10+ Baked Chicken Recipes to Try for Easy and Delicious Meals
Baked chicken recipes make healthy meals simple and tasty. They’re easy to whip up and can fit just about any diet or craving.
Whether you need a quick dinner or want to serve something a little special, baked chicken always seems like a smart move.
You can get juicy, flavorful chicken with just a few steps and some common kitchen staples. Baking keeps the chicken tender and lets you play around with seasonings. There are so many ways to keep baked chicken interesting.
1) Classic Oven Baked Chicken Breast with Garlic and Olive Oil
You can make classic baked chicken breast with just garlic and olive oil. Coat the chicken with olive oil to help it stay moist.
Rub minced garlic over the chicken for a deep, savory flavor. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and maybe some dried herbs if you’re feeling it.
Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken hits 165°F (74°C) inside.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried herbs (like thyme or oregano)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet.
- Rub olive oil and minced garlic onto the chicken.
- Sprinkle salt, pepper, and herbs on both sides.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
2) Juicy Baked Chicken with Brown Sugar Glaze
Try juicy baked chicken with a brown sugar glaze for a sweet and tangy twist. Use chicken thighs or breasts and coat them in brown sugar, garlic, and melted butter.
The glaze caramelizes while baking, giving the chicken a crispy, flavorful skin. High heat keeps it juicy inside and golden outside.
This one’s a lifesaver on busy nights. The sweet and savory combo is hard to beat.
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp butter, melted
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Mix brown sugar, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper.
- Coat chicken with the glaze.
- Place chicken on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until cooked through and caramelized.
3) Italian Herb Baked Chicken with Parsley and Basil
Go for Italian vibes with this herb-baked chicken. Grab boneless, skinless chicken breasts and coat them in olive oil, garlic, chopped parsley, and fresh basil.
The herbs give the chicken a fresh kick and make it smell amazing. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 25-30 minutes until it’s cooked and juicy.
If you want a brighter flavor, squeeze a little lemon juice over the top before baking.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix olive oil, garlic, parsley, basil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Brush the mixture over both sides of the chicken breasts.
- Place the chicken in a baking dish.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
See more about this style of chicken at Italian Herb Chicken.
4) Quick Baked Chicken Breasts at 450°F
If you’re in a rush, bake chicken breasts at 450°F (232°C). The high heat cooks them in just 15 to 20 minutes.
Make sure the chicken is even in thickness for the best results. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness—165°F (74°C) is the magic number.
Bake them uncovered with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper for a quick, juicy dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C).
- Brush chicken breasts with olive oil.
- Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Place on a baking sheet without covering.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
5) Easy 5-Step Baked Chicken Breast Recipe
Baked chicken breast doesn’t get much easier than this. You just need a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to prep.
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and a bit of butter or olive oil.
Pop them in a baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes. Check that the inside hits 165°F (74°C) before you pull them out.
Let the chicken rest a few minutes before serving. This is a great go-to for meal prep or weeknights.
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Rub chicken with butter or oil.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Place in a baking dish.
- Bake 20-25 minutes, until 165°F (74°C) inside.
6) One-Pan Lemon Garlic Baked Chicken
Make dinner easy with this one-pan lemon garlic baked chicken. Lemon brings a bright flavor, and garlic adds a savory punch.
Potatoes roast right alongside the chicken, soaking up all those good juices. It takes about 15 minutes to prep and 45 minutes to bake.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 pound baby potatoes, halved
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper in a baking pan.
- Mix garlic, lemon juice, zest, and remaining olive oil, then brush over chicken breasts.
- Place chicken on top of potatoes.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
- Garnish with parsley before serving.
7) Crispy Breaded Baked Chicken Tenders
Oven-baked chicken tenders can be super crispy if you use panko breadcrumbs. Toast the breadcrumbs first for extra crunch.
Dip the tenders in melted butter, coat with the breadcrumb mix, and bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 20 minutes.
Toss in your favorite herbs or a bit of parmesan for more flavor. This is a lighter way to get that fried chicken vibe.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp melted butter or cooking spray
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Toast panko breadcrumbs on a baking sheet for 5 minutes, stirring once.
- Mix toasted panko, parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Dip chicken tenders in melted butter, then coat with breadcrumb mix.
- Place tenders on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Spray or brush tenders with a little extra melted butter.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden and cooked through.
8) Honey Mustard Baked Chicken Thighs
Honey mustard baked chicken thighs are a weeknight favorite. The sauce is sweet and tangy, and the chicken turns out juicy with a crispy skin.
You only need one pan, and it’s ready in around 30 minutes. Add garlic or thyme if you want to mix it up.
Bake at 400°F (200°C) to get that perfect caramelized glaze.
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Mix honey, mustard, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Coat chicken thighs with the sauce.
- Place thighs on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked through and skin is crispy.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
For a full recipe, check honey mustard baked chicken thighs on Downshiftology.
9) Spicy Cajun Baked Chicken Breasts
Spicy Cajun baked chicken breasts? Honestly, you can’t beat how easy and tasty they are.
Just coat the chicken with a spicy Cajun seasoning mix—bold, smoky, and a little addictive.
This dish comes together fast, which is a lifesaver on busy nights.
A hot oven keeps the chicken juicy and tender, and you don’t need much to make it work.
A few ingredients, a bit of effort, and you get big flavor.
Serve it with rice, some veggies, or maybe a salad if you’re feeling fresh.
Want it spicier? Add more Cajun seasoning, or pull back if you’re not feeling the heat.
Baking at 400°F (200°C) helps the spices stick and cooks the chicken just right.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil.
- Sprinkle Cajun seasoning evenly over both sides of the chicken.
- Place the chicken on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
10) Mediterranean Baked Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives
This one’s simple but packs a ton of flavor.
Bake chicken with juicy tomatoes and briny olives, and you get a dish that’s both colorful and satisfying.
As the chicken bakes, the tomatoes get soft and burst with their juices.
The olives bring a salty punch, making it taste so Mediterranean.
You can toss everything into one pan—less mess, more time to relax.
Fresh thyme and sliced garlic make the flavors pop even more.
Honestly, it’s a weeknight dinner you’ll want to repeat, and it goes perfectly with rice or some crusty bread.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 ½ cups cherry or diced tomatoes
- ½ cup olives, pitted (green or black)
- 4 garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
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Grab a baking dish and lay the chicken inside.
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In a bowl, toss together tomatoes, olives, garlic, and thyme.
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Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and give it another quick mix.
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Spoon that mixture right over the chicken, spreading it as evenly as you can.
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Slide the dish into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The chicken should be cooked through—no guessing, just check if it’s done.
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Let it rest for a few minutes before you serve. That extra pause makes a difference.