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Melt In Your Mouth Chicken Breast baked in a white dish with golden paprika seasoning and a drizzle of fresh lemon juice

Melt In Your Mouth Chicken Breast

Tender and juicy baked chicken breasts seasoned with simple pantry spices and olive oil. Ready in 35 minutes with minimal effort, perfect for weeknight dinners and meal prep.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts good quality; pound to even thickness if needed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin preferred
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp paprika smoked paprika recommended for deeper flavor
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice fresh preferred over bottled; add after spice rub

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Baking dish
  • Mixing bowl
  • Meat thermometer
  • Meat mallet or rolling pin

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until it forms a smooth coating paste.
  3. If chicken breasts are thick or uneven, place between plastic wrap and pound to an even thickness of about 3/4 inch using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
  4. Rub the spice and oil mixture all over each chicken breast on every side. Place in a single layer in a baking dish.
  5. Drizzle the fresh lemon juice evenly over the coated chicken breasts just before placing in the oven.
  6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. If breasts are thin or your oven runs hot, start checking at 18 minutes. Chicken is done when internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F or juices run clear when pierced at the thickest part.
  7. Remove from oven and tent loosely with foil. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing to keep juices inside the meat.

Notes

Pound chicken to even thickness for uniform cooking. Always use a meat thermometer for best results. Do not skip the 5-minute rest before slicing. Lemon juice should be added after the spice rub for best adhesion. For meal prep, store sliced chicken with grains and vegetables in airtight containers for up to 4 days. Freezes well for up to 3 months.