18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (2024)

If you've done it once, you've done it a million times. You come home late from work, throw some salt and pepper on a chicken breast and pop it in the oven. BORING! You could plan ahead and make slow cooker chicken in the morning, but what are the chances you're going to remember that? It's time for you step up your game and in a big way. If you want to love your dinner so much you crave leftovers the next day, keep reading for 18 baked chicken breast recipes that are a welcome change from the drab poultry you're used to.

Honey Mustard Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (1)

All you need is 35 minutes and one sheet pan for this versatile and delicious dish. (via Brit + Co)

Sweet Sriracha Chicken Breast

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (2) Mix Sriracha with honey and soy sauce to create a sweet and spicy coating you’ll want to slather all over your chicken. (via The Cookie Writer)

Baked Spinach Provolone Chicken Breasts

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (3) When your chicken dish provides you with protein and a serving of veggies, you’re winning dinner. Throw some brown rice on to go with it and your whole effortless meal is ready in under 30 minutes. (via Tastefulventure)

Smothered Baked Chicken With Creamed Spinach, Bacon and Mushrooms

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (4) We had you at smothered, didn’t we? Some days just call for an indulging AF dinner with all the cheese and bacon. For those nights, you need this dish. (via Julia’s Album)

Ranch Cheddar Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (5) This homemade version of Shake ‘N Bake is just as easy as popping open a box, but *way* tastier. Just prepare for the kid-friendly dish to be requested on repeat. (via Everyday Dishes)

Baked Paprika-Parmesan Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (7) That crust is so crispy you can almost hear the crunch from your laptop. It’s hard to believe that there are no breadcrumbs and no deep-frying is necessary. (via Sugar Apron)

Cheesy Mustard Baked Chicken Breasts

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (8) That whole grain mustard in your fridge has saved your butt on more than one occasion. When combined with sharp white cheddar and Parmesan, it creates a luxurious, tangy sauce that your chicken breast will sop up. (via Foodiecrush)

One Dish Chicken Bake

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (9) You can’t go wrong when you nestle your chicken between a bed of tomatoes and a blanket of mozzarella. Serve on top of pasta for a simple and easy Italian-inspired dinner. (via Diethood)

Baked Chicken Fajita Roll-Ups

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (10) If you’re going low-carb, you don’t have to give up fajita night. These roll-ups have all of the flavors you *love* but sans tortilla. Try them with a side of cauliflower rice. (via Eat Yourself Skinny)

Cilantro-Lime Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (11) Nothing perks up chicken quite like the combination of cilantro-lime. Let the chicken marinate for at least 15 minutes while you unwind, and it’ll be ready to pop in the oven when you’re ready to eat. (via Rasa Malaysia)

Creamy Baked Asiago Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (12) You won’t believe how juicy and flavorful this chicken turns out. TBH, it’s all thanks to that creamy layer of Asiago-garlic mayo that’s baked on top. (via The Recipe Critic)

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (13) Why coat your chicken with flour when Parmesan and breadcrumbs are an option? Before you dredge them in the eggs, season it liberally with fresh garlic to impart even more flavor. (via Taste and See)

Caprese Stuffed Chicken Foil Packs

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (14) Tomatoes, mozzarella and basil are a classic trio that livens up any dish. As if this recipe couldn’t be any easier, the cleanup is virtually eliminated as well. (via The Wholesome Dish)

Super Moist Oven Baked BBQ Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (15) A steady application of BBQ sauce while cooking is the secret to these perfectly sticky breasts. (via Heather Likes Food)

Basil Pesto Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (16)

This basil pesto chicken is bursting with flavor and so simple to make. You can marinate it ahead of time for the perfect easy weeknight dinner. (via Real Food Dietitians)

Tuscan Chicken with Saffron Cream Rice

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (17)

This recipe tastes like something you'd get straight from a gourmet restaurant. Seriously, it's that good. (via Vikalinka)

Easy Healthy Baked Lemon Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (18) Once you make this healthy baked chicken, you’ll never be without fresh lemons again. Smash a few sweet potatoes and steam a bag of frozen broccoli to round out a nutritious dinner. (via Creme de la Crumb)

Baked Cajun Chicken Breasts Recipe

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (19) Get ready for your taste buds to be lit on fire. Heads up, you’ll want to make extra so you can have an epic cajun chicken sandwich for lunch the next day. (via Gal on a Mission)

Baked Balsamic Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (20) Balsamic vinegar is for so much more than dressing your salad. Reduce it with honey, sugar and salt to get a ridiculous glaze that would taste good on a shoe. Thankfully, chicken is even tastier. (via Creme de la Crumb)

Bacon Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (21)

Cream cheese, bacon and chicken, oh my! This basic recipe is great for building upon with your favorite flavors. For a healthy twist, try giving spinach and artichokes a whirl. (via Homemade Hooplah)

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This article has been updated from a previous post.

