Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast (Printer-Friendly)

Tender chicken breasts baked with garlic, paprika, and herbs. Ready in 35 minutes for dinners or meal prep.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 6 to 8 ounces 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, optional
10 - Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, optional

→ Simple Marinade

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

# Directions:

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 of approximately 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 well blended.
04 - Rub seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast. For enhanced flavor, optionally marinate chicken in the Simple Marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours in the refrigerator, then pat dry before proceeding.
05 - Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they do not overlap.
06 - Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165°F.
07 - Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with lemon slices and chopped parsley or cilantro if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It rescues you on those nights when the fridge looks bare but you need real food fast.
  • The seasoning crust creates flavor without breadcrumbs, butter, or any fussy steps.
  • Leftovers actually taste good cold in a salad the next day, which rarely happens with chicken.
02 -
  • If you skip pounding the chicken to an even thickness, the thin end will dry out before the thick end is fully cooked.
  • Resting the chicken after baking is not optional, those 5 minutes make the difference between juicy slices and a puddle of lost moisture on your plate.
03 -
  • Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before baking so it cooks more evenly and doesn't shock in the hot oven.
  • If your oven runs hot or cold, invest in an oven thermometer, mine was off by 25 degrees and I had no idea until I checked.
  • Save the pan drippings and toss them with roasted vegetables or stir into rice for extra flavor without any extra work.
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