Oven Baked Chicken Breasts (Printable Version)

Herb-seasoned chicken breasts baked juicy and tender in the oven—a healthy, effortless weeknight dinner.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 5–6 oz each)

→ Marinade & Seasoning

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1 tsp paprika
05 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme)
06 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Optional Garnish

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

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Pat chicken breasts 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.
04 - Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast.
05 - Bake for 18–25 minutes depending on thickness, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
06 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It takes maybe five minutes of actual hands on work and the oven does everything else while you put your feet up or chop a quick salad.
  • The spice rub forms this gorgeous golden crust that locks in every drop of moisture so you never end up with that dry chalky chicken nobody wants.
  • You almost certainly have every single ingredient sitting in your pantry right now which means no emergency grocery store runs on a weeknight.
02 -
  • Invest in an instant read thermometer because guessing when chicken is done is how you end up with either rubber or salmonella and neither one is a good dinner story.
  • Brining the breasts in salted water for even twenty minutes before seasoning is the single biggest upgrade you can make and it costs literally pennies.
  • If your chicken breasts are wildly different thicknesses, lay them between plastic wrap and pound them gently to an even level so nothing dries out while waiting for the thickest piece to finish.
03 -
  • Let the seasoned chicken sit for ten minutes on the counter before baking so it loses its refrigerator chill and cooks more evenly from edge to center.
  • Broil for the last ninety seconds if you want a slightly charred crust but watch it like a hawk because the line between beautifully blistered and ruined is paper thin.

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