Description
This Oven Roasted Chicken Breast recipe delivers juicy, tender chicken every time thanks to a simple saltwater brine and flavorful homemade seasoning blend. Perfectly baked and optionally broiled for a crispy golden top, this dish is an easy, healthy main course that's full of herbs and spices.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Brine
- 1 to 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 cups lukewarm water
- ¼ cup salt
Seasoning Blend
- ¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ⅙ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Additional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- fresh chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 425˚F to prepare for roasting the chicken.
- Brine. Place the chicken breasts in a large bowl. Mix lukewarm water and salt until dissolved, then pour over the chicken. Let it soak for 30 minutes at room temperature or cover and refrigerate for 2 hours for deeper flavor and juiciness.
- Prepare seasoning blend. Combine salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Stir well to mix evenly.
- Season chicken. Drain the brine and rinse each chicken breast under cold water. Pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels. Place on a baking dish and rub olive oil over all sides. Sprinkle the seasoning blend evenly on all sides of the chicken breasts to taste.
- Bake. Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165˚F. Adjust baking time based on thickness, checking starting at 20 minutes.
- Broil. For a crispy browned top, broil the chicken on high for 3 to 4 minutes until golden and slightly crisped on top.
- Rest. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest on a serving plate for 10 minutes before slicing. This helps retain juices.
- Serve. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Brining the chicken ensures juiciness and tenderness by allowing the meat to absorb moisture and seasoning.
- You can adjust the seasoning blend quantities to suit your taste preferences or substitute dried herbs with fresh ones, using triple the amount of fresh herbs.
- Cooking times vary with thickness; thinner breasts cook faster than thicker ones.
- Using an instant-read thermometer is the best way to guarantee perfectly cooked chicken without drying it out.
- The optional broiling step adds a desirable crispy, golden crust to the finished chicken.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 164 kcal
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 7351 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 73 mg
