Oven Baked Chicken Breasts (Printable)
Juicy herb-seasoned chicken breasts baked to golden perfection—an easy, healthy weeknight main dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 5 to 6 ounces each
→ Marinade and Seasoning
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend (oregano, basil, thyme)
06 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Optional Garnish
09 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
10 - Lemon wedges for serving
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, dried Italian herbs, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast, coating thoroughly.
05 - Bake for 18 to 25 minutes depending on thickness, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F when measured with an instant-read thermometer.
06 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The seasoning rub forms a golden, herb flecked crust that makes you forget this is a healthy weeknight dinner.
- Once its in the oven, you have twenty uninterrupted minutes to set the table, toss a salad, or pour yourself a glass of wine.
02 -
- Carryover cooking will push the temperature up another few degrees after you pull the chicken from the oven, so taking it out at 162 or 163 degrees F is actually safer for moistness.
- A quick brine of salt water for fifteen to thirty minutes before seasoning is the single best thing you can do for juiciness, and I ignored this advice for years before finally trying it.
03 -
- If your chicken breasts are very thick on one end, place them between plastic wrap and pound them gently to an even thickness so they cook uniformly.
- Letting the seasoned chicken sit on the counter for ten minutes before baking takes the chill off and leads to more even cooking throughout.