This recipe will give you perfect baked chicken breasts every time

Let's face it, chicken breasts can have a reputation for being bland, especially when there's no skin (i.e., fat and flavor). And baked chicken breasts have a reputation for being even worse—when you don't sear it at all over the stovetop, you're losing out on texture too. But trust me, it doesn't have to be this way. There are ways to transform this cut of meat into something really delicious that will have the whole family excited. And no, it doesn't always mean stuffing the chicken. This recipe proves that with just a couple of simple tricks, you can make sure your chicken breasts come out perfect every time. No matter your culinary skills, this recipe has everything you need to make your family think you’re the ultimate chef.

What People Are Saying:

"I've made this twice now... It is absolutely delicious and I am recommending it too everybody." - CyanHelmet

"The juiciest chicken I've ever cooked! My whole family loved this dish. I am so happy I found it and it will be my go to from now on for chicken night!" - OrangeCorn

How To Make The Perfect Baked Chicken Breast

INGREDIENTS

• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar not only gives this chicken just a touch of sweetness, but also helps to give it that quintessential golden exterior that mimics searing it on the stove.
• Garlic Powder: Garlic powder gives this dish a little extra umami and flavor to balance out the sweetness from the brown sugar.
• Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: What good would a spice rub be without a healthy sprinkle of salt and pepper? Definitely don’t forget that even though you’re using other seasonings, salt and pepper remain king here!
• Paprika: Paprika adds a smokiness to this dish that really brings all of the flavors to the next level. If you don’t like paprika, adjust to taste or skip this!
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: When buying chicken, look for organic or local meat. Because this recipe is all about the chicken, spring for the slightly pricier meat to get the best results!
• Lemon: One lemon should be enough to infuse this chicken with tons of flavor. You could also use lime or even orange here!
• Thyme: Fresh thyme adds a woodsy, herbal note that gives this chicken even more to brag about. Fresh thyme is preferable, but if you only have dried on hand, that should work too.
• Parsley (Optional): We love the way that parsley adds a touch of brightness both in color and in flavor to this dish. You can skip this if it’s not your thing!

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 375º before you get started. First, you’ll need to combine the spice rub in a small bowl. Coat the raw chicken in olive oil and then cover it in the spice rub that you just made. Make sure the entire surface of the chicken is coated as much as possible! Before placing the chicken in the pan, lay the lemon slices all over the bottom of the pan so that the chicken rests on top.

stills from video

Bake the chicken for about 25 minutes. The chicken should feel firm but not rock-solid. Use a meat thermometer to make sure it’s cooked all the way through, and the temperature has reached 165º.

stills from video

Even if you’re starving, make sure you let your chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving it so that you don’t let out all those delicious juices! Tent with foil while you’re waiting, and then garnish with parsley right before you serve it.

stills from video

The full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• Do I need to cover the chicken while it's cooking? It's not necessary. In a baking dish without a TON of extra room, and on top of a bunch of lemon slices, and the chicken will stay nice and juicy.
• Can I use other spices? This is by no means the only seasoning route you can go. Craving Tex-Mex? Try 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder. The flavor combinations are endless. Just remember that in the world of spices, a little bit goes a long way.
• What's the secret to flavor-packed chicken? We also find that placing chicken breasts over a bed of lemon slices is an easy and affordable way to infuse a ton of fresh flavor into your meat while also keeping the moisture on lock. Limes and oranges work well too!

Storage

Let the chicken cool to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container. Leftovers will keep 3-5 days after baking.

Easy Baked Chicken

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Yields: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp.

  brown sugar

• 1 tsp.

  garlic powder

• 1 tsp.

  kosher salt

• 1/2 tsp.

  paprika

• 1/2 tsp.

  Freshly ground black pepper

• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

• 4

  boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs.)

• 1

  lemon, cut into thin slices

• 4

  to 5 thyme sprigs

• Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375º. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, paprika, and pepper. Drizzle oil all over chicken and generously coat with seasoning mixture, shaking off excess. Scatter lemon slices in baking dish then place chicken on top.
2. Bake until chicken is cooked through, or reads an internal temperature of 165º, about 25 minutes.
3. Cover chicken loosely with foil and let rest for at least 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley, if using.