A complete tutorial (with tips and secrets) on the best way to easily bake thin-sliced chicken breasts that are skinless and boneless. No more bland, rubbery baked chicken breasts! Say hello to hands-free, no-mess cooking!
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Fabulous! I marinated 4 thin chicken breasts in a Pyrex baking dish for a few hours in the fridge. The marinade is incredibly delicious. Moist, tasty, succulent. Will definitely make this again (and again…).
RENEE W
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Watch How To Bake Thin Chicken Breasts
Why you’ll love this thin chicken breast recipe
Finally, an easy way to 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 breast recipes, marinated for hours only to end up with tough, chewy chicken? 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 = DRY CHICKEN BREASTS
Unless you:
- Tenderize the chicken breasts (twice) and coat them with seasoned breadcrumbs as in panko crusted chicken (one of my popular thin chicken breast recipes).
- Mince the chicken breast to make chicken mince kebabs or the easy minced chicken curry.
- Season the mince, make meatballs and drop them into a creamy simmering curry as in chicken kofta curry
- Use it as a stuffing for eggs as in chicken keema with eggs.
I tried and tested different rubs and marinades, set different timings and temperatures. Yet the chicken was not quite juicy.
The rubs (with loads of sugar) made the chicken LOOK juicy and caramelized, but were ALWAYS bland on the inside.
As for the marinades, it was the same result even when I marinated overnight.
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 tender chicken and also ticks all the boxes:
- Quick and easy dinner for busy weeknights.
- Pop-in-the-oven-and-relax kind of recipe. That means no flipping, basting, babysitting, etc, etc.
- Minimal clean-up, so no frying and stove-top mess.
- Less pans to wash (I told you, it’s been a long day).
- Healthy low calorie chicken recipe. (after all, we’re going healthy-ever-after!)
How to thinly slice chicken breast
Slicing the chicken breasts into thin halves helps them absorb the marinade better and faster. This results in flavorful juicy chicken breasts.
- Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board.
- Using a sharp knife, slice the breasts horizontally to make them about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. If the thickness of chicken breast is not uniform, lightly pound the thicker part of the chicken using a meat mallet.
- Maintaining this thickness of chicken breasts is important because you are going to cook the chicken breasts covered. There’s no way to check for doneness in the middle of cooking.
Easy seasoning for thin chicken breasts
(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.
- Take the spices in a small bowl.
- Add lemon juice.
- Add olive oil.
- Whisk until you get a homogenous mixture.
- Blot the thin sliced chicken breasts dry with kitchen towels. Mix in the marinade.
- Pierce the chicken breasts with a fork, so the marinade will be absorbed well.
How to bake thin sliced chicken breasts
How long to marinate chicken for baking?
Marinate the thin slices of chicken breasts for at least 15 minutes. Marinating overnight in the fridge gives the best results.
Take the chicken out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking so that it reaches room temperature. 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 higher temperatures for a shorter time yields the best results.
Preheat the oven to 450°F/ 230°C. This is the best temperature to cook thin chicken cutlets so they stay juicy.
Place the marinated chicken breasts in a deep baking tray or pan lined with parchment paper (for easy clean-up). Seal the pan 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 cooking. Meanwhile, you have the luxury of time to check your emails, take a quick 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?
- Bring the chicken to room temperature before you start baking. This will ensure even cooking.
- Before marinating, blot or wipe the chicken slices dry with kitchen towels.
- Place the thin-sliced chicken breasts flat on the pan at least an inch apart from each other.
- Let the chicken breasts rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This keeps them moist with all those flavorful juices.
- Let the chicken rest on a cooling rack after opening the sealed foil. Or else, the steam from the chicken will condense and make them soggy.
More questions about baked thin chicken breast recipes
Can you bake chicken breasts from frozen?
Frozen chicken breasts can easily be thawed. Rinse the frozen chicken breasts a couple of times. 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.)
Let the chicken soak 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 thin chicken breast recipe requires you to seal the baking pan 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.
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. It tastes even better if you use roasted garlic butter!
I didn’t use it here, though 🙂
What to pair with baked chicken breasts
Have a little more time and energy? Pair these chicken breasts with the Italian pasta salad with balsamic dressing, beetroot walnut feta salad with roasted garlic dressing, or beet orange salad.
You can also serve these baked chicken breasts with your favorite side dishes like roasted potatoes and broccoli or easy cheesy 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 taste amazing with these baked thin chicken breasts.
Craving creamy pasta as a side? Go for guilt-free mushroom zucchini pasta or mixed veggie pasta with garlic sauce.
For spicy pasta by the side, try red chilli pesto pasta, 6-ingredient spaghetti arrabiata, or the easy 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!
More healthy chicken recipes
- Creamy Butter Chicken Pasta (without cream)
- Lemon Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers in Oven
- Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings
- Easy Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Easy baked thin sliced chicken breast recipe (boneless)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts 150-180 gms/ 5-6 oz each
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (reduce for less heat)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
STEP BY STEP IMAGES
Scroll back to find detailed recipe photos!
