This is a recipe I’ve been making for years, and I never tire of it. The flavorful and juicy chicken taste like you spent hours in the kitchen, but they take only 20 minutes. If you want to learn how to make tender chicken breasts that everyone at your table will rave about, let me show you how. All you need to know are three simple tricks.
Why you’ll love this baked chicken breast recipe
Truly juicy chicken. That’s right, you won’t find any dried out chicken breasts here. (I’ve got a couple of tricks to make sure that doesn’t happen.) Super flavorful. The simple rub is made from pantry staple spices and is so delicious. The ‘sauce’ that you’ll find at the bottom of the pan when you pull these chicken breasts out of the oven is insane. In the best way possible. Pour it over the chicken and anything else you’re serving these with. From start to finish they will be ready to eat in about 20 minutes. And I’ve got some ideas for quick sides that you can pop in your oven and cook alongside the chicken so that everything is ready at the same time. Some baked chicken breast recipes call for sugar in the ingredients, which I think is silly. The paprika and butter in this recipe give this chicken the perfect amount of natural sweetness. No unhealthy sugar needed!
Baked chicken breast recipe ingredients
You’ll only need a few inredients to make this flavorful baked chicken recipe!
Spices: I like the combination of paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. It’s my go-to meat seasoning and I always get compliments on it when I serve it to friends. Butter: The rich flavor of butter is noticeable in this simple recipe. But if you can’t eat dairy, you can use olive oil instead. Chicken: The star of the show! I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
How to bake chicken breasts
Other than knowing how long to keep the chicken breasts in the oven, there are a couple of other tricks I have for making sure they live up to their title of being perfect.
How long to bake chicken breast at 425
Knowing how long to bake your chicken breasts is one of the biggest tricks in making sure they are nice and juicy. Because chicken breasts are lean meat, they can overcook and dry out easily. You want to cook your chicken breasts for 18 minutes at 425 degrees. Cooking chicken breasts on high heat for a shorter amount of time will help keep them juicy and delicious. We are always so scared of undercooking chicken (with good reason) that we tend to overcook it. I’ve tested the 18 minutes at 425 degrees trick many many times and it’s always perfectly cooked. If you want more reassurance, the best thing to do is pick up an instant-read meat thermometer. I love mine and use it all the time. As soon as the middle of the chicken breast reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit it is safe to eat.
What to serve with oven baked chicken breasts
To turn this into a truly quick and easy dinner recipe, you’ll need a side that can be prepped once you put the chicken in the oven and only takes a few minutes to cook. My favorites are quickly sauteed green beans (with a little garlic) or this Sauteed Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan recipe. Here are a few others that I love:
Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic (these are the green beans you see in some of the pictures) Miso Butter Roasted Radishes Spicy Honey Roasted Carrots Garlic Bacon Mushrooms The Best Greek Salad Perfect Basmati Rice Easy Cauliflower Rice
If you’d like potatoes with your dinner, try these Smoky Roast Potatoes. Pop them in the oven 25 minutes before the chicken so they have time to cook. When the weather is hot, make sure to check out our Best Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe. It’s the summer version of this one and it really is the best BBQ recipe! And when you feel like switching things up, try our Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs or Juicy Baked Pork Chops!
How to store baked chicken breasts
This chicken makes wonderful leftovers. I sometimes make an extra so I can slice it and serve it cold over salad the next day. To store chicken breasts, place them in a sealed container in your fridge for up to 4 days.
Easy Chicken Recipes
Peanut Butter Chicken Asian Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Saucy Peanut Chicken with Broccoli and Peppers Baked Sesame Ginger Chicken Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets (paleo + gluten-free) Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs
Did you make this?
We love to see what you made! Tag @theendlessmeal or hashtag #theendlessmeal!
