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Title Image for 8 Secrets to the BEST baked chicken and a baking dish with seasoned baked chicken breasts
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5 from 1 vote

The BEST Baked Chicken Breast

This is my Best Baked Chicken Breast recipe and always a hit with my family! Discover my 8 secret steps to making the most delicious baked chicken breast known to your kitchen.
Prep Time40 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 4 large chicken breasts
Author: Melissa Griffiths

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons salt
  • 4 cups water
  • 4 large chicken breasts
  • 4 teaspoons oil or melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked is awesome)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Add the salt and water to a large bowl and stir until the salt dissolves.
  • Add the chicken breasts to the brine and let them rest for around 30 minutes (and no longer than 1 hour or the chicken will be salty)
  • Remove the chicken from the water and pat it dry with paper towels.
  • If the chicken is uneven in thickness, gentle pound the chicken into a more uniform thickness.
  • Place the chicken in a baking dish and brush with melted butter or oil on both sides.
  • Mix the additional salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder together in a small bowl. Season both sides of the chicken with the seasoning mix.
  • Bake in a hot (450 F degree) oven for 15-20 minutes. Use a cooking thermometer to measure the temperature at the thickest part of the breast, it should be between 160-170 degrees F.  (The FDA recommends 170 degrees F.)
  • Once the chicken is cooked, remove the pan from the oven and loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil.  Let the chicken rest for at least 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • This baked chicken is fool-proof! Make sure that the chicken is cooked through and then let it rest. If your chicken is a little thick, it might take a few minutes longer to cook then my suggested times.
  • This is a simple way to prep a lot of chicken. Bake a pan full, store the rest in an airtight container in the fridge, and then use it all week long. It’s really easy to chop or shred this chicken for other recipes and it reheats really well.
  • Feel free to season the chicken any way you'd like.
  • You can brine the chicken and then cook it using different cooking methods and get a variety of flavors from it.
  • Get a meat thermometer! It's the easiest way to guarantee perfectly cooked chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 4 large chicken breasts | Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 8995mg | Potassium: 865mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 317IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

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