This Easy Italian Baked Chicken Breast recipe will become a family-favorite recipe you make over and over again!

Are you on Team Dark Meat or Team Light Meat? For me, it’s dark meat every single time. There’s more flavor, it doesn’t dry out as easily, and it’s just better. If you don’t agree with me, get off my blog.

KIDDING!

Actually, my whole family doesn’t agree with me. They all loooove the chicken breast, but mostly dislike the thighs and drumsticks. The struggle is real over here.

Since 3 out of 4 family members prefer baked chicken breast over any other kind of chicken, that’s what I make the majority of the time.

So I work really hard to make baked chicken breast taste amazing. I don’t think it’s an easy task. To lock in flavor and moisture is NOT easy on a piece of meat that just LIKES to dry out.

How to Make Baked Chicken Breast Taste Amazing

I’ve learned a few tips over the years that can really help transform a boring, bland chicken breast into something special. This is what you need to do:

1. Pound it.

Before baking your chicken breasts in the oven, pound them to an even thinness. This helps them cook evenly and at the same rate throughout. That way you aren’t drying out the thin part while trying to get the fat part cooked through. <—-Very technical terms.

2. Brush with fat and then season it.

You can brush the breasts with butter or oil on both sides. Skinless Chicken breasts are so lean, that adding this fat helps with the flavor and also with making the outside more crispy.

You can really use whatever seasonings you prefer. For this recipe, I am showing you Italian seasonings, which is probably my favorite way to go.

3. Bake at high heat. 

You’ll find all kinds of debate surrounding the best temperature for baking chicken breasts in the oven. I have found the best results, by far, come from cooking at a higher temperature for a shorter time.

For this recipe we are baking the chicken breasts at 425 degrees F. for 15 minutes, and then we add a little cheese and broil it for 2-3 minutes so the cheese can melt. The cheese, of course, is optional, but it is a small amount and I really love this will some melted mozzarella on top.

If you can’t do cheese, though, know that it will be really delicious even without the cheese.

I know that this recipe for Italian Baked Chicken Breast will become a go-to for your family. It’s super easy and the results are always delicious.

Baked Chicken Breast Video

Here’s exactly how to make the most amazing baked chicken breasts!

 

 

Side Dish Suggestions for Baked Chicken Breasts

Vegetables, of course! Here are my top picks for easy and tasty side dishes that would go well with this recipe.

Perfect Rice Pilaf with Vegetables

Coconut Oil Roasted Beets

Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan

Garlic Butter Green Beans with Almonds

Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower

Now that you’ve got your sides sorted out, let’s get to the recipe!

How to Make Italian Baked Chicken Breasts 

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This post was originally published November 2018. A new video was added February 2019.