Oven Baked Chicken Breast (Print View)

Enjoy perfectly baked chicken breasts, seasoned wonderfully. Great for dinner, meal prep, or adding protein to any dish.

# Components:

→ 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

09 - Lemon slices
10 - Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

→ Optional Marinade

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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat 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 and gently pound to even thickness (~¾ inch) using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
03 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper until thoroughly mixed.
04 - Rub seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast. Optionally, marinate chicken in the Simple Marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours in refrigerator, then pat dry before seasoning.
05 - Arrange seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not crowded for even cooking.
06 - Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F.
07 - Remove from oven and let chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with lemon slices and chopped parsley or cilantro if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its practically foolproof even on the most chaotic weeknights when your brain is barely functioning
  • The seasoning blend creates this gorgeous crust that locks in every drop of moisture
  • You can slice it over salads, sandwich it between bread, or eat it straight from the plate
02 -
  • Using an instant read thermometer is the only way to guarantee perfectly cooked chicken every single time
  • Pounding the chicken to even thickness is the game changing step most people skip but should not
  • Letting it rest feels like torture when you are hungry but makes a massive difference in moisture
03 -
  • Chicken thighs work beautifully here and stay even juicier with just a few extra minutes of baking time
  • The simple marinade can be doubled and used on vegetables for a complete sheet pan dinner
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