Oven Baked Chicken Breast (Printable)

Tender, juicy chicken breasts seasoned with aromatic spices and baked until golden. Perfect for quick weeknight meals or meal prep.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6–8 oz each)

→ Seasoning

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1 teaspoon paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

09 - Lemon slices
10 - Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

→ Simple Marinade

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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat 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 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 black pepper until evenly blended.
04 - Rub seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast, ensuring thorough coverage. Optional: marinate in Simple Marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours in refrigerator, then pat dry before seasoning.
05 - Arrange seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not crowded or overlapping.
06 - Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh parsley or cilantro if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It turns out juicy every single time once you learn the simple thickness trick.
  • You can season it a hundred different ways and it still feels like a new meal.
  • Leftovers taste better than takeout in salads, wraps, or straight from the fridge at midnight.
02 -
  • If your chicken breasts are thicker than an inch, they will take longer to cook and the edges will dry out before the center is done.
  • Resting the chicken after baking is not optional, those 5 minutes make the difference between juicy and disappointing.
  • An instant read thermometer is the only way to know for sure when chicken is done, guessing by time alone is how you end up with rubbery or undercooked meat.
03 -
  • If your chicken breasts are wildly different sizes, separate them and pull the smaller ones out a few minutes early.
  • Letting the seasoned chicken sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before baking helps it cook more evenly.
  • Save the pan drippings and whisk them with a little chicken broth and cornstarch for a quick, flavorful sauce.
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