How Long to Bake Chicken Breast at 350

Whether bone-in, wrapped in foil, or frozen, you may wonder how long to bake chicken breast at 350. 

Different cooking methods speed up the process if you are short on time, while some take a little longer. 

However long you cook it, the internal temperature must be 160-170 degrees Fahrenheit. 

So, follow these quick tips for perfectly cooked chicken baked at 350!

How Long to Bake Chicken Breast at 350 

Fresh chicken breasts from the fridge take 35 minutes to bake in a conventional oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

This estimate is for chicken breasts about one inch thick. If they’re thicker or breaded, they’ll take a little longer. 

A kitchen thermometer is one of the best tools for perfectly baked chicken.

Use a kitchen thermometer to check the internal temperature of your chicken. 

If it’s between 160-170 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s perfectly cooked and safe to eat. 

The cooking time is shorter when using an air fryer. 

Fresh chicken breasts one inch thick take 15 to 20 minutes in an air fryer. 

How Long to Bake Chicken Breast at 350 in Foil 

Wrapping chicken breasts in foil shaves 5 to 7 minutes off the cooking time. 

This includes the conventional oven method and the air fryer method. 

So, why does foil speed up the cooking process? 

While your chicken bakes in the oven, the evaporated moisture escapes and transfers into the oven. 

Wrapping it in foil traps the heat and moisture against your chicken breast, which speeds up the cooking process. 

How Long to Bake Bone-in Chicken Breast at 350 

It may come as a surprise, but bone-in chicken breasts take about as long as boneless chicken in an oven set at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

When baked at 350 degrees, bone-inch chicken breasts take 30-35 minutes to cook. 

Reach for that handy dandy meat thermometer to avoid the dreaded underdone chicken. 

When you reach the 25-minute mark, check in on the doneness of your chicken. 

Smaller bone-in chicken breasts take less time, so if the thermometer reads 160-170 degrees Fahrenheit, your chicken breast is ready. 

Checking the internal temperature also prevents overdone and dried-out chicken. 

How Long to Bake Frozen Chicken Breast at 350 

Frozen chicken breasts need about 45 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

A good rule of thumb for baking chicken from frozen is to increase the time in the oven by 50 percent.

So, if a fresh chicken breast takes 30 minutes to cook, a frozen chicken breast needs around 45 minutes. 

Of course, frozen chicken breasts recipes are a little more temperamental than fresh ones. So, you have two options to ensure they don’t dry out in the oven. 

• Add a little liquid to the base of the pan to keep it moist.

• Thaw the chicken breasts before cooking it

The best way to thaw chicken is covered in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, place it in a Ziploc bag and submerge it in a bowl of cold water.

Just be sure to dump out the water and replace it with fresh, cold water every 30 minutes or so.

Is It Better to Bake Chicken Breast at 350 or 400? 

Most cooks agree that 350 degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature for juicy chicken breasts. 

Low and slow is the way to go. 

However, there is an argument for cooking chicken breasts at 400 degrees. 

While the higher temperature may dry out your chicken slightly, it takes less time and creates a nice, crispy skin. 

We can all agree that crispy skin is the best part of bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts!

So, how can you achieve the best of both worlds: a juicy chicken and a crispy skin?

Bake your chicken at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.

Then, knock the heat up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for the remaining 5 to 7 minutes. 

What Temperature Should the Chicken Be?

Chicken thickness, breading, and your oven’s temperament significantly affect how quickly your chicken cooks. 

And you can remove all the guesswork by checking the internal temperature with a kitchen thermometer. 

The ideal internal temperature for chicken is 160 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. 

During the last 5 minutes of baking, pierce your chicken breast at the thickest section to read the internal temperature. 

This ensures that your chicken is perfectly juicy and safe to eat. 

Tips for the Best Baked Chicken Breast 

Use the right baking dish. Always opt for a baking dish that gives your chicken plenty of room to breathe. 

If you select a pan that’s too small and crowd your chicken breasts, they will cook unevenly and may dry out. 

Baste it! Basing isn’t just for Thanksgiving turkey.

Basting your chicken in its juices (or a tasty marinade) keeps your chicken breast moist and evenly distributes flavors. 

Ideally, baste the skin of your chicken every 20 minutes. 

Don’t overbake it. Yes, overbaked chicken is always better than underdone chicken. 

But you shouldn’t have to decide between the lesser of two evils. 

Investing in a meat thermometer is the best way to create perfectly juicy chicken. 

They’re generally affordable and give you peace of mind that your chicken is safe to eat. 

How to Store and Reheat Chicken Breast 

You can store baked chicken breasts in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 4 days. 

If you want to freeze cooked chicken breasts, store them in a freezer bag and pop them in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

However, it’s important to note that you should never freeze cooked chicken that sat out for up 2 hours or more.  

After 2 hours, bacteria will develop and won’t die even after it hits the freezer.