Baked Bone In Chicken Breast Split Chicken Breast Wellplated Com

Well maybe not life-altering, but it is certainly dinner-time/meal-prep/everything-that’s-usually-wrong-with-chicken-breast-altering. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been tackling ways to cook juicy, tender chicken breasts that are scrumptious enough to enjoy all on their own, or to mix with your favorite salads, pastas, and more.

Baked Chicken Breast and Air Fryer Chicken Breast use brining to make the chicken juicy.Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast insulates from the outside, while Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts tackles from the inside.Chicken Marinade can work for the grill and the oven.

But what about when you want simple, shredded white meat with intense, oven-roasted flavor? Bake chicken breast with the bone in!

What Are Split Chicken Breasts?

By “bone-in chicken breast” I am referring to what you will see labeled at the store as split chicken breast. “Split chicken breast” might sound intimidating (or like it is something different than a chicken breast with the bone still attached), but it is the exact same thing. When it comes to roast chicken, dark meat lovers tend to get the better deal, this Baked Chicken Thighs recipe shows that chicken thighs are harder to overcook and more inherently juicy than chicken breasts. Baking split chicken breast (remember, that’s chicken breast with the bone in and skin on) creates the same tender, roasted succulence that dark meat lovers enjoy, but with the lighter flavor of white meat. A white meat lover myself, learning to cook bone in chicken was one of the moments in my early-20s where I felt like I’d learned something truly useful in the kitchen.

Cooking Times and Benefits of Split Chicken Breasts

Split chicken breasts take 35 to 45 minutes to bake at 350 degrees F, compared to the 15 to 25 minutes at 425 degrees F needed to bake boneless breasts. The time is worth it.

The supreme juiciness of bone-in, skin-on meat is hard to beat. The bone helps the chicken cook more evenly and the skin locks in moisture.Bone-in chicken breasts are cheaper than boneless chicken breasts. Even with the weight of the bone counted, bone-in chicken is the better price per pound.Bone-in chicken is healthy. Chicken is still a very lean cut and the bone itself contains micronutrients. Bones add nutritional value to meat. If you’d like to save calories, avoid eating the chicken skin, which is high in fat and calories.

How to Cook Bone In Chicken Breast

This is a back-pocket, easy baked chicken recipe that’s perfect for making lightly seasoned diced or shredded chicken that you can use in any of your favorite recipes. From Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad, to chicken casseroles, to one of the “5 Unboring Ways to Use Shredded Chicken” I share in my cookbook, this baked bone-in chicken is versatile and will make your recipes scrumptious.

The Ingredients

Bone-In Chicken Breast. Chicken breasts are an incredibly versatile and lean protein. Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts are plenty flavorful on their own, but a delicious seasoning mixture helps take this recipe to the next level. Olive Oil. Olive oil helps keep the chicken moist and juicy during baking, crisps the skin, and adds exceptional flavor. Lemon. Lemon juice adds wonderful brightness and citrus flavor to the chicken. Seasoning. My favorite seasoning blend for this baked chicken includes minced garlic, dried oregano, and dried rosemary. It’s earthy, savory, and pairs well with almost any meal!

The Directions

What to Serve With Baked Split Chicken Breasts

Pasta. Add chicken breast to this Eggplant Pasta or Pasta al Limone for a meal everyone will love.Rice. Lemon Rice and this baked chicken breast would be a delicious pair. Salad. Use this chicken breast to add protein to your favorite salad (like this Arugula Salad).Vegetables. Serve baked chicken breast with Sauteed Brussels Sprouts, Sauteed Carrots, Grilled Asparagus, or Grilled Brussels Sprouts.

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate chicken breast in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. To Freeze. Freeze chicken in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Baking Dish. A kitchen tool I use on repeat. Instant Read Thermometer. A foolproof way to check your chicken for doneness. Citrus Juicer. My go-to for juicing lemons and limes.

JUICIEST CHICKEN EVER. This is drama that lives up to the hype!

If you love crispy chicken skin, pop your breast under the broiler to brown it prior to serving (this is Ben’s fave).You also can remove the skin. Roast the chicken with the skin on as directed, then remove it prior to serving or shredding.

Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe.