Quick Answer: How Long To Bake Chicken Breast At 400?
Chicken breasts can be done in the oven at 400 F thawed and wrapped in foil, uncovered, frozen, or in an air fryer. All of these options are simple. Choose the method that best suits your particular situation and needs.
Boneless, skinless chicken breast is one of the easiest and fastest meats to prepare, making it a popular choice in our busy lives.
This article will give you the simple instructions you need to prepare chicken breast by four popular methods.
You will require only basic materials and ingredients to create juicy, tasty chicken breasts every time.
Whether you find yourself with frozen meat, or wanting to use your air fryer, these methods have got you covered.
How Long To Bake Chicken Breast At 400 With Foil?
If you have thawed chicken breast, this is a great option to do in a conventional oven. Wrapping the chicken in foil means it’s guaranteed to be super tender and juicy.
You can also add potatoes or other vegetables to the foil and you have a complete meal in one easy packet. Streamlining meal preparation saves you time, and leaves more time for family.
Only a few ingredients and steps are needed for this easy and delicious chicken breast recipe.
More than one chicken breast may be put in a foil packet. Simply adjust the amount of foil to cover the number of breasts you wish to bake, and increase the amount of oil – 1 tsp. per piece of chicken – as well as the amount of seasonings, herbs and lemon slices.
If you do not have olive oil other oils may be used such as vegetables or sunflowers.
Don’t own a meat thermometer? Put it on your list to buy as they take the guesswork out of knowing when meat is done, but in the meantime, simply insert a sharp knife into the thickest part of the chicken breast, and see if the juices are clear. If they are pinky, more time is needed.
How Long To Bake Chicken Breast At 400 From Frozen?
Frozen chicken breast can be baked in the oven without thawing first. This makes it easy to get dinner on the table if you didn’t have meat planned and thawed. Only 40 minutes to bake, this is a great option for putting protein on the dinner table.
Let’s face it, life in the 21st century is busy. We have all come home from a hectic day at work, only to realize that we forgot to thaw meat to feed our hungry family.
Putting frozen chicken breasts in the oven is a quick and easy, not to mention delicious, solution to the problem.
Be sure to choose a pan or sheet pan that allows each piece of chicken to not touch another piece.
Brushing on a sauce is optional, but if you wish to use a sauce, consider teriyaki, BBQ, or honey garlic.
Make sure to let the chicken breast bake for 20 minutes before applying seasonings and sauce. When the chicken is hard and frozen the seasonings and sauce will not stick to it.
How Long To Bake Chicken Breast At 400 Uncovered?
Uncovered chicken breast should be baked at 400 F for about 25 minutes. The trick to successfully baking uncovered chicken, is to watch it closely to avoid overbaking. If left too long in the oven, the meat will be dry.
If you love a beautifully browned chicken breast, then baking it uncovered is the way to go. You just have to be sure not to over-bake it, making it dry and unenjoyable to eat.
All important is to rub the chicken with olive oil, or let it sit in a marinade for a couple of hours before baking.
The other important step is to check often for doneness during the last 5 minutes of baking.
Marinating the chicken breast allows you to infuse the chicken with a marvelous flavor of your choosing. It will also add to the chicken’s tenderness.
Always season your chicken breast with salt and pepper, but feel free to also season with dry herbs such as oregano or thyme.
Adding a cup of liquid to the pan before putting it in the oven, makes the chicken breast more juicy and tender. You may use melted butter, lemon juice, vinegar or any mix of liquids you like.
How Long To Bake Chicken Breast At 400 In An Air Fryer?
Baking chicken breast in an air fryer can reduce the overall baking time by half.
You may choose to cover the chicken breast in tin foil, or bake uncovered. Just as with a conventional oven, if you do not use tin foil, you may wish to marinate the chicken breast prior to baking.
Beautifully seasoned, juicy, tender chicken breast in 20 minutes is a realistic option when you use an air fryer.
Although the baking time is different from using a conventional oven, the taste is every bit as good.
The approach is also similar, depending on whether you bake the chicken breast covered or uncovered.
Air frying is a major time-saver. Baking the chicken breast covered also saves the time of marinating, however, if you’re organized and want to enjoy the flavors of a favorite sauce, then baking uncovered is a great option.
Don’t forget to turn the chicken breast once to allow the juices to bake evenly into the meat.
I recommend using a timer when you preheat the air fryer so you don’t go past the 3 minute max.
