How Long To Bake Chicken Breast At 475?

We cover the temperature for baking chicken breasts, how to check doneness, and advice on how to quickly bake any type of chicken to make it perfectly tender and juicy every time.

In addition to being delicious, baked chicken is also healthier than stir-frying or deep-frying. But if you cook it too long, the meat will be chewy and dry. On the other hand, undercooking it risks bacterial contamination.

Continue reading to learn how to always achieve the best results!

How Long to Bake Chicken

Cooking times and temperatures will depend on the cut, weight, and recipe. The safe internal temperature for poultry is 165°F (74°C) and you should always check it using an instant-read thermometer. Also, you need to rest your chicken after baking to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat and keep it extra moist.

What Temperature to Bake Chicken?

There are two options for baking chicken:

Baking at 350°F: This is the traditional method whereby a 4-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast is roasted at 350°F (177˚C) for 20-30 minutes, according to the USDA.

Baking at 400°F: Baking for less time at a higher temperature is a great way to get juicier chicken! Try baking chicken breasts at 400°F for 22-25 minutes.

How Long to Bake Chicken Breasts

The size of the chicken breasts and oven temperature are the two main factors that affect bake times. Follow this bake-time table for 6-oz. chicken breasts as a general guide:

Oven Temperature	Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Bake Time
350°F (177°C)	25-30 minutes
375°F (191°C)	23-30 minutes
400°F (204°C)	22-25 minutes
425°F (218°C)	18-22 minutes
450°F (232°C)	15-18 minutes

Convection/forced air settings in an oven will typically cut baking time by 5 to 10 minutes. Always use an instant-read thermometer to check doneness rather than relying solely on cooking time.

Chicken Breasts with Bones: Simply extend the baking time by 8 to 10 minutes.

How Long to Bake Chicken Thighs

Bake bone-in chicken thighs at 400°F for 25–30 minutes, or until they register 160–165°F internally. Similarly, chicken legs require a similar amount of baking time.

The same procedure applies to baking boneless chicken thighs, but for 10 minutes less, or about 15-20 minutes.

How Long to Bake a Whole Chicken

A whole chicken weighing 4 pounds will take roughly 80–90 minutes to cook at 350°F, while a larger chicken weighing 7 pounds may take up to 2 hours and 20 minutes. In general, add 20 minutes for each additional pound.

Follow the instructions above and increase the baking time by an additional 15 to 30 minutes for the stuffed chicken.

How to Bake Chicken

While baking temperatures and times are crucial, there are some additional suggestions for juicy baked chicken:

Brine (optional): If your chicken is not pre-brined, you can dissolve ¼ cup salt in 1 quart (4 cups) of water in a large pot. Then add the meat, immersing it completely and placing in the refrigerator for 1-4 hours.

Rub with oil or butter: Rub your chicken with oil or butter before baking. It will help to keep it moist while making seasoning stick to the meat.

Bake: Following the guidance above until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Rest: Instead of cutting into the meat right out of the oven, let it rest covered with foil for 5-10 minutes so the juices can redistribute through the meat. This simple step produces much juicier chicken.

When is it Done?

While the safe temperature for chicken is 165°F according to the USDA, you can remove it from the oven at 160°F and the temperature will rise 5°F more while resting.

If you don’t have a thermometer, closely observe the chicken juices as they come out. They’ll run perfectly clear when the meat is cooked. The meat needs more time if it has any red or pink tints.

More Ways to Baked Chicken:

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How Long to Bake Chicken (+Video)

▢ 3-4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless

▢ 1 lb baby red potatoes, halved

▢ 12 cherry tomatoes, or grape tomatoes

▢ 1 lemon, sliced into rings

▢ 4 tsp garlic, minced

▢ 1 tsp oregano

▢ 1 tsp thyme

▢ 4 tbsp olive oil

▢ salt and pepper, to taste

▢ 1 tbsp butter

▢ 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, optional

▢ 3/4 lb green beans, trimmed

▢ fresh parsley, for serving

Preheat oven to 400°F and set your oven rack to the top half. Set aside a large baking sheet.

Scatter potatoes and tomatoes across the baking sheet. Add chicken breasts in the middle a few inches apart. Rub chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon oil.

Sprinkle minced garlic, oregano and thyme across pan. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Drizzle the rest of olive oil evenly across. Toss to mix well. Place several lemon slices on top of chicken.

Butter a piece of parchment paper, and cover the chicken and vegetables with buttered parchment paper (butter side facing down)

Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, adding green beans for the final 10 minutes. If the chicken looks pale, you can always put it under the broiler for the final 3 minutes.

Check doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the middle of the chicken breast. Remove from the oven as soon as it reaches 160°F (71°C). Alternatively, as soon as clear juice starts to seep out of your chicken breasts, it means that they are cooked through.

Remove the chicken to a serving plate or carving board. Cover with foil and let it rest for 5-10 minutes to let the juices redistribute through the meat before serving.

Smaller chicken breasts (4 oz) need to be baked for 18-20 minutes, while larger chicken breasts (8-10 oz) will take 25-30 minutes to bake.

Add 8-10 minutes of additional baking time if you use bone-in chicken breasts.

Remove chicken from the oven when the internal temperature reaches 160°F, as the temperature will rise a few degrees during resting.

Use leftover baked chicken to make Chicken Avocado Rollups, Chicken Noodle Soup and Chicken Fried Rice. Cooked chicken lasts 3-4 days in the fridge.

Nutrition Facts How Long to Bake Chicken (+Video) Amount Per Serving

Please read our nutrition disclaimer.

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FAQ

Can you cook chicken breast at 475?

Roasting a chicken with the skin on at 475 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes per pound plus 15 minutes produces a very succulent roast chicken. As long as you leave the skin on, your oven will get splattered, but the chicken will still be tender.

How long does it take to bake chicken breast at 450 degrees?

The cooking time for roasting chicken at 450°F should be between 15 and 18 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts.

Is 450 too high for chicken?

The range for roasting or baking is 325 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. A good rule of thumb when roasting a whole chicken is to start the oven at 400 to 425 degrees F, reduce the temperature to 350 after 15 minutes, and cook the chicken until the internal temperature registers between 165 and 175 degrees F.

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 450?

Drumsticks and thighs can be baked at temperatures between 350 and 450 degrees because they are made of dark meat and won’t dry out as quickly as breasts. 350 to 375 is generally best for breasts. The simplest solution to these issues is to use an instant read thermometer to determine when the chicken is done.