I actually like having pre-cooked hen within the fridge that I can use to rapidly whip up a sandwich or wrap, or add protein to a bowl of pasta, salad, or one in all my “leftovers” bowls. Whereas I typically use a rotisserie hen for this function, they’re generally simply too salty, and we’ve got a tough time going by means of an entire hen between the 2 of us. So, this roasted hen breast recipe solves that drawback. The low and gradual roasting methodology makes these herb roasted hen breasts prove extremely tender and juicy, with flavorful pan juices that make the leftovers simply pretty much as good as the primary night time!
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“This has been my favourite hen recipe since I discovered it on Pinterest many months in the past. Even the pickiest eaters have picked all of the meat off the bones! It takes time, however little or no effort and the leftovers are beautiful. It’s the sort of recipe that you just like to share, but additionally wish to preserve high secret!!”
Mary
Herby and Simple Roasted Hen Breasts
I first used the “low and gradual” method with my oven roasted hen legs and was actually happy with not solely the feel of the meat, however the scrumptious juices that have been left within the dish after roasting.
This time I mixed the butter with a trio of herbs and slathered it over two bone-in, skin-on break up hen breasts. The breasts have been fairly giant, so I lowered the warmth a bit and allow them to roast even longer earlier than eradicating the quilt to allow them to brown. The outcomes have been much more unbelievable. I pulled the meat from the breasts after cooking, drizzled the juices over high, and have been snacking on the meat all week.
- Use bone-in, skin-on hen breasts. The bone acts like insulation throughout the low-and-slow roast, serving to the meat prepare dinner gently and keep juicy the entire means by means of. The pores and skin provides taste and fats and offers us these wealthy pan juices on the finish. This methodology actually is designed for bone-in, skin-on breasts. As written, it’s not appropriate for boneless breasts, however I’ve included notes within the recipe card if you wish to adapt it. And in case you’ve bought an entire hen as a substitute, I like to recommend following our complete roasted hen recipe for the perfect outcomes!
- Pat the hen dry earlier than seasoning. I used to skip this step, nevertheless it issues greater than you’d suppose. Dry pores and skin helps the butter stick evenly, which suggests higher taste protection and extra constant browning later.
- Examine doneness the suitable means. Hen is totally cooked at 165°F, however watch out to not hit the bone together with your meat thermometer when checking the temperature. The bone runs hotter and may give you a false studying. Purpose for the thickest a part of the meat as a substitute.
- You don’t have to brine this hen, however you’ll be able to if you would like further juicy outcomes. A easy brine of ¼ cup kosher salt, ¼ cup sugar, and a couple of quarts chilly water works nice (similar to we do in our baked hen breast recipe). Brine it for half-hour within the fridge earlier than rinsing and patting dry.
- Shopping for hen on a price range. Household packs are normally the most affordable per pound. I purchased a pack of 4 breasts, cooked two, and froze the remainder for an additional recipe later. It saves cash, and future-you will probably be very grateful!
- Attempt the Prompt Pot. You can also make this dish even quicker and simpler! Simply comply with the method utilized in my stress cooker hen and rice recipe (prepare dinner the hen at excessive stress for 30 minutes with 2 cups of water, launch the stress naturally, then broil to brown the pores and skin).
Herb Roasted Hen Breast
Price $7.69 recipe / $1.92 serving
These juicy and tender Herb Roasted Hen Breasts are a breeze to make and are an excellent substitute for retailer purchased rotisserie hen.
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Collect and put together all components. Preheat the oven to 275ºF. Take away the hen from the fridge and permit it to heat barely as you put together the butter herb combine (5 minutes or so).
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In a small bowl, stir collectively the butter, minced garlic, basil, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
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Place the hen on a slicing board and pat it dry on each side with a clear paper towel. Smear the butter herb combination over each side of the hen. Drying the meat will assist the butter herb combination stick. If the meat is just too chilly, it’ll kind condensation as you rub the butter combination over the floor and the butter is not going to stick.
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Place the seasoned hen items in a casserole dish that’s deep sufficient to completely comprise the hen. Cowl tightly with foil, or with the dish’s lid if there may be one. Bake the hen within the preheated oven for 90 minutes, basting as soon as half means by means of.
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Ater 90 minutes, take away the foil, baste once more, and alter the oven’s temperature to 425ºF. Bake the hen at 425ºF for 20 minutes with out the foil, or till the pores and skin is deep golden brown and crispy. The interior temperature must be 165ºF as soon as totally cooked. Take away the hen from the oven and let relaxation for 5-10 minutes.
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Slice the breasts or pull the meat from the bone. Reserve the juices from the underside of the casserole dish for drizzling over high of the meat.
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For directions on how one can bake boneless hen breasts, I’d comply with the instructions from my garlic herb baked hen breasts, that are as follows:
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In case your boneless, skinless hen breasts are thicker than ¾-inch on the thickest finish, place them on a slicing board, cowl with plastic wrap, and pound till they’re between ½–¾-inch thick all the way in which throughout. Pat the hen dry and canopy with the herb butter.
