These Baked Chicken Breasts are incredibly JUICY and flavorful- like literally the juiciest chicken breasts I have ever eaten. My wife usually hates chicken breast, but she said these were amazing! This recipe uses a simple 6-ingredient marinade and comes together in only 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights (or meal prep).
Looking for more easy chicken dinners? Try my Marry Me Chicken or Lemon Pepper Chicken next!
About This Recipe
I HATE dry chicken breasts. Everything about them- their texture, tasteโฆ ew. It's the fastest way for me to not enjoy a meal. But juicy chicken breasts? That's a whole different story. When they're cooked right, chicken breasts are my favorite protein. Their texture is tender, moist, and juicy. Not too fatty, healthy, and pairs perfectly with so many sides. I love a simple baked chicken breast with just a few basic seasonings.
For the longest time, I thought juicy chicken breasts could only be achieved by sous-viding. If you're not familiar, this is a new method of cooking where food is sealed in plastic and submerged in a temperature-controlled water bath. The result is very juicy and tender meat. But I've been doing less of that because of microplastic concerns.
I started baking more chicken breasts lately and have found a winning recipe that delivers the JUICIEST chicken breast ever. Like literally, I think this is juicier than sous-viding.
There are two secrets... 1) you need to marinate the meat. This is going to prevent less moisture loss during baking, and it will obviously flavor the meat as well. I love a spritz of lemon juice because the acid tenderizes the meat further.
2) pull out the chicken at the RIGHT time. You want to aim for an internal temperature of around 150ยฐF. The FDA says 165ยฐF, but technically, you can pull it out at 150ยฐF as long as you let the chicken rest for 3 minutes afterwards. I found chicken breasts will typically reach this temperature in around 18-22 minutes, depending on your oven and the size of your chicken breasts.
Key Ingredients
Chicken breasts: This recipe uses 4 medium-large chicken breasts.
Olive oil: Prevents the outside of the meat from drying out and helps the spices cling to the chicken.
Lemon juice: The acid in lemon juice helps tenderize the meat. It also adds great flavor.
Spices & seasonings: Paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.
Instructions
STEP 1: Pound the chicken breasts between plastic wrap until they're even thickness. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, and spices. Massage all over the chicken. Allow to marinate for 15 minutes (but ideally a few hours)
STEP 2: Place the chicken on the parchment-lined baking sheet with some space between each piece.
STEP 3: Bake for about 18-22 minutes or until chicken reaches 150ยฐF on an instant-read thermometer. Rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
๐ Recipe
Easy Baked Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 4 medium-large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pound the chicken breasts between plastic wrap until they're even thickness. Transfer to a large bowl.
- To the bowl, add the olive oil, lemon juice, and spices. Massage all over the chicken. Allow to marinate for 15 minutes (but ideally a few hours)
- Place the chicken on the parchment-lined baking sheet with some space between each piece.
- Bake for about 18-22 minutes or until chicken reaches 150ยฐF on an instant-read thermometer. Rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
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