Best Baked Hen Breast – Good Hen, Each Time!

My technique for Best Baked Hen Breast leads to excellent rooster, each time! Tender, juicy, flavorful, and hands-off too.

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

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

So whereas this straightforward baked rooster 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 at all times seems nicely. I’m assured it’ll turn into a brand new go-to for you, too!

Baked Salad Dressing Hen

My Mother made a model of this recipe typically once I was rising up, calling it “Salad Dressing Hen”. She’d marinate rooster breasts in salad dressing then saute them in a skillet. It was at all times so good and straightforward for her, too.

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

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

Substances Wanted

• Hen breasts: I like utilizing 7-8oz boneless, skinless rooster breasts, although when you’ve got smaller or larger ones readily available, that’s wonderful too. Take a look at the “ideas” part under.
• Salad dressing: a drizzle of Zesty Italian salad dressing not solely retains the rooster breasts moist as they bake within the oven, however gives tons of taste. You need to use just about any vinegar/citrus based mostly dressing like Balsamic French dressing, Lemon Dressing, or an Asian-style French dressing.
• Seasonings: I at all times add further seasonings, spices and/or dried herbs to the rooster earlier than baking. Usually 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 wonderful so as to add.

Tips on how to Cook dinner Hen that Doesn’t Dry Out

It’s comprehensible that you simply’d suppose baking rooster breasts would end in dry and chalky rooster, however this recipe disproves that!

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

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

What to Serve with Baked Hen Breast

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

Use Baked Hen in these Recipes

The baked rooster breasts are unbelievable to make use of in different recipes too — such an excellent meal prep instrument! Bake then chop or shred the rooster 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 lady’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 rooster breasts recipe is blissfully straightforward, there are a couple of ideas to remember when making:

1. Pound it out: my #1 tip for achievement is to make sure the rooster breasts are the identical thickness from prime to backside earlier than baking. We do that by protecting the rooster with plastic wrap then gently pounding them to a fair thickness utilizing a meat mallet or rolling pin.
2. Slice in half: in case your rooster breasts are bigger than 10oz, pound them out then slice them in half to make sure they bake in simply 20 minutes.
3. Select a dressing: I virtually at all times 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 wonderful to make use of.
4. Prep forward: add the pounded rooster 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.
5. Go easy: if you happen to don’t have a salad dressing readily available that you simply’d like to make use of, be happy to easily brush the rooster 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 rooster!

Strive my Greatest Baked Hen Thighs

Tips on how to Make Best Baked Hen Breast

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

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

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

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

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

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

Step 2: Season the rooster breasts.

Place the rooster breasts into the underside of a nonstick sprayed 9×13″ baking pan then drizzle the salad dressing of your selection 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 rooster round to evenly coat within the dressing and seasonings.

Step 3: Bake.

Bake the boneless rooster breasts in a 400 diploma oven for 20 minutes, or till the thickest a part of the most important rooster 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 provides the dressing and juices from the rooster an opportunity to chill and thicken barely, which turns into essentially the most scrumptious sauce to drizzle over the rooster.

Tips on how to Retailer and Freeze

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

• To Retailer: place leftover rooster 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 sizzling, or air fry at 360 levels till sizzling.
• To Freeze: add the cooled, cubed or shredded rooster 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 rooster breast! Get pleasure from!

Extra Tremendous Simple Hen Recipes

Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin