Our BEST Bone In Chicken Breast Recipes (2024)

When you want as much flavor as possible you have to use bone in chicken breast recipes. The bones help create that extra kick of flavor you would never get with the bone taken out.

We love cooking meals with chicken because it’s such versatile meat. First of all, chicken is affordable, so buying chicken breasts to cook for dinner won’t break your grocery budget. However, what we love about chicken is that you can cook it in so many different ways. We love grilling chicken outside, baking it in the oven, slow cooking it, using the Instant Pot, or cooking it in the air fryer.

This recipe for split chicken breasts is perfectly seasoned with some classic seasonings that include fresh rosemary, fresh oregano, coarsely ground black pepper, sea salt, and minced garlic cloves.

It’s easy to make a baked chicken breast bone in dish so it shouldn’t take you the entire night to get something delicious going for the whole family.

The baked chicken breast bone-in recipe below is the perfect combination of flavor and juicy chicken to make your meal the best ever.

Bone-in chicken breast recipes offer a delicious and satisfying meal option for those looking to add some variety and flavor to their dinner table. Cooking chicken with the bone in can result in a juicier and more succulent dish, as the bones help to lock in moisture and enhance the taste. There is also the added benefit of a more rustic, gourmet presentation, making these dishes a perfect choice for entertaining guests or enjoying a cozy home-cooked meal.

A wide range of recipes caters to different palates and dietary preferences, from simple and comforting dishes to more elaborate and exotic flavors. Techniques such as roasting, grilling, and braising can all be employed to create mouth-watering bone-in chicken breast dishes. Combining these cooking methods with various herbs, spices, and other ingredients can produce unique and delightful meals, proving that bone-in chicken breast recipes have much to offer for cooks of all skill levels.

By exploring bone-in chicken breast recipes, home chefs can elevate their culinary skills and discover new, flavorful ways to enjoy this popular protein. Not only do these recipes showcase the versatility of chicken, but they also highlight the benefits of cooking with the bone. Embracing bone-in chicken dishes can truly transform the chicken-breast-recipe landscape, yielding unforgettable and appetizing meal experiences.

What’s beautiful about this split chicken breast recipe is you can use it for a ton of different dishes like over pasta, over rice, in a stir fry, and more.

So when you have a bone in chicken breast that you need to do something with, try out this recipe to create the perfect concoction.

It doesn’t matter which split chicken breast recipes you’ll try, this one is sure to make it to the top of the pile.

Exactly What Are Split Chicken Breasts?

When you’re looking for chicken breast bone in recipes you might notice they are referred to in several different ways.

The truth is it doesn’t really matter if it says recipe for split breast chickenor baked bone in chicken breast because they are the exact same thing.

You could even have a roasted chicken breast bone in recipe and it would still use the same kind of chicken.

So don’t be initiated when you go to the store and freak out on not seeing the right label because the bone in chicken recipes will be called a lot of different names.

If you’re ever in doubt, just go ahead and ask the butcher at the shop whether it’s the kind of chicken you’re looking for.

The real reason for the confusion is that an entire chicken breast will have two sides to it, giving it that heart shape it’s known for.

When you have a bone in chicken breast though you’re really only getting one side of that chicken, hence the name split chicken.

Whenever you’re roasting chicken breasts on the bone, the dark meat lovers get the better end of the deal because dark meat is juicier and harder to overcook. White meat can get dry pretty quickly so overcooking it at all will make it tougher to eat.

That’s why most people prefer to bake their chicken instead of roasting it because it can provide the same juicy inside for white meat as you would normally get with dark meat.

You still get all the wonderful juices except the white meat is actually better for you so you get the best of both worlds.

So if you are a fan of white meat then using a bone in chicken breast really keeps all the flavor in the dish, especially if you bake it.

Cooking Times and Benefits of Split Chicken Breasts

Because the bone inside the chicken breast takes longer to heat up than the actual meat you’ll need to cook the chicken slightly longer than you would without the bone.

Expect your meat to take anywhere from 35-40 minutes if you are cooking it in an oven at around 350 degrees. If you didn’t have the bone inside your chicken breast you’d be looking at a cooking time of around 15-25 minutes and you can cook it at higher temps around 425 degrees.

