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Why You’ll Love My Recipe
Looking for the perfect Baked Chicken Breasts? Look no further! This recipe delivers juicy, flavorful chicken every time, thanks to a tasty homemade seasoning blend and a few simple cooking tips. Best of all, this meal is healthy, satisfying, and always hits the spot!
Want more delicious ways to enjoy chicken? Try my Chicken Francaise, Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole, or some Chicken Piccata! Each recipe is stress-free, family-approved, and downright delicious!
Karlynn’s Recipe Notes
- Skill Level: These Baked Chicken Breasts are easy to make with just a little attention and care, so they’re perfect for a quick weekday dinner or a cozy weekend meal!
- Total Time: You’ll have this recipe ready in about 25 minutes from start to finish.
- Variations: This chicken is already packed with flavor, but you can always add an extra boost! Try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat, soaking it in a marinade like my Chimichurri Recipe, or spooning some sauce on top before serving. Pair your chicken with some Honey Butter Skillet Corn, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, or toss it into a fresh, crisp salad!
- Tools For This Recipe: You will need a mallet or rolling pin for pounding the chicken, a small bowl, a whisk, a baking tray for cooking, and a platter for resting and serving.
What You’ll Need for Ingredients
Chicken Breasts: While chicken breasts sometimes get a reputation for being dry, these turn out juicy and flavorful every time! Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the best results with easy prep. Karlynn’s Tip: When pounding the chicken to an even thickness, aim to match all pieces to the thinnest breast. This ensures they cook evenly and prevents overcooked edges!
Oil: Use olive oil, avocado oil, or grapeseed oil to rub on the chicken breasts. This helps the seasoning stick and ensures a nice, golden finish!
Chicken Seasoning: This recipe uses my homemade Chicken Seasoning, a mix of thyme, paprika, garlic, salt, pepper, and a few other spices that bring all the flavor. Karlynn’s Tip: Feel free to swap in other spices or taste profiles you love – smoky chipotle, lemon-pepper, or even a touch of curry all work beautifully!
How To Make Baked Chicken Breasts
This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Place the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to an even thickness.
- Whisk the seasonings together in a small bowl.
- Line a tray with parchment paper, rub each chicken breast with oil, and sprinkle them with the seasoning.
- Place the chicken on the parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes, until it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165ºF.
- Remove from the oven and rest for 2 minutes before cutting and serving.
Karlynn’s Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Baked Chicken Breasts
- Even Cooking Every Time: Chicken breasts can be tricky because they’re often uneven, with one thick end and one thin end. This usually leads to overcooked thinner parts and undercooked thicker parts. The easiest fix? Pound your chicken to an even thickness! Use a meat mallet, rolling pin, or even the bottom of a solid pint glass. This ensures every piece finishes cooking at the same time and comes out tender and juicy!
- Hot and Fast for Juiciness: Chicken breasts are low in fat, which means they need quick, high-heat cooking to stay moist. This baking method sears the outside, creating those delicious browned bits, while keeping the inside soft. Always remember the golden rule of cooking low-fat proteins: hot and fast!
- Temperature Know-How: Chicken is fully safe to eat at 165°F, but here’s the trick for maximum juiciness: remove the chicken from the oven at 160°F! Thanks to carry-over heat, the internal temperature will continue to rise as it rests, reaching a safe temperature of 165°F without drying out your meat. Always use an instant-read thermometer for best results!
Storage Instructions
Cook once and enjoy twice! If you have any leftovers, store your chicken breasts for easy grab-and-go meals, sandwiches, or salad toppers.
Refrigerator: Let the chicken cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave to keep the meat tender.
Freezer: You can absolutely freeze these chicken breasts! Wrap each piece individually in plastic wrap or foil, then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months, following USDA food safety guidelines. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in the oven and enjoy!
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
If you’re loving these Baked Chicken Breasts, you’ll want to try these Chicken Recipes next:
- This Lemon Pepper Chicken is bright, zesty, and full of flavor. Try it next time you’re craving a simple weeknight dinner!
- My Shredded Chicken Tacos are quick, versatile, and oh-so-satisfying – great for an easy Taco Tuesday!
- Creamy, cheesy, and packed with protein, my Instant Pot White Chicken Chili is ready in a fraction of the time.
There you have it, folks! Juicy, tender, and seasoned just right, these Baked Chicken Breasts make weeknight dinners a breeze.
Give this recipe a try, enjoy every bite, and don’t forget to share your twists or tips in the comments below! You know that I always love hearing about your kitchen adventures.
Happy Cooking!
Karlynn
Baked Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 large chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
- 2 tablespoons oil
Chicken Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F
- Place the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap, then pound into an even thickness, anywhere from .6 to .8 of an inch thick. Adjust the thickness of all of the pieces to match your thinnest chicken breast so that they are all the same size.
- Whisk together the seasoning in a small bowl.
- Line a tray with parchment paper. Rub each chicken breast with olive oil then sprinkle with the seasoning, covering the surface in an even layer, covering the chicken as much as you like. Place each chicken breast on the parchment paper.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the internal temperature is 165°F using an instant read thermometer.
- Remove from oven and transfer to your serving platter. Let rest 2-3 minutes, then serve.
Notes
- Making sure that the chicken is the same thickness ensures a tender, juicy chicken breast that cooks quickly and evenly!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Cat says
Hi – you say “large” chicken breasts, and show nutrition info, but how can WE know what the nutrition info is if we have no definitive weight for the “large” breasts? Thanks for any specific info you can give, at least the weight of the breasts you used.