Oven Baked Thin Chicken Breasts Recipe

Name: Oven Baked Thin Chicken Breasts Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: 1 lb thin chicken breasts; 1/2 lemon (squeezed); 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp paprika; 1/3 tsp pepper; 1/4 tsp salt; 8 oz jasmine rice

Want to cook the perfect oven baked thin chicken breasts for dinner tonight? Well, this is your recipe! This recipe uses just seven ingredients and takes less than 20 minutes to prepare and bake perfectly seasoned, juicy chicken breasts. It’s sure to be one of your new go-tos when you need a quick dinner without sacrificing taste or nutrients.

Total Servings: 4

Total Cost: $19.09

Cost Per Serving: $4.77

Ingredients & Costs*

1 lb thin chicken breasts ($5.06)
1/2 lemon, squeezed ($0.68)
1/2 tsp garlic powder ($1.12)
1/2 tsp paprika ($1.12)
1/3 tsp pepper ($3.12)
1/4 tsp salt ($0.67)
8 oz jasmine rice ($2.18)

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*Food costs may vary and can change over time. The prices listed were the current prices of these ingredients when this recipe was made at the time of this post. Almost all our ingredients are purchased from Walmart as we live in a small town without any other options. If you notice a significant price difference, please let us know at hello@freshgains.com so we can update this post.

FAQs About This Oven Baked Thin Chicken Breasts Recipe

Can I use any kind of chicken breasts?

This oven baked thin chicken breast recipe was designed for thin breasts. If your local grocery store or butcher doesn’t have thin chicken breasts, you can use a mallet to pound thicker chicken breasts to your desired thickness. For this recipe, you’re looking for chicken breast that is about 1/4 an inch thick. If you use a larger breast without thinning it with a mallet, you’ll need to adjust the cook time. The most important thing to remember is that chicken needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to safely be consumed.

If I meal prep this chicken, how long will it stay good in the refrigerator?

When you store the chicken breast in an airtight container (I highly recommend using glass containers), it will remain good for up to 4 days. That, plus the ease of reheating in the microwave without losing flavor or moisture, makes this a great chicken breast recipe for meal prepping. They’ll also stay good for about 3 months when stored in an airtight container in the freezer.

Where do you buy thin sliced chicken breast?

Wal-Mart is the only store near me that carries thin sliced chicken breasts. Unfortunately, it’s not something our butcher or local independent grocery store carries. But I believe most major grocery stores have these in stock.

Can I use frozen chicken breasts?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe. Just keep in mind they will have a different flavor and texture than fresher chicken breasts. They will also need to cook longer than fresher chicken breasts. Unless you’re in a time crunch, I would recommend letting the chicken breasts thaw before cooking.

Should I flip the chicken breasts while baking?

No, there is no need to flip the chicken while it’s baking! In the oven, the heat will surround the chicken on all sides and cook the chicken evenly. On the flip side, if you are a chicken flipping hobbyist, flipping the chicken won’t adversely hurt the meal.

Is 400°F the ideal temperature for cooking chicken?

For this recipe, I’ve found that 400°F is the ideal temperature to make juicy, tender chicken that is full of flavor. However, you can cook the chicken anywhere from 350°F to 450°F, just remember the cook time will be shorter or longer based on the temperature.

Tips to Make the Best Oven Baked Chicken

Keep an eye on the internal temperature: As mentioned previously, chicken needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. At 400°F, it takes my oven about 12 minutes to reach the proper internal temperature. It could take your oven anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes to reach the necessary internal temperature, so be sure to check it with a meat thermometer. If the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 175°F, it will begin to dry out.

Pick the perfect pairing: I typically use this recipe for meal prepping. Most of the time, I meal prep the chicken breast over rice with a bit of Melinda’s Sriracha Ranch sauce (as pictured!). However, these chicken breasts can also pair great with pasta, broccoli and asparagus.

Use this chicken for sandwiches, salads or wraps: I tend to meal prep this recipe over rice or pasta. However, you can also use chicken breasts to make sandwiches, salads or wraps. If you like the taste of these chicken breasts, be sure to work them into other recipes!

Let the meat rest: If you are using a mallet to create thin chicken breasts, allow the chicken breasts to rest for about 5 minutes before cooking them. Allowing the chicken to rest will allow the juices to distribute throughout the entire breast.