Description
Perfectly seasoned, tender, and juicy baked chicken breast with a golden-brown exterior. This foolproof recipe delivers restaurant-quality results in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients you already have in your pantry.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6–8 oz each)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (or oregano)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted (optional, for extra richness)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a baking dish.
- Prepare the chicken: Pat chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels. If breasts are uneven in thickness, use a meat mallet to gently pound them to an even ¾ to 1-inch thickness.
- Season the chicken: In a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Brush both sides of each chicken breast with olive oil, then rub the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides.
- Arrange on baking sheet: Place seasoned chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each piece. If using melted butter, brush it over the top of each breast.
- Bake: Place in preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F when measured with a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the breast.
- Rest: Remove from oven and let chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
- Serve: Slice and serve immediately with your favorite sides, or store for meal prep.
Notes
- Even thickness is key: Pounding chicken to an even thickness ensures uniform cooking and prevents dry spots.
- Don’t skip the rest: Letting chicken rest for 5 minutes keeps it juicy by allowing juices to redistribute.
- Temperature matters: Use a meat thermometer for best results. Chicken is safe to eat at 165°F.
- Room temperature chicken: For even cooking, let chicken sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking.
- Scaling: This recipe easily doubles or triples for meal prep. Just make sure not to overcrowd the baking sheet.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast (approximately 6 oz cooked)
- Calories: 245 kcal
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
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