Oven Baked Chicken Breast (Printer View)

Deliciously baked chicken breasts, seasoned for maximum flavor and tenderness. Quick to prepare, perfect for healthy meals anytime.

# What you'll need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6-8 oz each)

→ Seasoning

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked or sweet)
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish (optional)

09 - Lemon slices
10 - Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

→ Simple Marinade (optional)

11 - ¼ cup olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
13 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
14 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
15 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

# Method:

01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a baking dish.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Place between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper and gently pound to even thickness (¾ inch) using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
03 - In a small bowl, mix olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper until combined.
04 - Rub seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast. Optional: For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in the Simple Marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours in the refrigerator. Pat dry before seasoning.
05 - Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are not crowded.
06 - Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165°F.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with lemon slices and chopped parsley or cilantro, if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The seasoning blend creates this gorgeous golden crust that locks in all the juices
  • It comes together in under 10 minutes of active work but tastes like you put in way more effort
02 -
  • I once skipped pounding the chicken and the thin parts dried out while the thick parts were still raw, lesson learned
  • An instant read thermometer eliminated all my guessing games about doneness
03 -
  • Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly, so take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before you start
  • The lemon garnish isnt just pretty, a squeeze over the hot chicken brightens everything
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