How Long Should You Bake Chicken Breast at 350°F for Juicy Results?

Baked chicken breasts are a staple in many kitchens, but achieving that perfect balance of juicy, tender meat can be tricky. Timing and temperature play a crucial role. Baking chicken breasts at 350°F is a reliable method. It works for both seasoned cooks and beginners with chicken recipes. It will create a delicious, satisfying dish.

So, how long should you bake chicken breast at 350°F to ensure it’s cooked through without drying out? And what are the secrets to keeping it moist and flavorful every single time? These are the questions we’ll answer to help you master this simple yet essential cooking technique.

This article will give you the tips to bake chicken breasts perfectly at 350°F. Say goodbye to dry, overcooked chicken. Impress your family or guests with juicy, tender chicken instead. Let’s get started!

How Long Should You Bake Chicken Breast at 350? 

Bake chicken breast for 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to check if it reaches an internal temperature of 165, and then it is done.

Baking it at 350 makes your perfect baked chicken breast stay moist. Let the baked chicken breasts rest for 5-10 minutes so the juices will redistribute and moisten the meat.

For a boneless chicken breast, it would take about 30 minutes, like a skinless chicken breast. A bone-in chicken breast would take around 50 minutes. 

Also, aluminum foil could be a game changer in cooking time. Putting or wrapping chicken breast with foil might reduce the cooking duration by about 5 to 7 minutes.

Factors To Consider

Equipment

Air Fryer

An air fryer is like a mini convection oven. So, it is a convenient option for cooking chicken breast. However, the cooking time might be different.

At 350 degrees, baking chicken breast in the air fryer would take a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes, or 8 to 10 minutes on each side, flipping it halfway through. 

Read: Can You Use Butter In An Air Fryer?

Oven

Using an oven is the most common equipment used to bake chicken breasts. It would take around 30 minutes to cook chicken breast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

But it could take less time if the chicken breasts are thinner and marinated. 

To marinate chicken breast, you can season chicken breasts with a bit of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and onion powder. Well-seasoned chicken breasts also help in keeping the chicken moist. 

1. Oven Temperature Accuracy
   • Studies show that 90% of home ovens have temperature inaccuracies, which can affect cooking times. Using an oven thermometer ensures precision.
   • Source: Consumer Reports

Type of Chicken Breast

Thinly Cut

Thinly cut chicken breasts are a good quick and easy meal option. You can cook thinly cut chicken breasts in a shorter time for about 10 minutes.

However, since its thin, it is prone to meat dryness when you overcook chicken breast. Be sure not to overlook it when baking thinly cut breasts.

Flattened 

Flattened chicken breast is skinless chicken breasts pounded flat. Flattening the chicken breasts could give an even thickness and helps to cook evenly in the oven. [1]

Since it’s thinner, it needs a shorter time of around 5 to 8 minutes. However, depending on the thinness, it could go down for about 3 minutes cooking time at 350 in a preheated oven.

Cubed

Cubed chicken breast cuts could be a good option when craving chicken bites. You should bake it for around 20 minutes or longer, depending on the thickness of the cubes.

Check the cubed chicken breast’s internal temperature. It should be at 165 degrees to ensure it’s fully cooked.

Cutlets

Chicken breast cutlet is horizontally cut-in-half breasts. [2] It is made to ensure a uniform thickness and even cooking.

Also, chicken breast cutlets take the same cooking time as a thinly cut breast for about 10 minutes.

Frozen

You can bake frozen chicken breast straight from the freezer for around 50 minutes to 1 hour. Frozen chicken breasts take longer to cook than thawed chicken. 

So when baking frozen chicken, increase your cooking time by 50%. You can also bake chicken breast ahead if it’s frozen.

However, it is better to thaw the frozen chicken for at least two hours in warm water before baking it. 

Chicken Breast Dishes

Barbecue

You can bake chicken breasts marinated in BBQ sauce for about 30 to 40 minutes, along with some roasted vegetables. 

In some recipes, you place chicken breasts first, then add the sauce halfway through the cooking.

However, baking chicken breast with BBQ sauce makes it delicious. The sauce thickens and flavors the chicken.

Breaded

A baked breaded chicken breasts meals are great if you want a filling dish that requires minimal prep. However, cooking with the additional coating outside the chicken takes a little longer.

Arrange the coated chicken breasts with parmesan cheese in a baking dish and bake for about 40-45 minutes in a preheated oven.

Stuffed

There are many stuffed chicken breast recipes. But, boneless, skinless ones take about 30 minutes to bake.

It might take longer to cook, depending on the thickness of the stuffed chicken. 

Remember, a meat thermometer is the easiest way to know when your chicken breast is cooked. When cooked through, it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

“Anyone can make a good roast chicken.”

– Thomas Keller, Chef/Author

Why Should You Bake Chicken Breast at 350? 

Baking chicken breast at 350 degrees will produce a more juicy and tender chicken breast. At this temperature, it can keep your chicken breast moist and tender.

Chicken breasts are lean meat, and the wrong cooking temperature and duration might result in chewy meat. 

If you’re new to baking chicken breasts, it will be easier to monitor it at 350. It would decrease the risk of drying it out and getting a perfectly cooked chicken breast.

FAQs on Bake Chicken Breast at 350°F

Final Thoughts 

Bake an average chicken breast for 25 to 30 minutes. A bone-in breast may take 50 minutes or longer.

Now that you have discovered how long to bake chicken breast at 350, you can improve your cooking procedures. 

If you’re in doubt, always check the internal temperature of the chicken breast if it reaches 165.

Also, resting baked chicken breast for about 10 minutes is important to maintain its juiciness.

Try different chicken breast types and cooking methods to make a tasty dish.

References:

1. https://www.seriouseats.com/ask-the-food-lab-why-do-i-pound-my-breasts 
2. https://www.allrecipes.com/article/chicken-breasts-vs-cutlets-vs-tenderloins