how long does it take to cook bone in chicken at 425

How Long Does It Take to Cook Bone-In Chicken at 425°F? (1889 words)

A high temperature, like 425°F, is a great way to quickly get crispy skin and juicy meat on bone-in chicken breasts. I’m always looking for ways to cut down on cooking time without sacrificing flavor because I love having dinner parties and making quick meals during the week.

So how long does it really take to cook bone-in split chicken breasts at 425°F? After a lot of trial and error in my own kitchen, I’ve found the best way to bake bone-in chicken breasts every time. Keep reading for my step-by-step instructions and tips for getting the most flavor and moisture out of your food.

Why Choose Bone-In Chicken Breasts?

Before we get into oven temps and cook times, let’s discuss why bone-in chicken breasts should be your go-to over boneless skinless breasts. There are a few major benefits:

• More Flavor – Chicken bones impart extra flavor as the meat cooks. This makes bone-in breasts ideal for recipes where chicken is the star of the show.

• More moisture—The bone keeps the meat warm, which slows down the cooking process. This keeps the delicate breast meat extra juicy.

• Better Texture: Bone-in breasts have a mix of dark and white meat, so they are both tender and crispy at the same time.

• Much Cheaper – Pound for pound, bone-in chicken costs significantly less than boneless skinless. Score!

• Easy to Use – Bone-in breasts are versatile. Roast them whole for dinner, then toss the bones in a stock pot and shred or dice the meat for salads, sandwiches, casseroles and more.

The Perfect Time and Temperature

Now let’s discuss the cooking specifics. While recipes abound for bone-in chicken breasts, they provide a wide range of suggested cooking temps and times. Through testing, I’ve landed on 425°F for 40-50 minutes as the ideal combo for achieving both crispy skin and moist meat when working with two average-sized (1-1.5 lb) bone-in split breasts.

Here are more details on my process:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.

2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and rub with oil or dry seasoning rub. This helps achieve crispy skin.

3. Place chicken skin-side up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Parchment prevents sticking.

4. Bake for 20 minutes at 425°F. This initial high heat browns the skin.

5. Reduce heat to 375°F and bake 20-30 minutes more until juices run clear and meat thermometer inserted in thickest part reads 165°F.

6. Let rest 5-10 minutes before serving. The temperature will rise a bit more as it rests.

The initial 425°F blast gives you crispy skin, while reducing the temp later ensures the meat cooks through without drying out. Bone-in chicken breasts are done when the internal temp reaches 165°F. Resting completes the cooking process for tender, foolproof results.

This method allows you to customize the cook time based on the size of your chicken breasts. Smaller or thinner breasts may require less time, while thicker or larger ones may need more. I recommend starting to check temperature after 35 minutes.

Tips for Maximizing Flavor and Moisture

Achieving juicy, flavorful bone-in chicken breasts goes beyond just the cooking time and temp. Here are some of my top tips:

• Brine the chicken. Soaking breasts in a saltwater brine solution seasons the meat and helps it retain moisture.

• Use a meat thermometer. It takes the guesswork out of determining doneness. Cook to 165°F.

• Let it rest. Never skip this step! Resting allows juices to redistribute throughout the meat.

• Reserve pan drippings. The collected juices make an incredible base for sauces or gravies.

• Cook at room temperature. Letting meat sit out for 30-60 mins promotes even cooking.

• Pat skin dry pre-roasting. Drying the skin gives you uber-crispiness.

• Use lower-moisture herbs and spices. Wet marinades make steam that inhibits crispy skin.

• Brush with oil or rub. Coating the skin with oil gives it a headstart on crisping.

• Cook on a rack. Elevating the chicken allows air flow for crispier skin.

By mastering the cooking time, temperature, and these flavor-boosting tricks, you’ll be rewarded with the most mouthwateringly moist and tender bone-in chicken breasts.

Read on for step-by-step oven roasting instructions, more cooking time options, and serving ideas.

Oven Roasted Bone-In Chicken Breast Recipe

This basic recipe uses the time and temp guidance provided above. Feel free to customize with different herb and spice rubs.

Ingredients:

• 2 bone-in split chicken breasts (about 3 lbs total)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil or melted butter
• 1 1⁄2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1⁄2 tsp black pepper
• 1⁄4 tsp paprika

Instructions:

1. Remove chicken from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature for 30 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels.

2. Combine olive oil, salt, thyme, pepper, and paprika. Rub spice mixture all over chicken, including under skin and backside.

3. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

4. Place chicken skin-side up on prepared baking sheet. Roast 20 minutes.

5. Reduce heat to 375°F. Roast about 25 minutes more until thermometer inserted in thickest part reads 165°F.

6. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Cooking Time Options

While 40-50 minutes is ideal, you can further customize the cooking time based on your preferences:

• For extra-crispy skin, extend the initial 425°F roasting time to 25-30 minutes.

• If pressed for time, bake at 450°F the entire time for ~40 mins total. The skin crisps faster.

• For very large (2+ lb) breasts, increase total cook time up to 60 minutes.

• If cooking more than two breasts, arrange them evenly on two pans. Rotate pans and check temp early.

The internal temperature, not total roasting time, is the best indicator of doneness. Use a thermometer for guaranteed perfection every time.

Serving Suggestions

Bone-in chicken breasts truly shine when served whole or sliced alongside classic pairings and sides:

• For a romantic dinner, serve breasts sliced over arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette.

• Meal prep by shredding the chicken and tossing into healthy grain bowls all week.

• Dice chicken and mix with buffalo sauce for an easy spin on boneless wings.

• Slice and use in sandwiches, wraps, on top of salads or stirred into pasta dishes.

• Shred or dice chicken to mix into chicken salad, casseroles or soups.

• Save bones to make homemade chicken stock simmering with veggies and herbs.

From sandwiches to salads, soups to casseroles, bone-in chicken is endlessly versatile. And when roasted properly, you get tender, juicy meat with craveably crispy skin every time.

The Takeaway

Cooking bone-in chicken breasts at a high temp like 425°F delivers perfect results in about 40-50 minutes. Focus on achieving crispy skin by drying the breasts well and roasting at 425°F for the first 20 minutes. Then reduce to 375°F and cook through until the internal temp hits 165°F. Resting afterwards locks in moisture.

While the precise cook time may vary based on your oven and breast size, using a meat thermometer guarantees foolproof, juicy chicken. With this easy method, you can ditch boring boneless skinless breasts in favor of flavorful and budget-friendly bone-in chicken.