Juicy Oven Baked Chicken

A simple and delicious way to prepare juicy oven baked chicken.

Short on time but still want to impress your family? You must try this simple and tasty recipe for juicy, oven baked chicken. It uses a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen and results in a juicy and delicious bite.

Let’s begin:

What you will need to get started:

• meat mallet or rolling pin
• roasting pan or sheet pan

Ingredients:

• 3-4 medium or large chicken breasts
• 1 tbsp olive oil (for coating chicken)

Ingredients for seasoning rub:

• 1 1/2 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (regular is fine if that’s what you have already)
• 1 tsp dried thyme (or spice of choice, such as sage or oregano)
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Optional: Fresh chopped parsley (for garnish)

How to season and bake chicken breasts

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425℉ / 220℃. Line baking sheet or roasting pan with foil for an easy clean up if desired, but not necessary.

Next, I like to go ahead and mix together the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Dark brown sugar, smoked paprika, dried thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper

Combine all seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and set aside

Next, prepare your chicken breasts by patting dry with a paper towel, then laying them out on a cutting board, or clean surface. Get your mallet out and pound 3-5 times in the thickest part, for even cooking and to tenderize) If you don’t own a meat mallet, use a rolling pin. Tip: To reduce cross contamination (chicken juice spatter,) first loosely wrap chicken in plastic wrap before tenderizing.

Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound chicken breasts in thickest part, about 3-5 times.

Next, using a silicone or pastry/sauce brush, lightly coat chicken with the olive oil on both sides.

Lightly coat chicken with olive oil.

Now evenly sprinkle your seasoning mix on both sides of chicken and add to the prepared sheet pan or roasting pan.

Sprinkle seasoning mix evenly on both sides before adding chicken to the prepared pan.

Bake 20-23 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165℉ / 75℃ and surface is a reddish-golden brown.

Bake for 20-23 minutes

Promptly remove from oven and transfer to serving plates and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Voilà! Wasn’t that simple?