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Quick Baked Chicken Breast with Herb Butter (Perfectly Juicy)

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A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring juicy baked chicken breasts topped with a flavorful herb butter. Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe delivers tender, golden chicken with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds or 680g total)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional but recommended)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Give your oven a full 15 minutes to come to temperature.
  2. Make the herb butter: In a small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mash everything together with a fork until well combined.
  3. Prep the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Place the breasts in your baking dish. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and rub it all over. Season both sides with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika if using.
  4. Apply the herb butter: Divide the herb butter evenly between the two chicken breasts. Spread it over the top of each breast, covering as much surface area as possible.
  5. Bake the chicken: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, depending on the thickness of your breasts. Do not open the oven door for the first 15 minutes. At 18 minutes, start checking the internal temperature. Insert your thermometer into the thickest part of the breast. You’re looking for 160-165°F (71-74°C).
  6. Rest the chicken: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest in the pan for 5-10 minutes. The temperature will continue to rise to 165°F during this time.
  7. Serve: Spoon the pan juices over the chicken before serving. Slice against the grain if serving sliced, or serve the breasts whole.

Notes

For the juiciest results, look for air-chilled chicken breasts. Let the butter soften properly before spreading. Use a meat thermometer for perfect doneness. Let the chicken rest before serving to redistribute juices.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked chicken breast, herb butter chicken, quick chicken dinner, juicy chicken breast, weeknight chicken

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