A complete tutorial (with tips and secrets) on how to easily bake thin-sliced chicken breasts that are skinless and boneless. No more bland, rubbery baked chicken! Say hello to hands-free, no-mess cooking! Finally, baked thin sliced chicken breasts with exciting flavors all over. That’s ACTUALLY tender and juicy and doesn’t require sauce or ketchup to make it taste good. This recipe tells you everything you need to know about baking thin chicken breasts, how long to marinate, how long to bake, at what temperature, what rub to use and the “why” behind all that. How many times have you tried to cook chicken breasts seasoned or marinated even for
hours only to end up with disappointing results? We have all been there! Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are lean and healthy, but when it comes to cooking, they are quite tricky. NO SKIN + NO BONES + NO FAT = RUBBERY FLESH Unless you mince the chicken breast, season and drop the meatballs into a creamy simmering curry as in chicken kofta
curry or use it as a stuffing for eggs as in chicken keema with eggs. I have tried and tested different rubs and marinades, set different timings and temperatures but the results were the same. The rubs (with loads of sugar) make the chicken LOOK juicy and caramelized, but are ALWAYS
bland on the inside. As for the marinades, it was the same result, even if I marinate overnight (with the exception of chicken tikka and green chicken kababs which use a yogurt
marinade). Bone-in, skin-on chicken legs (like the sheet pan lemon garlic chicken legs) turn out juicy when baked. The fat from the skin keeps them from drying out. But with chicken breasts, it’s a different story. I HAD to come up with a healthy baked chicken breast recipe that gives soft and juicy chicken and
also ticks all the boxes: Slicing the chicken breasts into thin halves helps them absorb the marinade better and faster. (You can find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe
card at the end of this page.) The key is to TENDERISE the thin chicken
breasts with the marinade. Like the yogurt marinade for tandoori chicken. This marinade, or should we call it a wet rub, is the answer. This seasoning is halfway between a dry rub and a marinade. A quick tip: If you have 20 minutes to spare, use this
tenderizing technique I mentioned in the healthy sesame chicken recipe before marinating the chicken. It helps soften the chicken further. The
problem with dry rubs is that they don’t have an acidic component that tenderizes the chicken. So I tried adding lemon juice to a basic seasoning mix with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika and rosemary. Voila! You can see the results in the picture above. But wait! There are a few more things you have to take care of. Marinate thin-sliced chicken breasts for at least 15 minutes. Or if time permits marinate overnight in the fridge. Wait for the chicken to reach room temperature before cooking. There’s no need to refrigerate if you’re marinating for only 15 minutes. How long to bake thin chicken breasts at 450°F?Cooking chicken at high heat for a shorter time yields the best results. (This is unlike baking fish as in spicy baked mustard fish and salmon kabobs which are slow-cooked at low temperatures) Preheat the oven to 450°F/ 230°C. Place the marinated chicken breasts in a baking tray lined with parchment paper (easy clean-up) and seal with aluminum foil. Bake the chicken breasts in the oven for 12 minutes. If the sliced chicken is less than 1/2 an inch thick, you can reduce the cooking time by a couple of minutes. That’s it, guys! Let the oven do the rest. Meanwhile, you have the luxury of time to check your emails, take a good shower or chop up a salad like how I did 🙂 The delicious rosemary-garlic flavor will be wafting through your kitchen in no time! Once done, remove the foil and let it rest for 5 minutes. Enjoy! Ah yes, before I forget, this recipe gives you a BONUS as well! The pan juices can be drizzled as a dressing on the salad. How do you bake chicken breast so it stays moist?
