Baked Chicken Breast (tender, juicy and delicious!)

This simple baked chicken breast recipe results in the juiciest, flavorful, most delicious chicken breasts that you will make over and over. It is truly the BEST baked chicken recipe!

If there is anything I know about y’all, it is (1) you love simple recipes and (2) you love recipes that use boneless skinless chicken breasts.

Baking chicken breasts can be a little tricky, mostly because it is really common to cook dry, tasteless chicken. 🙅🏼‍♀️No bueno! Well, I am definitely up for the challenge. And I think I nailed it, y’all.😎🙌🏻

Should I brine baked chicken breasts?

You definitely could. But I know myself. I know my readers. And most of us have neither the time nor the patience for this extra step.

So I am going with a big fat no thanks. Hard pass. 💁🏼‍♀️And you’ll be happy to know that it is just not necessary, y’all.

How should I season baked chicken breast?

I am going with a very basic seasoning blend, y’all. It is very similar to my Instant Pot “rostisserie” chicken seasoning: salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. I do add some lemon slices and a little bit of butter too.

Other alternatives for seasoning baked chicken breast (in addition to salt and pepper):

• Cumin, chili powder, garlic and lime slices for more of a Mexican baked chicken
• Garlic, oregano, basil, lemon slices and butter for more of a Greek chicken
• Tony Chacherie’s Cajun blend + lemon slices and butter for cajun chicken

Basically, the possibilities are endless.😎👌🏻

How to Make Baked Chicken Breast

So how do you get tender, juicy chicken breast when they dry out so easily? In my opinion, the three best tips are to use a little fat (butter and avocado oil in this case), cook at a high temperature, and allow the chicken to rest five minutes prior to digging in.

So I start with a baking dish. I am using a basic pyrex 9×13. You want to use a dish big enough so that the chicken breasts are not all squished up next to each other.

I pour a little avocado oil in, and then I place the chicken breasts on top. I rotate them around and flip to the other side too, using my hands to coat each piece of chicken with oil.

Then I sprinkle on my seasoning blend, and use my hands to evenly coat each piece of chicken.

Once everything is coated, I wash my hands. Then I slice up one lemon and add the slices in the pan, just around the chicken. The lemon juice will seep out during cooking and add wonderful flavor and tenderness to the chicken.

And then I add a pat of butter on each chicken breast. I used around 1.5 tablespoons total (combined) for all four pieces of chicken. So this is not a Paula Deen amount of butter, y’all.😉🙃 A little dab will do ya!

The lemon, butter and juices from the seasoned chicken make the yummiest pan juice, which is wonderful for spooning on top of your finished baked chicken breast. The flavor is amazing!

You technically could still do the recipe without the lemon and butter, but I am highly recommending it for best results.

I bake the chicken breasts in a preheated 450 degree oven until they are done, about 20 to 25 minutes. For the batch pictured here, the chicken breasts were very large. They ranged in size from 9 to nearly 11 ounces! So mine took the whole 25 minutes.

If you are using smaller chicken breasts, cook them for a shorter time. I will be testing these more in the future. So I will circle back and add suggested cook times by weight in the recipe notes very soon!

You can always use a meat thermometer to be sure. The official temperature for the inner portion should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. But, be aware that the internal temperature will rise a little during the resting phase. So if it is at 160 degrees, I’d suggest going ahead and taking it out of the oven.

Once they come out of the oven, I spoon some of the lemon butter over the top, and let them rest for five minutes, uncovered. And you are left with the yummiest, juiciest baked chicken breast ever!😍

You can serve them with a few simple side items, or slice them up for lunches throughout the week, meal prep style.

I hope you enjoy this baked chicken breast recipe!

What to serve with baked chicken breast

Here are some suggestions for side items that I hope you will enjoy, including recipe links. 😋👍🏻

Baked Chicken Breast Recipe

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Baked Chicken Breast

This simple baked chicken breast recipe results in the juiciest, flavorful, most delicious chicken breasts that you will make over and over.

Author Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy

Ingredients

• 1.5 Tablespoons avocado oil (you can sub olive, canola, or your favorite oil)
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• pat of butter on each chicken breast (optional but highly recommended - I used 1.5 Tablespoons combined for all 4 chicken breasts)
• lemon slices (optional but highly recommended)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees

2. Pour the oil into a baking dish, and place the chicken breasts on top.

3. Use your hands to rotate the breasts until they are each coated with oil.

4. Sprinkle the spice mixture  on both sides, and use hands to evenly coat..

5. Optional, but highly recommended: add  a small pat of butter on each breast, and add sliced lemon to the pan surrounding the chicken breasts. 

6. Bake chicken uncovered for about 20 to 25 minutes, depending on size and thickness of the chicken. (Chicken is done when internal temperature reaches 165 with a meat thermometer.) 

7. Allow the chicken breasts to rest for 5 minutes prior to serving.

8. Spoon some of the pan drippings over each breast just prior to serving.

9. Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days.

Recipe Notes

Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.

This recipe is written for regular sized chicken breasts, not thin or split chicken breasts. This or split breasts would have significantly less cook time.

Lemon and butter were included in nutritional information.

I am using a basic pyrex 9x13. You want to use a dish big enough so that the chicken breasts are not all squished up next to each other.

For the batch pictured here, the chicken breasts were very large. They ranged in size from 9 to nearly 11 ounces! So mine took the whole 25 minutes. If you are using smaller chicken breasts, cook them for a shorter time. 

You can always use a meat thermometer to be sure. The official temperature for the inner portion should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. But, be aware that the internal temperature will rise a little during the resting phase. So if it is at 160 degrees, I'd suggest going ahead and taking it out of the oven.

Nutrition Facts

Baked Chicken Breast

Amount Per Serving

Calories 217 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 83mg28%

Sodium 750mg33%

Potassium 438mg13%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 410IU8%

Vitamin C 1.3mg2%

Calcium 6mg1%

Iron 0.5mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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