Best Baked Hen Breast – Excellent Hen, Each Time!

July 10, 2024

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

At first look, the title Best Baked Hen Breast won’t 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 may rely 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’t cease consuming — extra on that beneath…)
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!
It’s palms 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 the whole 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 profitable 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 effectively. 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 usually once 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 mentioned, BAKING the hen breasts is even simpler as a result of its utterly palms off and also you don’t have to marinate it. Plus it makes for probably the most tender and juicy hen — I swear by this methodology!

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

Substances Wanted

Hen breasts: I like utilizing 7-8oz boneless, skinless hen breasts, although when you have smaller or greater ones available, that’s nice too. Take a look at 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 supplies 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 all the time add further seasonings, spices and/or dried herbs to the hen 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’re keen on are nice so as to add.

How one can Prepare dinner Hen that Doesn’t Dry Out

It’s comprehensible that you simply’d assume 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 ends in 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.

What to Serve with Baked Hen Breast

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

Use Baked Hen in these Recipes

The baked hen breasts are implausible to make use of in different recipes too — such an awesome 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 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 Suggestions for Success

Whereas this baked hen breasts recipe is blissfully straightforward, there are a couple of ideas to remember when making:

Pound it out: my #1 tip for achievement is to make sure the hen breasts are the identical thickness from high to backside earlier than baking. We do that by overlaying the hen with plastic wrap then gently pounding them to an excellent 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 virtually 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 nice 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: in the event you don’t have a salad dressing available that you simply’d like to make use of, be happy to easily brush the hen breasts with additional virgin olive oil then add your seasonings and bake as directed.

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

Attempt my Greatest Baked Hen Thighs

How one can Make Best Baked Hen Breast

Step 1: Pound the hen breasts to an excellent thickness.

Whether or not you’re baking, sauting, or grilling hen breasts — my #1 tip for ensuring they prepare dinner evenly is to pound them to an excellent 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 prepare dinner completely in 20 minutes, although even when they’re bigger, pounding them out to an excellent thickness helps them prepare dinner sooner and extra evenly.

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

Tip: Some hen breasts, just like the one on the far left within the photograph above, have an excellent 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 prepare dinner evenly.

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

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 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 hen round to evenly coat within the dressing and seasonings.

Step 3: Bake.

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

How one can Retailer and Freeze

My husband just lately got here house from Costco with individual-sized packs of grilled, cubed hen breasts, that are tremendous handy — the excellent news is you may 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 sizzling, or air fry at 360 levels till sizzling.
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! Get pleasure from!

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