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Paige Johnson

Paige is a blogger, food writer and culinary master from Louisville, Ky. She's a newlywed who's obsessed with dogs and renovating her 117 year old home. When she's not working on her blog — My Modern Cookery — you can find her binge watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S with a triple shot latte in-hand.

18 Recipes to Spice Up Boring Baked Chicken Breast (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to chicken breast to make it taste better? ›

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

How do you get the most flavor out of chicken breast? ›

Marinate them.

If you're cooking chicken breasts without skin or fat, infuse them with some extra flavor and liquid to keep them tender. Choose your favorite marinade and throw them in a ziploc bag with the marinade. Marinate them overnight before grilling, baking, or searing. The difference is uncanny.

How to season bland cooked chicken? ›

Just because the chicken is already cooked doesn't mean it can't benefit from a rub. Before reheating, make a custom blend of your favorite spices like paprika, cayenne, onion or garlic powder. Mix in dried herbs or a bit of sugar for beautiful caramelization, then sprinkle it evenly over the skin.

What is the secret to moist chicken breast? ›

Soak them in a solution of salt and water for about 30 minutes to an hour. This helps the chicken retain moisture during the baking process, resulting in juicier and more tender meat. Marinate the chicken breasts in a flavorful mixture of herbs, spices, and acidic ingredients like yogurt or citrus juice.

What spices enhance the flavor of chicken? ›

5 best spice and herbs blends for chicken and meat
  • Paprika and garlic powder. Paprika is a great spice that makes any chicken dish stand out, it comes in many forms sweet, hot, regular and smoky. ...
  • Basil and rosemary. ...
  • Ginger and lemongrass. ...
  • Turmeric and chili. ...
  • Coriander and cumin.

What brings out the flavor in chicken? ›

  • Marinades:Marinades are a great way to infuse flavor into chicken. Prepare a marinade with ingredients like olive oil, vinegar, citrus juice, herbs, spices, and garlic. ...
  • Dry Rubs:Dry rubs consist of a mixture of dry spices and seasonings. ...
  • Brining:Brining involves soaking chicken in a saltwater solution with sugar.
May 19, 2015

What to do with tasteless chicken? ›

Just dissolve salt in water and let the chicken soak for about half a day. A ratio of 2 tablespoons of salt to 3 cups of water is ideal in my opinion. Seasonings such as dried herbs, a little mustard, and apple juice add a bit of flavor to your brine.

Should you season chicken before baking? ›

Yes, you should always season your chicken before cooking when it's raw. You can even do this up to 24 hours before if you have the time. Why? Because leaving the seasoning on your chicken overnight in the fridge will help it start to trap moisture in the chicken, which will make it nice and juicy once cooked.

How do you fix bland baked chicken? ›

You can use a mixture of olive oil, herbs, spices, and acid (like lemon juice or vinegar) to create a flavorful marinade. Allow the chicken to soak in the marinade for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight for better results.

Can you season chicken after it's been cooked? ›

Yes, you can absolutely use fresh herbs to season already cooked chicken. Herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil, and chives can add a burst of fresh flavor to the chicken. Simply chop the herbs finely and sprinkle them over the chicken before serving.

Why is baked chicken so bland? ›

You see, without a generous sprinkling of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, your chicken is basically destined for blandness. After you've pulled your chicken out of its marinade (or even if you're not using a marinade), always sprinkle all sides of the breast with salt and pepper.

How to cook chicken breast so they are tender and juicy? ›

Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the chicken breast on a lined baking sheet.
  2. Season the chicken breasts on all sides with oil, paprika, garlic parsley salt, and pepper.
  3. Bake for about 20 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F on a thermometer.
Aug 16, 2022

Should I cover chicken breast with foil when baking? ›

When chicken is covered while baking, it traps steam and moisture within the dish, resulting in juicier results. The covering helps prevent excessive evaporation and keeps the chicken moist throughout the cooking process. Preventing dryness. Chicken tends to dry out more quickly when exposed to direct heat.

How to cook chicken breasts so they are moist and tender? ›

  1. Flatten the chicken breasts. ...
  2. Heat the pan. ...
  3. Cook the chicken breasts over medium heat for 1 minute without moving. ...
  4. Flip the chicken breasts. ...
  5. Turn the heat down to low. ...
  6. Cover the pan and cook on low for 10 minutes. ...
  7. Turn off the heat and let sit for an additional 10 minutes. ...
  8. Remove lid and take temperature.

What is the tastiest and healthiest way to cook chicken breast? ›

Poached Chicken

Poaching is great because it adds virtually no fat to your food, yet yields subtle flavour and moisture. To poach your chicken, add your ingredients (chicken and any other vegetables, aromatics, and spices you like) to a skillet or pot, and add a cooking liquid such as broth, wine, or coconut milk.

How do you Flavour chicken after cooking? ›

If you want to add flavor to plain cooked chicken without using salt, you can use herbs and spices such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, cumin, coriander, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. These ingredients can enhance the taste of the chicken without relying on salt.

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