Baked Chicken Breast
This baked chicken breast is seasoned with garlic powder and smoked paprika, then baked until tender and juicy. Sized for one serving, it's ready in about 25 minutes.
Servings: 1 serving
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (5 to 6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- If one end of the chicken breast is noticeably thicker, pound it to an even thickness with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
- Place the chicken breast on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and rub it over both sides. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the top and bottom.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165°F (74°C). For juicier results, pull at 160°F and let carryover heat bring it to 165°F during the rest.
- Remove from the oven and cover loosely with foil. Let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Use a meat thermometer. This is the single most reliable way to avoid dry chicken. Visual cues like color or firmness can be misleading, especially with a single chicken breast where the margin between done and overdone is narrow.
Don't skip the rest. It's tempting to slice right away, but cutting into chicken straight from the oven pushes the juices out onto the cutting board instead of keeping them in the meat. Five minutes under loose foil makes a real difference.
Pat the chicken dry before seasoning. Moisture on the surface of the chicken prevents browning. A quick pat with paper towels helps the olive oil and seasonings adhere and gives you better color in the oven.
Match your baking sheet to the portion. One chicken breast on an oversized sheet pan can cause the drippings to spread thin and burn. A quarter sheet pan or small rimmed baking sheet is the right size for a single serving.
Check your oven temperature. Home ovens can run 25°F or more off from the set temperature. An inexpensive oven thermometer helps you confirm that 400°F is actually 400°F, which matters when the cook time is this short.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 330mg | Potassium: 571mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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