7 Baked Chicken Breast Recipes

Chicken really is the winner's dinner. Americans are consuming more chicken than beef for the first time in 100 years, and we get why. Chicken is cheaper and just as delectable when you know what you're doing in the kitchen. Baked chicken might be one of the most nutritious, cheap, and filling meals a meat-eater can cook at dinnertime.

Unfortunately, after decades of people overcooking chicken breasts, this particular dish has a bad reputation. Just follow these easy tips for baking chicken breasts and you won't regret your decision to ditch the rest of the cumbersome bird for a quick dinner dish that doesn't require hours of roasting.

First, treat those chicken breasts with respect. They need lots of seasoning, especially salt, to draw out that good chicken flavor. Next, remember that chicken breasts lack fat, which is why they tend to dry out in the oven. Drape a piece of parchment over top to act as a kind of "skin," keeping your chicken breasts juicy. Finally, rub your baking dish with butter or olive oil to keep the chicken from sticking, and preheat the pan in the oven.

Follow these simple tips for a perfectly cooked chicken breast. If you need some baked chicken breast recipe inspiration, check out a few of our favorite picks from The Daily Meal's collection.

Chicken cordon bleu is a French-inspired poultry dish that was developed by chefs in the United States in an effort to imitate stuffed meat dishes from Europe. Cordon bleu, which means "blue ribbon" in French, has chicken, such as Gruyère or Swiss, and prosciutto or ham as the basic ingredients.

Click here for the Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe.

This easy baked chicken is deliciously light and perfect for any weather.

Click here for the Baked Panko Crusted Chicken recipe.

No need to wait until Thanksgiving to use sauce as a topping. Try it on this baked chicken recipe.

Click here for the Baked Chicken Topped with Cranberry Sauce recipe.

The fall flavor combination of and blue cheese brings a seasonal element to an otherwise simple chicken dish.

Click here for the Baked Chicken with Spinach, Pears, and Blue Cheese recipe.

Ten minutes are all you need to prep a lively Greek-inspired baked chicken dish with , parsley, and feta cheese.

Click here for the Easy Feta-Chicken Bake recipe.

For the ultimate pumpkin dish, serve this -flavored chicken. It's easy to make, and you can serve it as your main dish.

Click here for the Pumpkin Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe.

It is simple, but this recipe jazzes up chicken in a fun way and will earn you many compliments.

Click here for the Ricotta Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breasts recipe.
 

Click here for more chicken breast recipes.

Angela Carlos is the Cook Editor at The Daily Meal. Find her on Twitter and tweet @angelaccarlos.