This is the recipe you need if you want to bake boneless, skinless chicken breasts for dinner. Nobody wants to serve dry, boring chicken, and even fewer of us want to eat it. I’ve been cooking for almost 20 years, and this chicken breast recipe is still my favorite. Nothing beats it!
Baking boneless, skinless chicken breasts doesnt get easier or more delicious than this–dependably juicy with full-flavored results. These perfectly cooked chicken breasts with excellent flavor can be found on rotation at our house.
I used this recipe once over a decade ago and have never looked back. The seasoning, the flavor, the results. everyone who has tried this recipe for making chicken breasts raves about it, and it has become their forever go-to for their homes.
Baking chicken at 375°F is a great way to make juicy, delicious poultry dishes. But how long should you bake chicken to ensure it’s cooked through without drying out? In this complete guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to master baking chicken at 375°F.
Overview of Baking Chicken at 375°F
Cooking chicken in a 375°F oven strikes the ideal balance between thoroughly cooking the meat while retaining moisture and tenderness. This moderate temperature gently roasts the chicken without causing the exterior to overbrown.
Baking at 375°F works well for all cuts and pieces of chicken. The cooking time, however, varies depending on the size and thickness of the chicken parts. Smaller, thinner pieces like boneless breasts require less time compared to larger, thicker cuts with bone like a whole chicken.
Using a correct food thermometer is important for figuring out when the chicken is fully cooked no matter what you’re baking. To get rid of bacteria and make chicken safe to eat, it should always reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Never rely solely on the baking time.
Baking Times for Chicken Pieces
Here are general guidelines for how long to bake different cuts of chicken at 375°F:
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Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Bake for 30-40 minutes. These cook fastest since there’s no bone or skin to slow down cooking. Take care not to overbake or they’ll dry out.
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Bone-in chicken breasts: Bake for 40-50 minutes. The bones conduct heat and keep the meat juicy.
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Legs and thighs of chicken: Bake legs and thighs with the bones in them for 45 to 55 minutes. With more connective tissue they stay moist when thoroughly cooked.
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Whole chicken: Bake a 3-4 lb whole chicken for around 60-75 minutes. Calculate roughly 20 minutes per pound, checking at least 10 minutes early.
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Cornish game hens: Smaller game hens take 30-40 minutes to bake fully. Again, calculate about 20 minutes per pound.
Prep Tips for Juicy Baked Chicken
Properly preparing the chicken before baking makes all the difference
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Pat chicken dry with paper towels. This helps the skin get crispy.
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Season generously with salt, pepper, herbs and spices. Enhance flavor and moisture retention.
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Use a dry brine by salting chicken a few hours in advance. This seasons the meat all the way through.
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Marinate chicken in an acidic mixture. Helps tenderize and adds lots of flavor.
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Allow chicken to reach room temp before baking for more even cooking. Take it out of the fridge at least 30 minutes early.
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Preheat oven fully before baking. When the oven is heated, the temperature doesn’t change quickly, which can cause uneven cooking.
Baking Tips and Techniques
Follow these tips when baking chicken at 375°F:
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Place chicken on a rimmed baking sheet or in a shallow roasting pan, evenly spaced apart.
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At first, loosely cover the chicken with foil to keep the moisture in. After 15 minutes, take the foil off to get crispy skin.
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Use a meat thermometer to check temperature a few minutes before minimum baking time is up.
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If some pieces are browning too quickly, loosely tent with foil to slow cooking.
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Allow chicken to rest 5-10 minutes before carving to let juices redistribute for a juicier interior.
Common Baking Issues and Solutions
Even when carefully prepped and baked, you may run into some issues. Here are some common problems and how to solve them:
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Chicken drying out: Brine chicken first and tent with foil to retain moisture. Don’t overcook.
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Uneven cooking: Ensure oven is preheated fully and chicken pieces are evenly spaced on the pan.
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Undercooked chicken: Double check internal temp with a meat thermometer. Return to oven if under 165°F.
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Overbrowned exterior: Loosely tent chicken with foil to prevent excessive browning while interior finishes cooking.
Pairing Sides with Baked Chicken
Baked chicken pairs well with a variety of sides. Consider these flavorful pairings:
- Roasted potatoes or root vegetables
- Steamed greens like spinach or broccoli
- Pasta or grain salads
- Fresh green salad
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Skillet cornbread or dinner rolls
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
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Allow baked chicken to cool completely before refrigerating in a sealed container. Properly stored, it will keep for 3-4 days.
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Freeze chicken in an airtight container or bag for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
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Reheat baked chicken gently in a 300°F oven until warm throughout and 165°F. Microwaving can make the texture rubbery.
Key Takeaways for Juicy 375°F Baked Chicken
Follow these tips for foolproof baked chicken every time:
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Calculate baking time by cut of chicken, allowing 20 minutes per pound for whole chicken. Bone-in and larger pieces take longer.
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Prepare chicken properly with dry brining, marinating, and letting it reach room temp.
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Preheat oven fully before baking and use a rimmed pan for even cooking.
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Tent chicken loosely with foil at the start if needed to prevent overbrowning.
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Allow chicken to rest before slicing into it for maximum juiciness.
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Check internal temp with a meat thermometer to ensure doneness. Chicken should reach 165°F.