Common questionsCan you bake chicken breasts from frozen?Frozen chicken breasts can easily be thawed. Rinse the frozen chicken breasts a couple of times and soak in a bowl of tap water mixed with salt (a rough estimate would be 1 teaspoon for every 200 grams/ 7 ounces of chicken breasts and the quantity of water should be roughly just enough to cover the chicken) for 15 to 20 minutes until they reach room temperature. Then proceed as per the recipe. Do you cover boneless chicken breasts when baking?This recipe requires you to seal the baking tray with aluminium foil. Covering the chicken helps keep the chicken moist when baking. The chicken sweats and cooks in its own juices which makes it flavorful. You may not get browned chicken slices like when you pan-sear them. They still turn out softer and juicier. How many calories are there in baked chicken breasts?There are 223 calories in one serving of this recipe. Are baked chicken breasts healthy?Baking is one of the best and healthiest ways to cook chicken breasts in the oven. This recipe helps you cook tender low-calorie chicken breasts with delicious Mediterranean flavors without using any saturated fat like butter or cream for cooking. There! You’ve learned the secret to cooking the best thin sliced chicken breasts in the oven with very little effort and time. A tip for more browning (the same tip I gave for baked tandoori chicken and chicken tikka) – dab a little butter on each of the chicken breasts before baking for that extra “browned” effect. I didn’t use it here, though 🙂 Did you make red chilli pesto or roasted garlic pesto? Just drizzle some on these chicken breasts to make them even more flavorful. What to pair with baked thin chicken breastsHave a little more time and energy? Pair these chicken breasts with the Italian pasta salad, beetroot walnut feta salad, or beet orange salad. You can also serve these baked chicken breasts with sides like roasted potatoes and broccoli or Italian potato croquettes. Want to make your dinner as healthy as possible? Try the superfood salads like quinoa pumpkin salad and balsamic quinoa salad. They tastes amazing with these baked thin chicken breasts. Craving creamy pasta as a side? Go for guilt-free mushroom zucchini pasta or veggie pasta with garlic sauce. For spicy pasta by the side, try red chilli pesto pasta, 6-ingredient spaghetti arrabiata, or roasted garlic pesto pasta. These thin chicken breasts can also be chopped and used in the creamy veggie chicken salad instead of seared chicken. Quicker and easier salad dinner for summer! Want to make the easiest chicken curry? Try this low calorie 5-ingredient chicken curry! If you’re in the mood for rice noodles with chicken, make this Singapore fried bee hoon with chicken. Looking for an easy recipe with chicken thighs? Go for lemon balsamic chicken or lemon coriander chicken. More healthy chicken recipesA complete tutorial (with tips and secrets) on how to easily bake thin-sliced chicken breasts. No more bland, rubbery baked chicken. Say hello to hands-free, no-mess cooking! Author: Sheeba Prep Time 25 mins Cook Time 12 mins resting time 5 mins Total Time 42 mins Course dinner, LUNCH, Main Course Cuisine International, Mediterranean Servings 4 people Calories 223 kcal
How to prepare thin sliced chicken breasts
How to marinate the chicken
How to bake thin chicken breasts
★★★★★Did you try this recipe? Please give a star rating in the comments below ★★★★★ HUNGRY FOR MORE? Join over 1000 home cooks like you who subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get all the latest recipes right in your inbox. Or follow me on your favorite social media: Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube. Thank you and happy cooking! Hi! I’m Sheeba, welcome to Go Healthy ever after! I have a passion for cooking delicious nourishing food that’s easy to cook with fresh natural ingredients free from additives or preservatives. The easy healthy recipes you find here will inspire you to cook with creativity. Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2020-2022 How do you keep thin chicken breasts from drying out?To start, brine your chicken in a mixture of water and a few tablespoons of salt for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will boost the natural flavor and moisture of the chicken breasts and will leave you with a super tender piece of meat. This is the one step that will really ensure your chicken won't be dry or tough.
How do I cook thin chicken breast?The Easiest Way to Thin Chicken Breasts
Holding one hand flat over the top of the chicken breast, make sure your hand and fingers are out of the way of the knife. Slowly slice with a sharp knife from the thicker side of the chicken breast horizontally to the thinner side.
How long does it take to cook a thin slice of chicken breast?Thin sliced chicken breasts take 15-20 minutes to bake or until the internal temperature is 165°F. We highly recommend using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Once 165°F is reached, remove from the oven immediately to prevent dry chicken. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
How many calories in a thin sliced chicken breast?There are 14 calories in 1 thin slice of Chicken Breast. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
|