Description
This Juicy 30-Minute Baked Chicken Breast recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken breasts with a simple blend of spices and olive oil. Perfectly seasoned and baked at a high temperature, the chicken remains moist and juicy, making it an ideal quick and healthy meal option for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 medium sized chicken breasts – about 2 pounds, or 7-8 ounces each (or 2-3 large chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally so you have 4-6 thin pieces)
Spices & Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Oil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a large baking dish or rimmed baking sheet to prevent sticking.
- Pound chicken to even thickness: Using a meat pounder or rolling pin, gently pound the thickest part of each chicken breast until they are roughly the same thickness throughout. This ensures even cooking and helps prevent drying. Alternatively, you can cut large chicken breasts in half horizontally to create thinner pieces.
- Season chicken: Place the chicken breasts into a bowl, then add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried parsley, dried mustard, chili powder (if using), kosher salt, black pepper, and olive or avocado oil. Toss everything together until the chicken is evenly coated with the seasoning and oil.
- Arrange and bake: Transfer the coated chicken breasts to the greased baking dish, spacing them evenly apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and an internal thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Rest and serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for several minutes to retain juices. Optionally brush the chicken with pan juices, then slice, serve, and enjoy your juicy baked chicken breasts!
Notes
- Pounding the chicken breasts to an even thickness ensures they cook evenly without drying out.
- Using a meat thermometer guarantees perfectly cooked chicken and prevents under or over-cooking.
- Feel free to swap olive oil for avocado oil depending on your preference.
- Chili powder is optional and can be omitted or adjusted for heat preference.
- Leftover baked chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
