Tender, juicy chicken breasts seasoned with aromatic spices and baked until golden. An easy, protein-rich main dish ready in under 40 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 6 to 8 ounces each
→ Seasoning
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1 teaspoon paprika, smoked or sweet
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnish
09 - Lemon slices, optional
10 - Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, optional
→ Simple Marinade
11 - 1/4 cup olive oil, optional
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, optional
13 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce, optional
14 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup, optional
15 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, optional
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced, optional
17 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, optional
# How-to Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a baking dish.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Place between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper and gently pound to even thickness of approximately 3/4 inch using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
03 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper until fully blended.
04 - Rub seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast, ensuring complete coverage.
05 - For enhanced flavor, marinate seasoned chicken in the simple marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours in the refrigerator. Pat dry before proceeding to baking.
06 - Place chicken breasts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring adequate spacing between each piece.
07 - Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion registers 165°F.
08 - Remove from oven and allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh parsley or cilantro if desired. Serve warm.
