My technique for Best Baked Rooster Breast leads to good hen, each time! Tender, juicy, flavorful, and hands-off too.

At first look, the title Best Baked Rooster Breast may not scream: “tremendous thrilling recipe!”, however right here’s what IS thrilling:

1. It really works. My technique for baking hen breasts works each single time. It’s a recipe you possibly can depend on.
2. 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 not cease consuming — extra on that beneath…)
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 hen breast.
5. 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 simple baked hen 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 all the time seems nicely. I’m assured it’ll develop into a brand new go-to for you, too!

Baked Salad Dressing Rooster

My Mother made a model of this recipe typically once I was rising up, calling it “Salad Dressing Rooster”. 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 stated, 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 essentially the most tender and juicy hen — I swear by this technique!

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

Elements Wanted

• Rooster breasts: I like utilizing 7-8oz boneless, skinless hen breasts, although in case you have smaller or larger ones readily available, that’s high-quality too. Take a look at the “suggestions” 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 gives tons of taste. You should 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 extra 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 stated, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, or no matter seasonings or seasoning blends you’re keen on are high-quality so as to add.

The right way to Cook dinner Rooster that Doesn’t Dry Out

It’s comprehensible that you just’d assume baking hen breasts would end in 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 a better temperature, 400 levels, for simply 20 minutes. A decrease cooking time at a better temperature leads to 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 Rooster 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 simple facet dish concepts to spherical out the meal:

Use Baked Rooster in these Recipes

The baked hen breasts are incredible to make use of in different recipes too — such an important meal prep instrument! Bake then chop or shred the hen and add or use it in these recipes:

Oh! These Korean-inspired Rooster and Rice Bowls — I get up dreaming of them! Scoop cooked white rice right into a bowl then prime with chopped Baked Rooster 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 hen breasts recipe is blissfully simple, there are a number of suggestions to remember when making:

1. Pound it out: my #1 tip for fulfillment is to make sure the hen breasts are the identical thickness from prime to backside earlier than baking. We do that by overlaying the hen with plastic wrap then gently pounding them to a good thickness utilizing a meat mallet or rolling pin.
2. 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.
3. Select a dressing: I nearly 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 high-quality to make use of.
4. 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.
5. Go easy: when you don’t have a salad dressing readily available that you just’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 simple BAKED hen!

Attempt my Finest Baked Rooster Thighs

The right way to Make Best Baked Rooster Breast

Step 1: Pound the hen breasts to a good 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 a good thickness first. That means 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 a good thickness helps them prepare dinner sooner and extra evenly.

Place the hen breasts on a clear slicing board then cowl with a bit of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to softly pound them to a good thickness.

• Tip: Some hen breasts, just like the one on the far left within the picture above, have a brilliant skinny finish. In these situations, 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 reduce them in half to make sure they prepare dinner evenly.

Voila! What began out as hen breasts in varied sizes and thicknesses, ends with consistency that leads to 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 generally onion powder and paprika as nicely.

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 biggest hen breast reaches an inner temperature of 165 levels as learn by a .

Pull the baking pan out of the oven then let it sit for 15-Half-hour earlier than serving and slicing. This offers the dressing and juices from the hen an opportunity to chill and thicken barely, which turns into essentially the most scrumptious sauce to drizzle over the hen.

The right way to Retailer and Freeze

My husband lately got here house from Costco with individual-sized packs of grilled, cubed hen breasts, that are tremendous handy — the excellent news is you possibly can 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, simple baked hen breast! Get pleasure from!

Extra Tremendous Straightforward Rooster Recipes

Best Baked Rooster Breast

Description

My technique for Best Baked Rooster Breast leads to good hen, each time! Tender, juicy, flavorful, and hands-off too.

Elements

• 4 hen breasts (~2lbs complete), pounded to a good 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 hen 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 hen breasts to coat within the dressing and seasonings then organize into a good layer.
3. Bake for 20 minutes or till the thickest a part of the biggest hen breast reaches an inner temperature of 165 levels as learn by a . Let the hen relaxation for 15-Half-hour earlier than serving and/or slicing.
4. To make forward: Add the hen 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 the whole contents of the bag into the nonstick sprayed baking dish then bake as directed above.

Notes

• In case your hen breasts are 10oz+, pound them out then reduce them in half to make sure they prepare dinner evenly.
• Actually any ready French dressing/dressing will work for this hen, although creamy dressings like Ranch or vinaigrette will burn within the oven. I nearly all the time use Ken’s Zesty Italian salad dressing, however your favourite balsamic vinegar, lemon French dressing, or Asian-style dressing are all high-quality to make use of.
• In the event you don’t have a salad dressing readily available that you just’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.

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

Pictures by Ashley McLaughlin