Instructions
How to prepare thin sliced chicken breasts
- Preheat the oven to 450°F/ 230°C. Slice the chicken breasts horizontally to roughly about 1/2 to 3/4 inches thickness. (note 1) Pierce each of the chicken pieces with a fork. This will help the flesh absorb the marinade better and faster.4 chicken breasts
How to marinate the chicken
- Mix all ingredients for the marinade. Rub on the chicken and massage to coat completely. Leave the chicken on the kitchen counter for 15 minutes to marinate. Refrigerate if you're planning to marinate longer.1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon salt, 1½ tablespoons olive oil
How to bake thin chicken breasts
- Place the marinated chicken breast slices on a baking tray or pan lined with parchment paper. Cover and seal with aluminium foil.
- Bake in the oven for 12 minutes. Remove the foil and let it sit for 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley.
- Serve along with a vegetable salad drizzled with the pan juices. (note 2)
Video
Notes
- Ensure that the thickness of the sliced chicken breasts does not exceed 3/4 of an inch. Pound the slices to bring the thickness down. This step is important since you’re going to cook the chicken covered and there is no need to keep checking for doneness.
- If the sliced chicken is less than 1/2 an inch thick, you can reduce the cooking time by a couple of minutes.
- The chicken breasts sweat while cooking which leaves you with flavorful pan juices that can be drizzled on the chicken just before serving. You won’t need additional sauce, ketchup or any extras.
- The pan juices can also be used as dressing for salad, if you’re using one as a side dish to make it a low carb meal.
- If you love your chicken more browned, dab a little butter on each breast slice just before popping it into the oven.
- Ensure that the sliced chicken is dry by blotting with kitchen towels before marinating.
- Remove the foil after you take out the pan from the oven. If not, the steam will condense and add to the liquid in the pan.
★★★★★Did you try this recipe? Please give a star rating in the comments below ★★★★★
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My result tasted fine but had a white ‘boiled chicken’ look. Juices that came out during cooking collected and the chicken boiled in it. I sautéed them for a two minutes in butter and made them look better. Next time, I’ll bake for 10 mins and fry for 2 mins more. Thanks for posting this recipe.
Hi Raj,
Thank you for trying the recipe and taking the time to provide feedback.
There are 3 things that might have gone wrong:
1. The chicken might not have been dry when you added the marinade. Next time, try blotting the chicken with kitchen towels before marinating.
2. White patches on the chicken or too much of the juices may be due to overcooking. If the sliced chicken is less than 1/2 an inch thick, you can reduce the cooking time by a couple of minutes.
3. Don’t let it rest for too long before opening. The steam will condense and add to the liquid in the pan. 5 minutes of resting time is sufficient.
Why does every online recipe include a 100-page dissertation?
Hi John, thanks for visiting! My recipes have been written so that even beginners can make it with ease. For those who are experienced, I’ve provided a table of contents so you can skip to the part you’re interested in. Or you can “jump to recipe card” if you just want the recipe without the helpful tips.
I made it for friends and sent it over to them. They loved it.
Thank you, Miller!
This was quick and delicious. Thank you!
Glad you liked it. Thanks, Janette!
You include onion powder verbally in your video and in your text. It is not listed among the ingredients in your recipe for print. What quantity is desirable. Should quantity of another ingredient be reduced when onion powder is added?
Hi Mary,
Thank you for pointing it out. Sorry, I forgot to add it in the ingredients list. I’ve updated the post now 🙂
You will need 1/2 teaspoon onion powder. No change in other ingredients.
Dead easy to prep and bake, the flavors are lovely, and the chicken stays moist…who knew?? Really great recipe. I quadrupled the marinade recipe for the 16 thin-sliced pieces I had purchased, and instead of four tbsp of ‘regular’ olive oil I used a sage-and-mushroom infused olive oil for two of them. I’m sure other flavors can be incorporated and played with, and this recipe is solid. Thanks for sharing it!
I just tried this recipe. Amazing.
Thank you, Joanne!
Delicious and tender! Do you have some suggestions for other spice combinations to try? It would be nice to have a variety to choose from. Thanks so much!
Hi Jan, thanks for the lovely feedback. You can swap dried rosemary with thyme. 1/2 teaspoon onion powder can be added. Another ingredient you can add to enhance the flavors is 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. You can play around with the flavors as long as you keep that basic lemon garlic flavor intact and follow the instructions!
I can write a whole new post on all the flavor combinations. Stay tuned for more!!
They look lovely and tender. I like the combination of spices used as well. Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Michelle
Thank you, Michelle! Glad you liked the recipe.
I never bake my chicken breast, but I should bake them more often. Great idea. Thanks for sharing – Danielle
You’ll be happy that you did, thank you!