass of wine and kick your feet up while your oven makes the best baked chicken recipe of your life.

    Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts or Thighs - Easy Recipe! (2)

    What You’ll Need

    Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need to make this baked chicken recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.

    For the chicken marinade:

    • Olive Oil
    • Citrus Juice: Orange juice & Lemon juice
    • Salt & black pepper
    • Spices: Italian seasoning, Paprika & Garlic

    Then to finish up you’ll need:

    • Chicken breasts and/or thighs: Use bone-in, skin on chicken.
    • Italian Seasoning: You’ll use just a bit more to sprinkle on the chicken before baking.
    • Salt and freshly cracked pepper: Also to sprinkle on before baking.
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    How to Bake Chicken in the Oven

    • Marinate: Mix together all of the ingredients besides the chicken. Place chicken in a bowl or large ziplock bag. Add the marinade to the chicken and toss to coat. Cover the bowl or seal the ziplock bag and place it in the fridge to marinate for 1 hour.
    • Preheat the oven: When you’re ready to cook, preheat the oven to 375°F.
    • Prep the chicken. Place the chicken breast, bone side down, on a baking pan. Spoon a little extra marinade on top of each piece of chicken and then toss the remaining marinade. Sprinkle the chicken with a bit more Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
    • Bake. Bake the chicken in the preheated oven until the chicken meat is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear. This should take about 45 to 55 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast meat should read 165°F.
    • Rest and Serve: Cover the chicken loosely with foil and allow it to rest for 5 minutes, then serve. This ensures your chicken stays extra juicy
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    How Long Do You Bake Chicken For?

    For this recipe, you can choose to use chicken breast or chicken thighs. Here’s a quick look at how long you would bake each cut of meat:

    Chicken Breasts

    Chicken breasts have a tendency to dry out more quickly than a chicken thigh so the cook time will be shorter. Here are some simple cooking time guidelines:

    • Bone-in skin-on chicken breasts: bake at 375°F for just about 45 minutes.
    • Boneless skinless chicken breasts: bake at 375°F for just about 20 minutes.

    You’ll know the chicken is done when it is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear. For the most accurate results, I use an instant-read meat thermometer. I insert it into the thickest part of the meat and I look for a temperature of 165°F.

    Chicken Thighs

    Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs are, IMO, the most underrated cut of chicken. The dark meat is juicy and moist and doesn’t really dry out.

    Bake your chicken thighs in a 375°F oven for about 55 minutes. Use that instant read meat thermometer to make sure you reached an internal temp of 165°F.

    Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts or Thighs - Easy Recipe! (5)

    Do You Cover Chicken When Baking?

    You don’t need to cover the chicken breasts or thighs when baking them in the oven. I do like to wrap the chicken in foil after it is done cooking, during the rest period. It is a simple trick you can use to make sure your chicken is extra tender and juicy.

    Internal Temperature for Chicken

    The perfect internal temperature to cook your chicken is 165°F. This temperature will ensure the meat is cooked through and no longer pink, but also that it isn’t dry or tough. It’s the best temperature for moist, juicy chicken every time.

    If you’re not sure how you can tell what the internal temp is, use an instant read meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the meat and you’ll have your answer in seconds.

    Tips for Success

    There are few simple tricks I use to make sure my chicken comes out perfect every time. Here’s what I recommend:

    • Pat your chicken dry with a paper towel before marinating, this will make it marinade stick to the chicken better.
    • Don’t rush the marinating step. Trust me, if you give your chicken breasts or thighs time to really soak up the marinade you will be richly rewarded with juicy, flavorful baked chicken.
    • Don’t forget to let your meat rest, wrapped in foil, for 5 minutes before you cut in. This will make your chicken extra juicy and tender. Why? Because when you bake chicken all the juices rush to the center of the meat. When you give the cooked chicken breasts or thighs time to rest the juices have time to redistribute throughout the meat.
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    What Goes with Baked Chicken?

    • Starchy sides. I’m thinking rice or mashed cauliflower, mashed potatoes, and egg noodles.
    • Veggies. Broccoli, green beans, or any green veggie will pair great with this meal! I really love this chicken with my green bean casseroleor creamy baked brussels sprouts!
    • Sauces. I have also been know to drizzle tzatziki sauce on my chicken and potatoes.

    How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

    You’ve got two options for storing your leftover baked chicken – the fridge or the freezer. Whichever you choose, you are going to want to wrap the chicken tightly or store it in an airtight container.

    • Fridge: Your chicken will be good for about 3 days in an airtight container.
    • Freezer: Wrap your chicken tightly in foil, then place in an airtight, freezer safe container. It will last about 4-6 months.

    When you’re ready to reheat your baked chicken, place it in a baking dish and warm them in the oven. To avoid drying out, you could whip up some extra marinade and spoon it over the chicken.

    Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts or Thighs - Easy Recipe! (7)

    4.4 from 316 votes

    Print Pin Recipe

    Yield: 6

    Easy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts or Thighs

    This easy baked chicken recipe is one of my family's all-time favorites! Bone-in and skin-on breasts (or thighs!) are marinated in a citrusy, garlicky glaze then baked in the oven.

    Prep Time5 minutes minutes

    Cook Time55 minutes minutes

    Additional Time1 hour hour

    Total Time2 hours hours

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • juice from 1 orange
    • juice from 1 lemon
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
    • 1.5 lbs chicken breasts and/or thighs, bone-in and skin on
    • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • Mix together all ingredients besides chicken. Place chicken in a bowl or large ziplock bag and add marinade.