Our Take On Which Method Is The Best
There is no right or wrong answer to this question, which method is the best. It really just depends on your particular situation. Here are some considerations to help you choose the right method to bake your chicken breast.
- If you haven’t had time to thaw the chicken breast, baking frozen is the way to go.
- If you own an air fryer, this is a great option as it saves time (as long as you are covering it with tin foil.)
- If you love the flavor, tenderness and juiciness that marinating produces, baking the chicken breast without the tin foil in a conventional oven or an air fryer will produce that result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What If I Have Bone-In, Skin-On Chicken Breast? Can I Use Any Of These Methods To Bake It?
Buying bone-in, skin-on chicken breast will save you money at the grocery store. Also, the bone actually keeps the meat juicier during baking, and adds flavor. You can follow the instructions given for boneless, skinless chicken breast with similar results. If you don’t want the fatty skin which is high in calories, simply take it off after baking, but leave it on during the baking as it helps to seal in the juices.
How Do I Store Any Leftover Baked Chicken?
Leftovers are great, and baked chicken breast can be easily stored in the fridge or freezer. After baking, let the chicken cool and wrap it well, then pop it in the fridge for up to 2 days. If you want to freeze your leftover chicken breast, make sure to put it in an airtight container, or place it in a freezer bag. When you want to use it, let it sit in the fridge overnight, or thaw it in the microwave on ‘defrost’ according to the weight of the chicken breast.
How Can I Get A Nice, Brown Color On The Chicken Breast?
If you want that lovely, brown color on the outside of your chicken breast, take a few minutes to sear the chicken before you bake it.
- Pour some vegetable oil into a frying pan, and heat it on medium-high.
- Salt and pepper both sides of the meat.
- Place the chicken in the pan and brown all of the outside surfaces by turning after about 30-60 seconds.
How Can I Make Sure The Chicken Breast Will Bake Evenly?
Chicken breasts are usually shaped with a larger, thicker part at one end and a narrower, thinner part at the other end. If you want to make sure that the breast is going to bake evenly, simply use a mallet before baking to even it out.
How Long To Bake Chicken Breast At 400 From Frozen?
Frozen chicken breasts are set in a pan covered with foil, and baked in a 400 F oven.
Materials
- Chicken Breast
- Seasonings
- Sauce
Tools
- Baking sheet or pan
- Tin foil
- Meat thermometer
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F
- Put the chicken in a pan or sheet pan.
- Place foil over the pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, remove foil, put seasonings on and brush on sauce if using.
- Uncovered, put chicken back in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thicket part of a breast reads 165.
- Remove from the oven, cover with foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Slice and serve.
How Long To Bake Chicken Breast At 400 Uncovered?
Applying olive oil or a marinade will create a juicy, browned chicken breast, baked uncovered in a 400 F oven. Watch closely to avoid dryness.
Materials
- Chicken breast
- Olive oil or marinade
- 1 cup liquid for pan butter, lemon juice or a mixture of your choice.
- Seasonings
Tools
- Pan for marinating, if choosing to marinate
- Pan for baking
- Meat thermometer
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken breast for 2-3 hours, if desired.
- Place the chicken in a pan for baking.
- If chicken is not being marinated, rub olive oil or melted butter over the chicken.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Pour 1 cup of liquid into the pan.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove chicken from the oven and check for doneness with a meat thermometer.
- If the chicken is not done, return it to the oven, and continue to check every 2 minutes until the thermometer reads 165.
- Remove from the oven, cover and let sit for 5 minutes, then serve.
How Long To Bake Chicken Breast at 400 In An Air Fryer?
Chicken breast may be baked in an air fryer either covered with tin foil or uncovered. Season, and if baking uncovered, marinade.
Materials
- Chicken breast
- Olive oil
- Seasonings
- Sauce for marinade
Tools
- Air fryer
- Tin foil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 for a maximum of 3 minutes.
- Rub the chicken breast with olive oil.
- Place the chicken breast in the air fryer.
- Cover the chicken with tin foil.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- If cooking uncovered, marinade the chicken breast for 2-3 hours.
- Place the marinated chicken breast in the air fryer.
- Bake for 16-20 minutes, turning the chicken once half-way through.
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
- Top Main Differences Between Tagliatelle And Fettuccine Pasta - March 10, 2023
- The Main Differences Between Red And Green Jalapeno Peppers - March 10, 2023
- Perfect Griddle Cakes To Make Simply Delicious Recipes For The Meal - March 9, 2023