Rosemary and Thyme Roasted Chicken Breast

This roasted chicken breast recipe is one of our favorite ways to cook chicken in the oven
Roasted Chicken Breasts Featured

By Mark Hinds | Updated October 25, 2024

Fresh rosemary and thyme mixed with garlic and a little olive oil bring this succulent roasted chicken breast recipe to life.

Eating a well-roasted chicken is one of life’s simple pleasures and is a lot easier to make than you might think.

How to Roast a Chicken Breast in the Oven

There are a couple of things that help this roasted rosemary chicken breast recipe stand out.

The first is cooking it in a 400℉ oven rather than the normal 350℉ helps to crisp up the skin on the outside and produces a more full-flavored bird.

Chicken Roasting In Pan
Make sure to get the herb mixture under the skin

The second is using fresh herbs, which provide a lot more flavor than dried herbs.

The three most important things to do when your roasting chicken breasts in the oven are to use a fat and an acid, season liberally, and don’t overcook the chicken.

A couple of other ways to make chicken breasts include our Smoked Chicken Breast and Roasted Greek Chicken Breast recipes.

This herb baked chicken breast works great as a centerpiece to build dinners around. If you want to cook a special dinner, try this chicken recipe along with our Savory Pancetta and Leek Bread Pudding or Roasted Rosemary Red Potatoes.

Rosemary and Thyme Roasted Chicken

Rosemary and Thyme Roasted Chicken Breast

3.9 from 20 votes
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Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on
  • 1 1/2 tbsp rosemary
  • 1 1/2 tbsp thyme
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 tsp salt for the chicken
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/ tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp salt for brine

Instructions

  • To start, we’re going to brine the chicken, which helps to make sure it’s nice and juicy. To make the brine mix 1 tbsp of salt with two cups of water in a bowl big enough to hold the chicken and the water. Drop the chicken in, making sure it’s completely submerged, for at least 30 minutes.
  • While the chicken is brining prepare the herb mixture by finely mincing the rosemary, thyme, and garlic. Make sure to use fresh rosemary and thyme for this recipe; using fresh herbs makes a big difference in how the dish tastes. Mix the herbs and garlic together with the salt, pepper, and olive oil to form a paste.
  • When the chicken has finished brining, take it out of the water, and pat dry with a paper towel. Spread the herb mixture over the whole chicken, making sure to get some under the skin.
  • Roast the chicken in a baking dish at 400℉ for 32 to 36 minutes. The chicken is done when it is firm to the touch and cooked to 165℉. When you take it out of the oven cover it with foil and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
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Nutrition
Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 845mg | Potassium: 891mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 395IU | Vitamin C: 13.5mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 2.5mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate based on available ingredients and preparation.

Mark is an experienced food writer, recipe developer, and photographer who is also Umami’s publisher and CEO. A passionate cook who loves to cook for friends, he can often be found in the kitchen or by the grill testing new recipes.

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3.85 from 20 votes (20 ratings without comment)

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