    • Add marinade to chicken and toss to coat. Cover bowl or seal ziplock bag and place in fridge to marinade for 1 hour.

    • When ready to cook, preheat oven to 375°F. Place chicken breast, bone side down, on a baking pan.

    • Spoon on a little extra marinade on top of each piece of chicken and then toss remaining marinade. Sprinkle chicken with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

    • Bake in preheated oven until chicken meat is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 45 to 55 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast meat should read 165°F.

    • Cover chicken loosely with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes, then serve. This ensures your chicken stays extra juicy

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1, Calories: 338kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 124mg, Sodium: 623mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 12g

    © Jessica – The Novice Chef

    Cuisine: American

    Category: Chicken

    Categories:

    • 30 Min or Less
    • Chicken
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Gluten Free
    • Healthy
    • Low Carb
    • Quick Dinner Ideas
    • Recipes
    • Videos

    Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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    Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breasts or Thighs - Easy Recipe! (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you keep chicken moist in the oven? ›

    The secret? The parchment paper method. By covering the chicken with a piece of parchment paper, the chicken bastes in its own juices so they never dry out. It's basically a cross between braising and roasting and is sure to become one of your new favorite ways to cook chicken.

    What is the secret to juicy chicken? ›

    Getting a good sear through medium high heat, then reducing the heat to LOW and COVERING the chicken while it cooks. The butter, oil, and chicken juices create a super flavorful liquid that acts as a way to steam the chicken at a low temperature, ensuring that it is moist & tender on the inside.

    How do you make chicken more tender and juicy? ›

    A 15-minute marinade with one cup of yogurt and one teaspoon of salt makes for the most tender chicken breasts imaginable. It adds its own flavor, but it also allows for even more flavor to easily adhere to the chicken.

    Should you bake chicken breast covered or uncovered? ›

    Larger cuts, such as whole chickens or bone-in pieces, often benefit from covered baking to ensure thorough and even cooking. Smaller cuts, like chicken breasts or tenders, can be baked uncovered for quick results. Lastly, think about the desired texture and flavor you're trying to achieve.

    How do you make chicken breast moist and not dry? ›

    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.

    Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400? ›

    You can roast or bake anywhere between 325 and 450 degrees F. When roasting a whole chicken, a nice rule of them is to start at 400 to 425 degrees F and then turn the oven down to 350 after 15 minutes and cook until the internal temp of the chicken is 165 – 175 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.

    Should I cover chicken breast with foil when baking? ›

    It delivers mouth-watering results: By using foil to bake chicken, you seal in its juices as it steams. This keeps your chicken moist and wonderfully flavorful. It gives you a complete meal in a packet: While you can bake your chicken alone, using foil allows you to build a delicious, all-in-one meal.

    What should you season chicken with? ›

    Spices: Garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and cumin add savoriness and flavor to the chicken. Spices like paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and Cajun seasoning add heat and smokiness to the chicken.

    How long to cook chicken breast in the oven at 350 degrees? ›

    Cooking tips

    chicken breast at 350°F (177˚C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165˚F (74˚C).

    What cooking method makes chicken most tender? ›

    Low and slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or smoking are most effective when trying to create tender, succulent chicken.

    What tenderizes chicken fast? ›

    Pounding the chicken is one of the greatest do-it-yourself ways to tenderize chicken before cooking. This is because the pounding breaks the fibers in the chicken, allowing for faster cooking. Ensure you cover or wrap the chicken in plastic wrap or a sealable bag.

    How to cook chicken breast so it falls apart? ›

    Place the seasoned chicken in an approximately 4 quart Dutch oven, breast side down, cover, and place it in the preheated 250°F oven. Let it cook until it literally falls apart when you try to lift any part of it, about 4 hours. Take off the the lid, and let it sit until it's cool enough to handle.

    Do you flip chicken in the oven? ›

    Preheat the Oven

    For this method, we recommend baking your chicken breasts at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bonus: baking chicken breasts in the oven doesn't require babysitting. No flipping or turning.

    Should I cover chicken thighs when baking? ›

    We don't cover our skin-on chicken thighs because we want that skin to get nice and crispy! To achieve this just follow these 4 simple steps! Place your chicken on top of a metal rack set inside a large rimmed baking sheet. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and use kitchen shears to trim off any excess fat.

    How long does it take to cook chicken breast in the oven? ›

    If you're following a specific recipe, then don't deviate! Otherwise, follow this general formula: Cook large, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 20 to 30 minutes in a 375-degree-F oven. Cook large, bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts for 35 to 40 minutes in a 375-degree-F oven.

    Why do you put water in the oven when baking chicken? ›

    In humid cooking, we intentionally add water vapor to the oven, preventing rapid drying, and slowing the cooking process. The set-up is simple, but critical to get right.

    When baking chicken do you put water in the pan? ›

    It's usually not necessary to add water to the pan for a roast chicken: the steam created by the water can prevent the skin from becoming browned and crisp.

    What is the best temperature for moist chicken? ›

    Again, you want to aim for 165 degrees F, but remember that once you remove the chicken from the heat, it will continue to cook. To have the juiciest breast, pull the dish outaround 160-162 degrees and the chicken will continue to cook an extra few degrees once removed from the heat.

    Why is my oven chicken so dry? ›

    You're Overcooking Them

    This is likely the most common mistake cooks make when it comes to chicken breasts. Of course, nobody wants a medium-rare chicken breast, but sometimes in an effort to fully cook our chicken breasts, we unintentionally overcook them. The result? An unpleasantly dry, chalky texture.

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