Baked Chicken Breast

Chicken recipes are a meal staple, whether in salads or stir-fries, soups, pasta, and more. Recently, I’ve been revisiting some of my favorites like:

• Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts are perfect all on their own or shredded for salads and tacos.
• Caprese Pesto Chicken Orzo is boneless, skinless chicken breasts baked into the most delicious Mediterranean-style casserole with zucchini, orzo, and all the flavors we love!
• German Chicken Schnitzel will always be a favorite with its crispy breaded topping on Sundays.
• And when it’s crockpot time, Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken and Buffalo Chicken Sliders will always be top of mind!

When you’re looking for shredded white meat for salads and tacos, bake with bone-in chicken breasts for the BEST flavor!

What Are Split Chicken Breasts?

When shopping for bone-in chicken breasts, your market will likely label them as split chicken breasts, which just means that they are chicken breasts cut into two halves with half of the meat and breast bone on each.

Split chicken breasts are also typically sold with the skin on and the rib bone intact, which helps deliver the juiciest and most delicious chicken ever.

If you love dark meat chicken, like marinade chicken thighs, due to its richer, often juicer texture, you will be pleasantly surprised that this split chicken breast recipe, with its rib bone intact, creates the same tender, roasted deliciousness!

Growing up in my mom’s kitchen, there was a split chicken breast recipe she often served guests. I need to unearth that recipe because it was special! It was a delicious sauce with grapes and juicy, tender chicken.

This chicken breast recipe combines much of what I learned way back then in a new, delicious way—stuffed with goat cheese and lemon sauce!

Baked Chicken Breast Ingredients

Ingredient measurements are in the recipe. card at the bottom of this post, but here is a quick list of what you will need:

• Split chicken breast bone-in, skin-on: Chicken breasts are such a versatile and healthy protein. Bone-in chicken breasts are juicy when baked, but the lemon sauce, stuffed goat cheese, and fresh basil take it to a whole new level!
• Herbed goat cheese: Choose herbed goat cheese instead of plain goat cheese, as it delivers much more flavor!
• Fresh basil leaves: This simple herb is not only pretty but delicious when placed under the skin!
• Extra virgin olive oil: In lemon sauce, olive oil helps keep the chicken moist and juicy during baking and helps crisp the skin.
• Lemon: We will use both the juice and zest, as they add a delicious, bright citrus flavor to the chicken.
• Minced garlic: Used in the lemon sauce, brings that delicious earthy flavor.
• Seasoning: Dried oregano, salt, and pepper, with its savory flavors, are a perfect complement to baked chicken!

How to Cook a Stuffed Chicken Breast

This delicious yet easy baked chicken recipe is perfect for entertaining, holidays, special occasions, or simply when you desire a delicious dinner. Leftovers will become shredded chicken you can use in your favorite recipes!

Begin by preheating the oven to 375 degrees and setting a baking sheet aside.

Step 1: Stuff the breasts

Place the chicken breasts, skin side up, on a small baking sheet. With your fingers, loosen the skin from the meat, leaving one side attached.

Cut thick slices of herbed goat cheese and place slices, topped with fresh basil, under the skin of each chicken breast.

Step 2: Make the drizzling sauce

Add the oil, garlic, and oregano to a small bowl. Zest and juice the lemon directly into the bowl and stir to combine. Generously brush each breast with the mixture and season generously with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Bake the breasts

Bake the breasts for 35 to 40 minutes or until cooked through. The chicken is cooked through when it reaches 165 degrees F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the breast meat (be sure it isn’t touching the bone).

Split Chicken Cooking Times

Split chicken breasts weighing 6 and 8 ounces will bake for 35 to 45 minutes at 350 degrees F.

How to know when a chicken breast is fully cooked

The best way to know when a chicken breast is fully cooked is to use an instant-read thermometer. When it reads 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the breast without touching a bone, the chicken is ready.

Using an instant-read thermometer also helps keep the chicken juicy without overcooking, which can lead to a dry breast.