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Store leftovers within 2 hours and reheat gently to maintain moisture and texture.
Mastering how long to bake different cuts of chicken at 375°F helps ensure perfect, juicy results every time. With the proper method, your baked chicken will be a delicious hit at any meal!
Why This Recipe Works
Clearly, theres more than one way to cook a chicken breast: fry it, stuff it, or even blacken it, but baked chicken breasts can be used in so many different recipes. Its a kitchen skill well worth learning to master.
You’ve come to the right place if you want a simple, flexible recipe for baking chicken breasts that won’t dry them out. You can use chicken breasts as the only protein in your meal or get them ready to be a part of a big hit like chicken primavera or chicken pesto pasta with this recipe.
And we dont want to forget one of our favorite ways we like to eat chicken breasts here in Texas: pan-fried. You still get that uber juicy and tender chicken breast but with a crispy golden outside any Southerner loves.
Im sure you are all too aware of how finicky this ingredient can be. One wrong move, and youve got dry, rubbery chicken no one (and I mean no one) enjoys. The good news? This recipe is beyond easy and requires no advance prep like making brine or pounding out the chicken. It yields perfectly cooked chicken breasts every single time.
Poorly cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the result of common issues home cooks often face. Weve all been there. But luckily for you, weve got the solutions.
The Problem: Overcooking.
- The Fix: Chicken breasts that are bigger will take longer to cook than chicken breasts that are smaller. Use an instant-read thermometer to quickly check the temperature of your chicken at the 25-minute mark. After taking the chicken breasts out of the oven, their temperature will rise by another five degrees. If the chicken is between 160°F and 164°F, you can take it out. If the chicken isn’t done yet, bake it for a few more minutes.
The Problem: Uneven Cooking.
- The Fix: To cook your chicken, put an oven-safe rack over a rimmed baking sheet. This lets air flow under and around the chicken. With this, the chicken doesn’t cook unevenly because the tender chicken breast doesn’t touch the hot pan directly.
The Problem: Bland.
- The Fix: Season your chicken in a way that keeps it in place, and use a lot of it. Using a paper towel, blot off all the extra water. Then, add the oil, which coats the chicken and keeps it from cooking too much. Finally, add the seasonings. The oil will help the seasoning to stay in place.
How Long to Bake Chicken Breasts at 375°F
Chicken breasts will take about 25-30 minutes at 375°F to cook to reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F. However, cooking time for chicken breasts is not always as cut and dry as we would like.
The time it takes for a chicken breast to cook through is dependent upon multiple factors:
- The size of the breast. Chicken breasts that are bigger will take longer to cook than chicken breasts that are smaller.
- The temperature of the breast going into the oven. For instance, if the chickens went straight from the fridge to the oven, they would be cold when they got there, so it would take longer to cook them. It will take less time to cook the chicken if you let it sit out at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before cooking.
- The cooking vessel. A ceramic baking dish with a thick wall (a slow conductor of heat) cooks chicken more slowly than a stainless steel sheet pan with a thin wall (a fast conductor of heat).
For these reasons, it’s always a good idea to have an instant-read thermometer on hand. This way, you can quickly check the temperature of your chicken breasts to see when they’re ready to be taken out of the oven.
How long does it take chicken to bake at 375?
FAQ
How long does chicken at 375 take to cook?
Large boneless, skinless chicken breasts: 20 to 30 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven. Large bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: 35 to 40 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven.
Is 375 too low to cook chicken?
Her range for cooking chicken breasts is between 375°F to 400°F, while her range for whole chickens is a bit higher, from 400°F to 425°F, with 400°F being the bullseye between the two. Chef Emshika says her experience working in kitchens points to the same temperature range.
How long do you cook chicken breast at 375?
To cook chicken breast in the oven at 375°F, you typically need to bake it for around 25-30 minutes. Make sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken using a meat thermometer, with a reading of 165°F indicating that it’s fully cooked and safe to eat.
How long to cook a whole chicken at 375 degrees?
Baking a whole chicken in the oven at 375 degrees takes about 25-30 minutes per pound. For example, a 3-pound chicken would take approximately 75-120 minutes (2 * 25-30 minutes) to cook at 375°F. Is It Ok To Bake Whole Chicken At 375 Degrees?.
How long does it take to cook a 375 lb chicken?
Large boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked in a 375°F oven should take 20 to 30 minutes. Large bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts cooked in a 375°F oven should take 35 to 40 minutes. How long does it take to roast a 5lb chicken at 350?.
Can You bake chicken breast at 375 degrees?
Many people like to bake chicken breast at 375 degrees, which makes the meat juicy and flavorful and gives the outside a golden brown color. No matter how experienced you are as a cook, learning how to bake chicken breast at 375 degrees is a useful skill that can help you improve your cooking.
How long do you cook chicken in the oven if it’s not cooked?
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. If the chicken is not cooked to a safe internal temperature, continue baking in 5-10 minute increments until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
How long does it take to cook a whole chicken?
Baking a whole chicken in the oven at 375 degrees, covered with foil, will take the same amount of time as baking it uncovered, which is approximately 25-30 minutes. The foil allows heat to pass through and continue cooking the chicken.