Baked Chicken Breast
You'll love this method for Baked Chicken Breast—it delivers tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned chicken every time! Baked chicken breast keeps well and is great for meal prep. Whether you serve it as a main dish, over a salad, in casseroles, wraps, or sandwiches, this recipe is incredibly versatile.
Ingredients
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, about 4 medium pieces
- 1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or added to taste
- 1 Tbsp olive oil, avocado oil, or melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F with a rack in the center of the oven. Pound the chicken breasts between plastic wrap to an even thickness. Place the chicken breast on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a little space between them for the air to circulate.
- Brush with oil - Pat dry the chicken again if needed, then brush all sides with oil, melted butter, or use an oil spray.
- Season - in a small bowl, combine the salt, garlic powder, paprika, and ground black pepper. Sprinkle the mixture all over the chicken.
- Bake at 400˚F for about 18-22 minutes (*See time chart below) or until chicken reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. Rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Baking Time Chart for Chicken Breasts:
- 1/2-inch thick: 16-18 min
- 3/4-inch thick: 20-22 min
- 1-inch thick: 24-26 min
- BBQ - use a BBQ dry rub seasoning mix
- Lemon-Pepper - zest of 1 lemon, salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Spiced - Chili powder, Cajun seasoning, or Taco seasoning
- Italian Herb - oregano, thyme, basil, parsley, rosemary, or Italian seasoning
- Make Ahead - chicken can be oiled, seasoned and refrigerated up to 24 hours ahead. Bring to room temp 15 min before baking.
- Refrigerate cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts
Baked Chicken Breast
Amount per Serving
Calories
196
% Daily Value*
Fat
6
g
9
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
0.02
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
3
g
Cholesterol
97
mg
32
%
Sodium
757
mg
33
%
Potassium
578
mg
17
%
Carbohydrates
1
g
0
%
Fiber
0.2
g
1
%
Sugar
0.05
g
0
%
Protein
32
g
64
%
Vitamin A
211
IU
4
%
Vitamin C
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
11
mg
1
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
