My technique for Best Baked Hen Breast ends in good 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’ll be able to rely 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 not cease consuming — extra on that under…)
3. 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!
4. It’s palms 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 all the dish as much as 24 hours forward of time then bake straight out of the fridge.

So whereas this simple 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 effectively. I’m assured it’ll grow to be 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 mentioned, BAKING the rooster breasts is even simpler as a result of its utterly palms off and also you don’t must 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 how one can adapt the recipe for rooster breasts too, so I believed I ought to lastly share it.

Substances Wanted

• Hen breasts: I like utilizing 7-8oz boneless, skinless rooster breasts, although in case you have smaller or larger ones available, that’s superb 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 supplies tons of taste. You should use just about any vinegar/citrus primarily based dressing like Balsamic French dressing, Lemon Dressing, or an Asian-style French dressing.
• Seasonings: I at all times add extra 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 mentioned, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, or no matter seasonings or seasoning blends you like are superb so as to add.

Cook dinner Hen that Doesn’t Dry Out

It’s comprehensible that you simply’d assume baking rooster breasts would lead to dry and chalky rooster, 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 rooster breasts at a better temperature, 400 levels, for simply 20 minutes. A decrease cooking time at a better temperature ends in 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 usually roast greens on a baking sheet within the oven on the identical time. Listed below are some simple facet dish concepts to spherical out the meal:

Use Baked Hen in these Recipes

The baked rooster breasts are implausible to make use of in different recipes too — such an ideal meal prep software! 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 high 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 simple, there are just a few 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 high to backside earlier than baking. We do that by masking 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 nearly 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 superb 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: should you don’t have a salad dressing available that you simply’d like to make use of, be happy to easily brush the rooster breasts with additional virgin olive oil then add your seasonings and bake as directed.

Alrighty, let’s get you some saucy, tender, tremendous simple BAKED rooster!

Strive my Finest Baked Hen Thighs

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 prepare 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 rooster breasts prepare dinner completely in 20 minutes, although even when they’re bigger, pounding them out to a fair thickness helps them prepare dinner sooner and extra evenly.

Place the rooster 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 rooster breasts, just like the one on the far left within the photograph above, have an excellent 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 minimize them in half to make sure they prepare dinner evenly.

Voila! What began out as rooster breasts in varied sizes and thicknesses, ends with consistency that ends in 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 typically onion powder and paprika as effectively.

Use tongs or your palms 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.

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’ll be able to 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 like this tasty, versatile, simple baked rooster breast! Take pleasure in!

Extra Tremendous Straightforward Hen Recipes

Best Baked Hen Breast

Description

My technique for Best Baked Hen Breast ends in good rooster, each time! Tender, juicy, flavorful, and hands-off too.

Substances

• 4 rooster breasts (~2lbs complete), pounded to a fair thickness
• 3/4 cup Italian salad dressing, see notes
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 levels then spray a 9×13″ baking pan with nonstick spray.
2. Place the rooster breasts into the underside of the baking pan then drizzle on the Italian dressing and sprinkle on seasonings  to style. Use tongs or your palms to flip the rooster breasts to coat within the dressing and seasonings then organize into a fair layer.
3. Bake 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. Let the rooster relaxation for 15-Half-hour earlier than serving and/or slicing.
4. To make forward: Add the rooster breasts, Italian dressing, and seasonings to a gallon-size Ziplock bag then seal and squish to coat. Press out all of the air then reseal and refrigerate for Half-hour or as much as 24 hours. Pour all the contents of the bag into the nonstick sprayed baking dish then bake as directed above.

Notes

• In case your rooster breasts are 10oz+, pound them out then minimize them in half to make sure they prepare dinner evenly.
• Actually any ready French dressing/dressing will work for this rooster, although creamy dressings like Ranch or vinaigrette will burn within the oven. I nearly at all times use Ken’s Zesty Italian salad dressing, however your favourite balsamic vinegar, lemon French dressing, or Asian-style dressing are all superb to make use of.
• When you don’t have a salad dressing available that you simply’d like to make use of, be happy to easily brush the rooster breasts with additional virgin olive oil then add your seasonings and bake as directed.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Woman Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin