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Easy Juicy Baked Chicken Breast Recipe Perfect for Quick Dinners

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A simple and quick baked chicken breast recipe that yields juicy, flavorful chicken using basic pantry staples, perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, medium-sized (6-8 ounces or 170-225g each)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika works great)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until well combined.
  4. Coat each chicken breast evenly with the seasoning mixture using hands or tongs.
  5. Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer on a baking dish or rimmed sheet pan, ensuring they are not touching.
  6. Bake in the oven for 18-22 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts (about 18 minutes for 6-ounce breasts, up to 22 minutes for larger ones).
  7. At the halfway mark (around 10 minutes), carefully flip the chicken breasts using tongs to promote even cooking and browning.
  8. Check doneness with a meat thermometer; it should read 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part. If no thermometer is available, cut into the thickest part to ensure juices run clear and meat is opaque.
  9. Optional: Drizzle fresh lemon juice over the chicken immediately after removing from the oven.
  10. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing or serving to allow juices to redistribute.

Notes

Patting the chicken dry before seasoning helps form a slight crust that seals in juices. Flip the chicken halfway through baking for even cooking and browning. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking to keep it juicy. Avoid opening the oven door frequently to maintain temperature. If chicken browns too fast, tent loosely with foil.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked chicken breast, juicy chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, healthy chicken, weeknight dinner, gluten-free, dairy-free

Find it online: https://gleefulfork.com/easy-juicy-baked-chicken-breast-recipe-perfect-for-quick-dinners/