Introduction
Cooking the perfect boneless chicken breast can be tricky. You want it to be juicy and tender, but you also don’t want to overcook it. Luckily, there’s an easy way to estimate how long you’ll need: just check out this handy guide!
Cooking time depends on a few factors, including how thick your chicken breast is and what type of oven you’re using.
The cooking time for a boneless chicken breast varies depending on a few factors. The thickness of the chicken breast is one factor, as well as what type of oven you’re using and how long you want it to cook for.
When roasting or baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius), a medium-sized boneless chicken breast should take about 20 minutes to cook through; if you’re using convection mode in an oven that can automatically adjust temperatures based on airflow, then this may shorten slightly because there will be more air circulating around your meat. If you’re using a convection mode without auto-adjusting temperatures or just want something super quick and easy (like if I’m making tacos), then 15 minutes works just fine too!
A boneless chicken breast will take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit to cook through — depending on how quickly you want it done and how high your oven temperature is set.
A boneless chicken breast will take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit to cook through — depending on how quickly you want it done and how high your oven temperature is set.
If you’re looking for a quicker cook time, use a lower heat setting in your oven. If you’re making dinner for someone who has a short attention span or doesn’t like waiting around while food cooks, then this will be helpful!
For example, a 3/4-inch-thick boneless chicken breast will take about 15 minutes in the oven; an even 1-inch-thick breast will take 20 minutes.
The amount of time required to cook a chicken breast depends on the oven temperature and the thickness of your cut. A 3/4-inch-thick boneless chicken breast will take about 15 minutes in the oven; an even 1-inch-thick breast will take 20 minutes.
You can’t use a microwave to cook a chicken breast, but there are other ways to check for doneness if you’re not sure how long it should take:
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperatures: 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) is when they’re done cooking and safe to eat; still pink inside? Keep going until they reach this point!
- Cut into one with tongs or sharp knife–if there’s no redness or pink showing through anywhere inside then it’s done!
If you’re baking your chicken in the microwave, use this guide for cooking times based on thickness (note that microwaves vary wildly): 1/2 inch thick — 5 minutes; 3/4 inch thick — 6 minutes; 1 inch thick — 8 minutes.
If you’re cooking your chicken in the microwave, use this guide for cooking times based on thickness (note that microwaves vary wildly): 1/2 inch thick — 5 minutes; 3/4 inch thick — 6 minutes; 1 inch thick — 8 minutes.
The best way to test if your chicken is done is to poke it with a fork or knife and see if there’s any pink remaining. If so, continue cooking until no pink remains at all.
Use these guidelines to estimate how long it takes to bake or cook a boneless chicken breast
The cooking time for a boneless chicken breast varies depending on the oven temperature and how quickly you want it done. The following are general guidelines:
- Bake in an oven set at 425 degrees Fahrenheit, for about 20 minutes per pound of meat. This is a good rule of thumb if you want to cook your chicken thoroughly but not dry out its tender flesh.
- Microwave at lower temperatures (about 30 seconds per ounce), until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conclusion
So, how long does it take to cook a boneless chicken breast? It depends on how thick your chicken breast is and what type of oven you’re cooking it in. If you’re baking at 425 degrees Fahrenheit, expect 10 to 20 minutes for a 3/4-inch-thick breast or 15 minutes for an even 1-inch-thick one. If you’re microwaving, use our guide above as a rough estimate based on thickness (but note that each microwave will vary).