Description
This easy oven-baked chicken breast recipe is perfect for a healthy and delicious dinner. Tender, juicy chicken breasts are seasoned with a flavorful blend of garlic, paprika, and thyme, then baked to perfection. It’s a simple, gluten-free, high-protein meal ideal for meal prep, salads, or sandwiches.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
For Serving
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the chicken evenly.
- Prepare Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Rub each breast evenly with olive oil to help the seasoning stick and to keep the chicken moist during baking.
- Season Chicken: Season both sides of each chicken breast with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and dried thyme, making sure the spices are distributed evenly for full flavor.
- Arrange for Baking: Place the seasoned chicken breasts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased to prevent sticking.
- Bake Chicken: Bake in the preheated oven for 22–25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) to ensure safe consumption and juicy results.
- Rest Chicken: Remove the chicken from the oven and loosely cover it with foil. Let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, enhancing tenderness.
- Serve: Slice the chicken breasts and serve warm with lemon wedges for an added brightness and zest.
Notes
- For juicier chicken, pound the breasts to an even thickness before baking to promote even cooking.
- You can alternatively cook these chicken breasts on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat for 6–7 minutes per side for a golden crust.
- Leftovers are versatile and can be added to salads, sandwiches, or used for meal prep throughout the week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast (approximately 6 ounces)
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 440 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
