Easy Baked Chicken Breasts – Tender and juicy, perfectly baked chicken breasts! One of my favorite chicken recipes and the ONLY method you will need for making baked chicken.
How to make juicy and tender oven baked chicken breasts!
You heard that right: The one and ONLY method you will need for baked chicken.
I have used this recipe for perfectly baked chicken time and time again, all with different seasonings and flavors, and it has YET to disappoint. It’s so tender and so juicy that you will most likely come on over here and thank me for sharing this little secret of a method. Maybe?
By the way, HI, friends! Are you feeeeeling it? The little bit of January-nano-second-extra-daylight? Sun goes down at 4:18 p.m. now instead of 4:17.6 p.m.! High-Fives, everybody! Spring is NEAR!
Nah, I know we have a couple months left of this dreary sleepy weather, but the one thing that I DO like about winter is all the cooking I can do. I am way too cold to go out there so I just sit in my kitchen and draft up recipes.
Then, I test them, then we eat them, then I make them again, photograph them, AND finally I get to share them with you in my little space here.
BAKED CHICKEN BREASTS
Today I am going to show you how to make the most perfect baked chicken breasts. All it involves is; butter, parchment paper, seasonings, fork, and a knife. Fork and knife not needed until you’s are ready to eat ’em up.
What you see up there is 4 chicken breasts all topped with my choice of seasonings and pats of butter. However, all of that is not the secret to my method. The secret is:
My husband’s hands…
KIDDING!
HOW TO BAKE CHICKEN BREASTS IN THE OVEN
The secret is in that parchment paper placed over the chicken breasts. Parchment paper prevents the chicken from drying out.
In this way, the chicken bastes in its own juices and we end up with perfectly tender, juicy chicken breasts.
This is also why we all love those juicy “In-Foil Chicken Recipes“; they cook up inside foil packets in their own juices and always come out moist! Like so:
- Grilled Barbecue Chicken and Vegetables in Foil
- Italian Chicken and Vegetables in Foil
- Chicken and Rice Fajitas in Foil
But this time, instead of wrapping it all up inside foils, we’re just going to cover the chicken with parchment paper. This makes the chicken sweat while it bakes and the result is a juicier, tender chicken breast.
You can use this method and recipe pretty much any time that you need to bake up some chicken breasts. It’s a tried and true method, taught in culinary schools, and it works each time with whatever seasonings you wish to use.
SIMPLE CHICKEN SEASONING
My go to’s are:
- salt
- pepper
- oregano
- Italian seasoning
- garlic powder
- and more garlic.
I’m pretty sure garlic is part of my DNA… or something like that.
HOW TO STORE COOKED CHICKEN BREASTS
- Let the cooked chicken breasts cool completely.
- Refrigerate cooked chicken breasts in an airtight container, or wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
- Cooked chicken breasts will last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
HOW TO FREEZE COOKED CHICKEN BREASTS
- Wrap cooked chicken breasts tightly in plastic wrap and add a layer of aluminum foil over the plastic wrap.
- Place the wrapped chicken breasts in a freezer bag; seal the bag, pushing down on the bag to press out as much air as possible.
- Place the bag in the freezer toward the back where it is the coldest.
- When ready to use, remove from freezer and set in the fridge overnight to thaw out.
MORE CHICKEN RECIPES
- Garlic Yogurt Baked Chicken
- Baked Chicken with Spinach and Artichokes
- Baked Garlic Butter Chicken
- Italian Chicken and Vegetables In Foil
- Juicy Stove Top Chicken Breasts
ENJOY!
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TOOLS AND INGREDIENTS USED IN THIS RECIPE
WATCH HOW TO MAKE EASY BAKED CHICKEN BREASTS
Easy Baked Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- olive oil cooking spray
- 4 (1 pound) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (washed, dried, and trimmed)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) Italian Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon butter, cut up into 4 pats
- parchment paper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Arrange chicken breasts in baking dish and rub in the minced garlic over each chicken breast.
- Season chicken on both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and Italian seasoning.
- Place a pat of butter over each chicken breast.
- Place a sheet of parchment paper over the chicken breasts. Tuck the edges so that it's snug around the chicken.
- Bake for 30 to 33 minutes, or until chicken's internal temperature reaches 165F.
- Serve right away OR remove from baking dish; let completely cool and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Tried it. It was WONDERFUL! At least that was the family consensus. I’m vegetarian so the recipe is important. It was fast, easy, one pan and as promised it turned out moist and flavorful. Thank YOU!!
That’s great to hear! I’m very glad everyone enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Can’t wait to try this. I do have have question though. Is there any way to give the breasts so color like you get with grilling or sauting?
Hi!
You can remove the top parchment paper about 5 minutes before the chicken is done just to get that bit of browning on top.
What a tasty dish!!!. Thanks for sharing. I think your dish is very delicious. I will make this recipe for my family and my friend. I hope you have more recipe like this.
Thank YOU! I am very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Looks yummy. I’ve tried to make this for my family, and my family really love it. I will introduce your recipe for my friends. Thank you so much. I love it.
That’s great to hear! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Wow,it looks delicious. Thank you for sharing. I will try to make this baked chicken breasts for my family. I believe my family will like this very much. Love so much.
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I always have this thought that any food with oregano is special and delightful. It has a comforting feeling. It’s an easy breezy recipe with simple ingredients that anyone can prepare and enjoy at home. Really the parchment paper did all the magic!
I am very happy you enjoyed it! Thank YOU!! 🙂
Look yummy! One of my favorite Baked Chicken Breasts, nice to see your recipe, easy to follow, will cook this for family this weekend. Thanks you!
THANK YOU! I hope you and your family enjoy it! 🙂
What if I don’t have parchment paper?
Hi!
You can use aluminum foil.
How should I season the white rice
Hi!
This recipe is just for the chicken, but if using rice, I would suggest to season it with salt, pepper, and your favorite dried herbs. Or, you can give this Lemon Rice recipe a try – it’s really good: https://diethood.com/lemon-rice-recipe/
Hi, thank you!!
So I tuck it around the chicken and not over the pan?
I actually do make my own version of baked chicken breasts, but this one sounds yummier, can’t wait to try Ketrina’s.
My very picky child was hesitant to try this but ended up absolutely loving it and adding it to her collection of recipes. Thank you!
That’s fantastic!! Thank YOU!! 🙂