Description
Experience tender and flavorful chicken breasts with this Melt In Your Mouth Chicken Breast Recipe. Coated in a savory blend of Parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning, these juicy chicken breasts bake to perfection and are guaranteed to impress with every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts (About 1.5 pounds)
Marinade
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking your chicken breasts evenly and thoroughly.
- Prepare Marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to create a flavorful marinade.
- Coat Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated to enhance flavor and moisture retention during baking.
- Bake Chicken: Bake the coated chicken breasts in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until fully cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) to ensure safety and juiciness.
- Rest Chicken: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Resting helps the juices redistribute, making the chicken tender and moist when sliced.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the chicken breasts with fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm and enjoy your melt-in-your-mouth chicken.
- Optional Marination: For enhanced flavor, marinate the chicken for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator before baking. This step is optional but recommended for deeper seasoning.
- Even Thickness Tip: Ensure chicken breasts are of even thickness for uniform cooking. If needed, lightly pound the pieces to equal thickness before marinating and baking.
Notes
- Make sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken to avoid undercooking or drying out the meat.
- Using freshly grated Parmesan cheese yields the best flavor and texture.
- If you prefer a crispier crust, broil the chicken for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a lower fat option, reduce olive oil to 2 tablespoons without significantly affecting flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast (approx. 6 oz)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: chicken breast recipe, baked chicken, Parmesan chicken, easy chicken dinner, healthy chicken recipes