- Organize on a baking sheet or in a casserole dish with area between every bit. Bake for about 20 minutes, or till the thickest half reaches 165ºF.
- Let relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing and serving.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 235kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 19gFats: 17gSodium: 416mgFiber: 0.3g
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Methods to Make Herb Roasted Hen Breast Step-by-Step Images
Collect all your components: Start preheating the oven to 275ºF. Take the hen out of the fridge so it has a couple of minutes to come back as much as temperature. You solely want two bone-in, skin-on hen breasts for this recipe, so I froze the opposite two for future use.
Make the herb butter: In a small bowl, mix 3 Tbsp room temperature butter, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp dried rosemary, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper. Rosemary items might be giant, so I simply crush them up in my hand earlier than including them. Stir this combination up till it kinds a paste.
Dry the hen: Place two break up hen breasts (bone-in, skin-on, about 2 lbs. whole) on a slicing board and pat them dry with a paper towel. They must be pretty dry for the butter to stay. Additionally, if the hen is just too chilly, they are going to kind condensation and develop into moist once more, which is why you’ll need them to heat a bit as you combine the butter.
Add the butter: Place the seasoned hen breasts in a casserole dish that’s deep sufficient to completely comprise the hen. Unfold the butter herb combination over each side of the hen, coating it in a thick layer.
Roast: Cowl the dish tightly with foil (that is necessary to carry within the moisture), or if the dish has an oven-safe lid, that’s even higher.
Roast the breasts within the 275ºF oven for 90 minutes, basting as soon as half means by means of (substitute the foil as tightly as doable after basting). Cooking greater than two breasts? No want to regulate the prepare dinner time or oven temperature. Simply use a baking dish giant sufficient to carry all the pieces with just a little area between every breast so the warmth can flow into correctly. Crowding the pan may cause uneven cooking.
After the complete 90 minutes, take away the foil, baste yet another time, and alter the oven’s warmth to 425ºF.
Return the hen to the oven and roast for 20 minutes with out the foil, or till the pores and skin is deep golden brown and crispy. The secure inside temperature for hen is 165°F as soon as totally cooked.
Give it one final baste with these scrumptious juices for good measure and let the meat relaxation for 5-10 minutes. Letting the meat relaxation a couple of minutes helps preserve the juices inside and the meat good and moist!
Take away the hen from the bones: You possibly can both do that by working a knife towards the bone or…
…as soon as cooled sufficient to deal with, use your arms to separate the hen from the bones. And don’t neglect to tug any bits and items of meat left on the bones, such as you would with a rotisserie hen. It’s simply too good to let any go to waste!
After I eliminated all of the meat from the bones, I gave it one other good dose of these scrumptious juices. SO GOOD. Slice or shred your hen, and revel in!
It makes a formidable essential dish, however I’m simply including just a few items to all the pieces I eat this week! Relying on the way you serve it and the way massive your hen items are, you’ll get 4-6 servings. Make sure that to avoid wasting these juices and pour them over high earlier than stashing it within the fridge!
Serving Ideas
Meat and potatoes are at all times going to be a match made in heaven, so I really like these roasted hen breasts with a aspect of mashed potatoes (you’ve GOT to drizzle a few of the pan juices over your mash). Then I’d add one other veggie to my plate. Inexperienced beans or roasted broccoli are good, however if you would like one thing just a little further, Tennessee onions make an excellent special-occasion aspect.
For leftovers, this hen is a meal prep dream. I’ll chop or shred it and add it to a pot of soup, like our marry me hen soup, the place it warms by means of and stays tender. It’s additionally nice for bowl meals. I really like utilizing it to make our loaded cauliflower bowls even extra loaded. A bit herby roast hen breast goes a great distance, which makes this recipe simply as helpful after dinner as it’s the first night time.
Storage, Reheating & Meal Prep
This roasted hen breast recipe is particularly nice for storing, freezing, and meal prepping. As soon as the hen has cooled, I like to tug the meat from the bones and retailer it in an hermetic container with a spoonful or two of the pan juices to maintain all the pieces moist. It should preserve effectively within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days and reheats gently with out drying out. For longer storage, portion the hen into freezer-safe containers or baggage, once more with just a little of that liquid gold, and freeze for as much as 4 months.
To reheat, I normally heat the hen in a coated skillet or saucepan over low warmth with a splash of broth, water, or a spoonful of the reserved pan juices to maintain it from drying out. The microwave works too, simply reheat briefly bursts and canopy it so the steam stays trapped. You may as well add it straight into sauces, soups, or casseroles and heat it by means of that means.
Our Oven Roasted Hen Breast recipe was initially revealed 1/1/17. Now we have up to date it to be the perfect it may be and republished 1/18/26.
