{"title":"How to Bake Chicken Breast","canonicalUrl":"https://www.showmestepbystep.com/cooking/how-to-bake-chicken-breast","category":{"slug":"cooking","name":"Cooking"},"creator":{"name":"Downshiftology","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/@Downshiftology","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TlVgW-pM5g"},"tldr":"Bake juicy chicken breast in 25 minutes. Dry rub, 425°F oven, pull at 160°F internal. The Downshiftology technique that makes chicken not rubbery.","totalDurationSeconds":339,"difficulty":"easy","tools":[],"materials":[],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Bring Chicken to Room Temperature","text":"Take the chicken out of the fridge 15 minutes before cooking. Cold chicken straight from the fridge cooks unevenly: outside overdone, middle undercooked. Letting it warm up while you mix the seasoning fixes the problem with zero effort."},{"number":2,"title":"Pick Same-Size Breasts","text":"Try to use breasts that are roughly the same weight. A 5-ounce breast next to a 9-ounce breast means the small one will be rubbery by the time the big one is done."},{"number":3,"title":"Pound the Thick End for Even Thickness","text":"Optional but worth it. Place each breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound the thick end with a meat mallet (or the bottom of a heavy pan) until it matches the thinner end. Even thickness equals even cooking."},{"number":4,"title":"Mix the Dry Rub","text":"In a small bowl combine 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, and 1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper. Stir to combine. This is enough seasoning for four 6-7 oz breasts."},{"number":5,"title":"Coat with Oil","text":"Drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil over the chicken and rub it in on both sides. The oil helps the seasoning stick AND keeps moisture locked in during baking."},{"number":6,"title":"Rub on the Seasoning","text":"Sprinkle the dry rub over both sides of the chicken and use your hands to massage it in. Coat evenly. Wash your hands afterward (raw chicken)."},{"number":7,"title":"Preheat to 425°F and Place in Baking Dish","text":"Set the oven to 425°F. Place the seasoned chicken breasts in an oven-safe baking dish with a little space between each one. High heat cooks fast and locks in juiciness - low and slow tends to dry out chicken."},{"number":8,"title":"Bake 18-25 Minutes, Flip Halfway","text":"Bake for 18 to 25 minutes depending on size. Flip the chicken once halfway through - both sides get coated in pan juices and the outside stays moist. Pull when an instant-read thermometer reads 160°F at the thickest part. Carry-over cooking will bring it to a safe 165°F as it rests for 5 minutes."}],"recipe":{"servings":"Serves 4","prepMinutes":5,"cookMinutes":22,"cuisine":"American","ingredients":[{"name":"boneless, skinless chicken breasts","amount":"4 (about 6 oz each)"},{"name":"olive oil","amount":"2 tablespoons"},{"name":"kosher salt","amount":"1 teaspoon"},{"name":"black pepper","amount":"1/2 teaspoon"},{"name":"garlic powder","amount":"1 teaspoon"},{"name":"paprika","notes":"smoked or sweet","amount":"1 teaspoon"}]},"lastUpdated":"2026-05-20T13:31:03.590Z","published":"2026-04-27T20:28:51.135Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit ShowMeStepByStep with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure."}