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These easy chicken breast recipes are perfect for keeping your weeknight dinners on rotation! I have hand picked my most popular, reader favorite recipes that you can whip up under 30 minutes to feed your family.
I must confess, I gravitate toward chicken thigh fillets because they are naturally juicer and full of flavor. However chicken breasts when done right can be just as tender succulent and delicious. I’m sharing my best kitchen secrets for getting that perfect balance of tender, juicy chicken breast every single time without drying it out.
Table of Contents
How to keep the chicken breast juicy
- Cook with high, quick heat. Searing or baking chicken breast at a higher temperature for a shorter time seals in the natural juices and makes the meat much more tender than cooking it on low heat for too long.
- Never overcook it. Keep an instant-read meat thermometer on hand and pull the chicken off the heat as soon as the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C)
- Rest before slicing Let your chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes after cooking so the juices redistribute. When slicing, always cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers (against the visible grain) to guarantee tenderness in every bite.
How To Cook Chicken Breasts (Time and Temp Chart)
Proper preparation is the real secret to a tender, juicy chicken breast, and it start with trimming off the excess white fatty bits.
Mom’s cutting the fat tip
My mom hates doing this, she can’t stand to touch the chicken with bear hands so she always wears gloves. I’m not that fussed but she taught me a valuable lesson how to waste less chicken meat when cutting off the fat. Pull gently on the white fatty parts to stretch them out flat on your chopping board. Using a sharp filleting knife or scissors, scrape the fat toward the edge of the board, this gives you a clean trim with way less wasted meat.
Once prepped there are multiple ways to cook boneless, skinless chicken breast. Follow this quick master guide below.
| Cooking Option | Temp | Time | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oven Baked – Roasted | 400°F / 200°C (fan forced) | 20-25 mins | Juicy center, golden top |
| Pan or skillet – Seared | Medium to high heat | 6-8 mins per side | Golden outside and juicy inside |
| Grilled or Broiled | Medium Broil/Grill | 6-8 mins per side | Smokey, crisp edges |
| Poached | Simmer gently in broth | 15-20 mins | Moist, delicate easy to shred |
| Air Fryer | 375°F / 190°C | 12 – 20 mins flipping halfway through | Well browned exterior but tender inside |
Oven baking Time by Chicken Breast Size
People say size doesn’t matter, but when it comes to cooking chicken breast, it DEFINITELY does! Depending on the weight and thickness of your fillets, you will need to adjust your cooking time. Use this 400°F (200°C) oven baked chart as your guide.
| Chicken Breast Size | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 4-6 oz (110-170g) | 12 to 15 mins |
| Medium | 6-8 oz (170-230g ) | 15 to 20 mins |
| Large | 8-10 oz (230-280g) | 20 to 22 mins |
| Bone in and Skin on | 10-14 oz (280-400g) | 30 to 45 mins |
How do you know when the chicken is cooked?
Insert a digital meat thermometer into the thickest center part of the chicken breast. Once it hits 165°F (75°C), remove it from the heat immediately and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes on a warm plate (loosely tented with foil) so all those flavorful juices stay locked inside.
Air fryer chicken breast
Air frying chicken breast is quickly becoming my favorite way to cook weeknight protein! It’s faster, lower in fat and calories, and makes cleanup a breeze.
Keep the air fryer temperature set at 375°F (190°C) across all sizes (or use your model’s preset poultry button). Remember to flip the chicken halfway through cooking and check that the internal temp hits 165°F (75°C). Use the Air Fryer weight to time chart below as a guide in getting the perfect outcome.
| Chicken Breast Size | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 4-6 oz (110-170g) | 10 to 12 mins flip half way |
| Medium | 6-8 oz (170-230g ) | 12 to 15 mins flip half way |
| Large | 8-10 oz (230-280g) | 15 to 20 mins flip half way |
| Bone in and Skin on | 10-14 oz (280-400g) | 25 to 30 mins flip half way |
What Recipes Can I Make With Chicken Breast?
Chicken breast are endlessly versatile! You can slice them into delicious chicken pasta dishes like my chicken stroganoff, or keep things light by tossing them into a fresh mediterranean salad.
My personal all time favorite recipe is the parmesan chicken schnitzel, it swaps out traditional carb-heavy breadcrumbs for finely grated parmesan cheese, creating an irresistibly crispy, gluten free crust that licks in every drop of juice.
Quick Easy recipes for you next dinner
Here are my top under 30 minute chicken breast recipes that you will want on repeat. Pair any of these with my creamy mashed potatoes and side of roasted vegetables and you have a perfect weeknight dinner sorted!
Chicken with Creamy Garlic Sauce
30-Minute Juicy Oven-Baked Chicken Breast
Cajun Butter Chicken Breasts
2-Ingredient Pesto Chicken Breast
Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Breast
Creamy Parmesan Carbonara Chicken
Healthy Crispy Chicken Breast Nuggets
Chicken breast nuggets
Low-Carb Chicken Breast Parmesan
Easy Chicken Breast Piccata
Creamy Dijon White Wine Chicken Breasts
Sweet & Spicy Hot Honey Chicken Breasts
Thanks for your recipes. Did the balsamic chicken with cherry tomatoes. Awesome. Will subscribe
Hello Karina,
This is a general comment. First, I have used many of your recipes and I am very grateful that you do what you do so well. Absolutely delicious meals and your food photography is some of the very best on the web.
Second, I cook for a group home which requires me to prepare a lot of meals each week and they better be good. When I reach for your recipes there are always smiles all around.
Thank you for what you do Karina, you brighten a lot of lives.
I do resent conning people to log on to your site by featuring a recipe that is not available…I have wasted more than 20 minutes trying different ways to obtain the recipe…Every chicken recipe i featured other than the one you advertised with the brown sugar which carmelizes and keeps chicken juicy in oven..shame on you..I will let FB know this
Conning people? The recipe box is located at the bottom of each recipe post! If you have trouble finding something, in future, I suggest you email us first and politely ASK for help instead of downright insulting us and throwing out such a harsh accusation. I work so hard on my website and take pride in my work thank you very much. Have a great day.
I can’t wait to try these recipes! Thank you for sharing!
I just want to say your website is one of the easiest to navigate and also its great that you have the option to change the recipe to a lesser or higher quantity easily. I’ve had no trouble navigating and printing recipes. Great work and your recipes are fabulous!
Yes, I totally agree…… there is so much rudeness in this society
Strange I have no problem finding the recipes on this site. As a matter of fact I search for only cafe delites recipes when needing inspiration for a meal that is always a hit with my family. The videos are amazing too.
Sounds like Marilyn May be having a a “picnic” (problem in chair not in computer) issue. Karina you are truly talented. Such talent is bound to bring a hater or two.
What a nasty comment! The recipes are great! If yo7 don’t like It go somewhere else
Love all the delicious chicken recipes. Prepared Chicken Piccata last evening foe company. Lots of compliments and the chicken tasted amazing!