What’s even better about bone-in is that most people prefer to leave the bone out so the meat is actually a little cheaper. The convenience of bone out chicken breast means that it’s in higher demand and will cost you a little extra for the convenience.

But, by taking out the bone you’re actually removing some of the micro-nutrients you wouldn’t get without it. So it’s actually a slightly healthier version of chicken breast, it adds more flavor too, and it helps the chicken cook more evenly.

If you’re looking to have a healthier chicken consider removing the skin where most of the fat and calories are stored.

Best Way to Use Your Equipment

If you plan on baking your chicken thigh or breast then you’ll be using the oven and the best thing to keep in mind is not to overcook it.

Even though bone-in chicken provides a little more room for overcooking if you leave it in for too long you’ll still get dry chicken.

Be careful when taking your thermometer readings that the tip of the thermometer isn’t touching the actual bone but the meat around the bone. The bone inside the chicken will be much hotter and could give you inaccurate readings.

How to Cook Bone In Chicken Breast

This is the perfect chicken breast recipe to keep in your back pocket because you could use it for practically any kind of dish. It’s easy to make and you can still dice or shred the chicken if the recipe you are using calls for it.

Once you get used to the recipe you can easily eyeball it and not have to worry about using a measuring cup. Adding in more of your own spices and ingredients will keep this bone in chicken breast recipe fun and exciting for future lunches and dinners.

The Ingredients

Bone In Chicken Breast – The star of the show, the bone in chicken breast can be used in a ton of different dishes and is a great way to get more flavor into your cooking. It’s leaner than other meats so it’s healthier for you and will pack plenty of flavor.

Olive Oil – Get yourself a high-quality olive oil so you can feel good about putting a good amount over your chicken breast. It helps get the skin nice and crispy and brings out all the flavors of the herbs and spices you’ll be using.

Lemon – You don’t always have to use lemon but it pairs so well with chicken and gives it a little tartness that can be contrasted by sweetness or saltiness in other dishes. It keeps the chicken light and refreshing in heavier meals.

Seasoning – The best way to make bone in chicken breast is by adding your own seasonings. This can be salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or any other spice that you like. Doing it yourself lets you control the flavor and make it exactly how you want it.

Don’t be afraid once you make this recipe a couple of times to start mixing things up and adding more or less of the ingredients you love. Keeping it fun and interesting is going to be the best way to keep this dish fresh.

The Directions

Take your chicken breast and arrange it on a parchment paper lined baking dish

Start patting your chicken dry with paper towels on all surfaces

Throw the oil and all your seasonings in a bowl and mix together thoroughly

Take a cooking brush and dip it into the seasoning mixture and start to coat the outside of your chicken

Take several pieces of lemon and start to squeeze them so the lemon juice runs over the entire chicken

Throw a few lemon wedges around the chicken

Sprinkle some salt and some pepper on each chicken breast evenly

Bake the chicken at 350 degrees for about 35-45 minutes. When the chicken is fully cooked, throw it in the broiler for an additional 2 minutes.

Cover the chicken when it is done and let it rest for 2 minutes so all the juices absorb into the meat.

Uncover the chicken and serve it for your guests.

Cooking Tips

If you like crispy skin then you will not want to skip the broiler step because it’s your best chance at getting crispy skin. You could also use an air fryer for the same effect.

You can also remove the skin before serving if you are trying to make the chicken healthier.

What to Serve With Baked Split Chicken Breasts

There are plenty of dishes you can use this bone in skinless chicken breast recipe with.

Pastas dishes are great because the chicken can be diced or shredded and mixed right in.

Rice dishes are also a great option and can easily absorb all the delicious flavors of the chicken.

Salads are always a good light option and will let the baked split chicken breast be the star of the show.

Soups are also great because they can be hearty and filling while still being healthy.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to recipes that you can use this bone in chicken recipe with. Get creative and have fun with it!

Storage Tips

Anytime you make chicken breast you want to make sure you store it in the fridge within 2 hours of cooking.

You can store roasted split chicken breast in the fridge for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container.

If you want to freeze your bone in or boneless chicken breast, you can do so by wrapping it in a food-safe wrapand then putting it in a freezer bag. It will last in the freezer for about 3 months and you’ll want to let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.