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Baked Split Chicken Breast Recipe – learn how to make this perfectly seasoned, juicy with a crispy skin. This is the best way to cook bone in skin on chicken breast in the oven.

Bone in skin on chicken breast on a cast iron skillet

Looking for a simple, yet flavorful and tasty chicken dinner idea? Have you ever bought these large bone in skin on chicken breasts from the store to at your butcher?

These chicken breasts are very easy to make and harder to overcook, compared to boneless skinless chicken breasts.

Crispy skin and juicy meat, this is one of my go to dinners lately. Easily seasoned with 

Whole baked skin on bone in chicken breast in a pan

What exactly is a split chicken breast or bone in skin on chicken breast?

Split chicken breast is also known as bone-in skin on chicken breast and you can find it at some grocery stores or get it by cutting the breast off the chicken.

These are chicken breasts cut split with the breast bone underneath and the skin over them. They are less expensive than boneless chicken breasts, but have a great advantage to them.

Cooking meat on the bone with the skin on provides and additional protection to overcooking and drying out the white chicken meat. The bone acts like a rack for baking and the skin keeps the meat juicy, while it is browning.

Imagine carving out the chicken meat from a whole rotisserie chicken? This is exactly how roasted bone in skin on chicken breast looks, when cooked and the bone is removed.

Sliced bone in skin on chicken breast in a pan

Can you buy boneless chicken breast with the skin on?

Yes, skin on boneless chicken breasts are available at a lot of grocery stores and are usually less expensive than boneless skinless chicken breasts.

How to season bone in skin on chicken breast?

Just a simple salt and pepper seasoning will do it, but if you’d like to take the extra step you can use your favorite poultry seasoning or spice mix.

To season these Baked Split Chicken Breasts I used:

  • sea salt
  • black pepper
  • paprika
  • garlic powder
  • thyme (optional)
  • olive oil
  • butter (optional, see recipe notes)
Seasoned bone in skin on chicken breast in a clear bowl

How to make this Baked Split Chicken Breast ?

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. Drizzle olive oil over both sides of the chicken breast. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and thyme.
  3. Heat 1 tsp of olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add Butter.
  4. Add the chicken, skin side down. Cook for 5 minutes, without trying to move the chicken.
  5. Turn and place in the oven.
  6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat, without touching the bone reads 165 F.
  7. Take out of the oven, let the meat rest for 5 -10 minutes, then slice.

How long to bake skin on bone in chicken breast in the oven for?

Bone in skin on chicken breast in a cast iron pan

In order to achieve a crispy skin in this chicken recipe, I used a combination of two popular cooking methods: pan searing and oven baking.

I first cooked the chicken breast skin side down in a skillet for 5 minutes, turned so the skin side is up and then baked at 400 F for 15-20 minutes, until the meat reached an internal temperature of 165 F. 

What to serve these Baked Split Chicken Breasts with?

Serve with salads, grilled or roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower.

More Chicken Recipes:

This Easy Butter Chicken from The Endless Meal could be ready in 30 minutes. he sauce is creamy and rich, just like you got it from your favorite Indian restaurant.

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Bone in skin on chicken breast on a cast iron skillet
5 from 1 vote

Baked Split Chicken Breast Recipe

Baked Split Chicken Breast Recipe – learn how to make this perfectly seasoned, juicy with a crispy skin. This is the best way to cook bone in skin on chicken breast in the oven
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 14-16 oz bone in skin on chicken breast
  • 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp thyme
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • optional for serving:
  • lemon juice
  • fresh parsley or cilantro , for garnishing

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Drizzle olive oil over both sides of the chicken breast. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and thyme.
  • Heat 1 tsp of olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add Butter.
  • Add the chicken, skin side down. Cook for 5 minutes, without trying to move the chicken.
  • Turn and place in the oven.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat, without touching the bone reads 165 F.
  • Take out of the oven, let the meat rest for 5 -10 minutes, then slice.

Nutrition

Calories: 790kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 38g, Fat: 70g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 146mg, Sodium: 1380mg, Potassium: 398mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 788IU, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @cookinglsl or tag #cookinglsl!

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Hi! I'm Mira.

I share simple, mostly low-carb and Keto recipes, that don't take a lot of time to make and use mostly seasonal, easy to find ingredients. I'm a supporter of healthy eating, but you'll also find some indulgent treats too.

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6 Comments

  1. It is unbelievable how much better bone in chicken breast tasted than a boneless breast. This was easy to make following the instructions.

  2. This definitely took well over 20 minutes. At the hour mark, it was still bleeding, so I cranked it up to 425F.
    Plan your sides accordingly.

  3. the recipe calls for lemon juice and cilantro. i’ve read the recipe 15 times and i still can’t figure out what i’m supposed to do with those.