We Make Baked Chicken Recipes Simple with This Step-by-Step Guide

Don't you just love the sense of accomplishment you feel serving up a tender, juicy baked chicken recipe for dinner? It sure beats biting into overcooked, dry chicken.

To ensure you never suffer dry chicken again (at least, not when you're in charge of the cooking), we compiled our Test Kitchen learnings on:

• How long do you bake chicken at 400 degrees
• What temperature to bake each cut (fresh or thawed chicken)
• Do you cover chicken when baking with aluminum foil
• How to store chicken after it's cooked

If you follow our instructions, every piece of chicken you make will be delicious.

How to Bake Chicken Pieces

Most nights of the week for baked chicken recipes you need to know how long to bake chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks, not necessarily a whole bird. Prep and bake chicken for a hands-free entrée, and while it's baking, whip up a veggie side dish.

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Pieces

Arrange chicken pieces, bone sides down (if using bone-in cuts), in a single layer in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan ($14, Walmart) or shallow roasting pan. Brush chicken pieces with oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. If desired, sprinkle the pieces with crushed dried herbs, such as thyme, oregano, Italian seasoning, or herbes de Provence.

Step 2: Bake Chicken Breast, Legs, and Thighs at 375°F

For baked chicken recipes made with meaty chicken pieces such as breast halves, drumsticks, and thighs, preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake the chicken pieces, uncovered, for 45 to 55 minutes or until internal temperature tested with a meat thermometer ($15, Target) reaches these temperatures:

• Bone-in drumsticks and thighs 175°F
• Skinless, boneless thighs 170°F
• Bone-in chicken breasts 170°F
• Skinless, boneless chicken breasts 165°F

Use the 45-55-minute guideline for all your chicken pieces, but check the internal temp to stop baking before they get overcooked. How long you'll bake a chicken breast at 375°F will vary depending on if it's bone-in or boneless, so use the thermometer for the final say.

Serve baked chicken immediately and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

How to Store Baked Chicken

If you have leftovers from your baked chicken recipe or you're getting a headstart on future meals, you can store them for later. Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Freeze it if you'll be using it after that.

To freeze baked chicken:

• Wrap chicken pieces individually in waxed paper.
• Divide wrapped chicken between two large freezer bags, removing as much air as possible from bags.
• Label and freeze up to 4 months.

How to Bake a Whole Chicken

A whole baked chicken never fails to impress with its crisp and irresistibly golden-brown skin and moist, succulent meat. It's one of the easiest entrées you can bring to the table. A whole baked chicken generously serves four.

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

• Remove the gizzards or other internal organs if there are any.
• Discard the organs or save for another use.
• Place the chicken breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan ($15, Walmart).
• Brush the chicken with olive oil or butter and season with salt, pepper, and any herbs and spices you want to add.

Step 2: Bake the Chicken

Put the chicken in the roasting pan into an oven preheated to 375°F. Bake chicken uncovered. Cooking times vary by weight and by recipe, but in general, follow these guidelines on how long to bake a whole chicken:

• 2½- to 3-pound chicken: Roast 1 to 1¼ hours
• 3½- to 4-pound chicken: Roast 1¼ to 1½ hours
• 4½- to 5-pound chicken: Roast 1¾ to 2 hours

You'll know your whole chicken is done when the juices run clear, the chicken is no longer pink, and the drumsticks move easily in their sockets. However, don't rely on those tests alone. Always test the doneness by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh (the thermometer should not touch bone). The thermometer should reach 175°F. Additionally, the temperature of the chicken breast should be 170°F.

Step 3: Let Chicken Stand, Then Carve

When the safe internal temperature is reached, cover the bird with foil and let it rest for 15 minutes. This will help the juices redistribute throughout for moist, tender meat. Carve and serve.

Baked chicken recipes (as pieces or a whole bird) are as easy as prep and bake. You never have to worry about covering chicken while baking, as it's OK to bake it uncovered. Once your chicken is in the oven, it's hands-free until you need to check the temperature. Then, you can whip up a no-cook appetizer, side dish, or dessert if you're feeling ambitious.