Baked Chicken Breasts
Learn how to make juicy, tender, delicious baked chicken breasts with this simple 5-step method.
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- large baking dish
- cooking thermometer
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to even thickness
Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Brine Solution
- 2 cups lukewarm water
- ¼ cup kosher salt
- 2 cups cold water or a few ice cubes
Instructions
Preparation
- Brine the chicken. Fill a large mixing bowl with lukewarm water and kosher salt. Stir to combine until most of the salt is absorbed. Add cold water to lower the water temperature. Add chicken breasts and let them sit for 15 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 6 hours. Remove from brine, rinse with cold water, and pat dry.
- Heat the oven. Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Season the chicken. Place chicken in a baking dish. Brush with melted butter or oil. Whisk salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a bowl. Sprinkle mixture over chicken.
- Bake. Bake for 15-18 minutes until cooked through. Use a cooking thermometer to check that the thickest part measures 165°F. Optionally broil for 3-5 minutes for a golden top.
- Rest the chicken. Remove from oven and transfer to a plate. Loosely tent with aluminum foil and let rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
Please double-check the maximum temperature of your baking dish. Cooked chicken can be stored in a sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1pieceCalories: 200kcalProtein: 40gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 600mgIron: 1mg
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