Oven Baked Chicken Breasts (Printable)

Achieve tender, juicy chicken breasts with this easy oven-baking method. Perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection every time.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)

→ Marinade / Seasoning

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
08 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
09 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)

→ Garnish (Optional)

10 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
11 - Lemon wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Place them in a large bowl or zip-top bag.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
04 - In a small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, thyme, and cayenne (if using). Sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts and rub in well.
05 - Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
06 - Bake for 18–25 minutes, depending on thickness, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
07 - Remove from oven, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
08 - Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The seasoning blend creates this incredible savory crust that makes people think you spent way more time on dinner than you actually did
  • You'll get juicy, tender chicken every single time without having to hover over the stove or guess about doneness
02 -
  • Pounding the chicken to even thickness before cooking eliminates dry spots and makes everything cook uniformly
  • Using a meat thermometer takes all the guesswork out and guarantees perfectly cooked chicken every time
03 -
  • Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking for more even cooking
  • Don't skip the resting period because those five minutes make the difference between juicy and dry chicken

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