Oven Baked Chicken Breasts (Printable version)

Herb-seasoned chicken breasts baked juicy and tender in the oven, ready in 35 minutes for a healthy weeknight dinner.

# What you'll need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 5 to 6 ounces each

→ Seasoning Blend

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 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

09 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - Lemon wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease the surface.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts thoroughly dry with paper towels and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, dried Italian herbs, onion powder, salt, and black pepper into a uniform paste.
04 - Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast, ensuring full coverage.
05 - Bake for 18 to 25 minutes depending on thickness, until the internal temperature registers 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.
06 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The seasoning rub comes together in under a minute with spices you probably already have sitting in your pantry.
  • It delivers perfectly cooked, juicy chicken every single time without any guesswork or fancy equipment.
02 -
  • Overcooking by even a few minutes turns chicken breasts from silky to cardboard, so start checking temperature at the 18 minute mark rather than waiting.
  • A quick saltwater brine for 15 to 30 minutes before seasoning is the single best thing you can do for juiciness, and it requires almost zero extra effort.
03 -
  • If your chicken breasts vary in thickness, place them between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound them to an even level with a rolling pin or mallet before seasoning.
  • Let the seasoned chicken sit for ten minutes at room temperature before baking and you will notice a real improvement in how evenly it cooks through.

Go back