Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Breast (Printable Version)

Juicy chicken breasts baked in garlic butter sauce with fresh herbs, ready in just 35 minutes for a comforting meal.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)

→ Garlic Butter Sauce

02 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
03 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, plus extra for garnish
05 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
06 - ½ teaspoon paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Optional Garnish

09 - Fresh lemon wedges
10 - Extra fresh parsley

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the chicken breasts in a single layer.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and place them in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper until well combined.
04 - Pour the garlic butter mixture evenly over the chicken breasts, making sure to coat both sides thoroughly.
05 - Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the juices run clear.
06 - For a golden, slightly crisp top, broil for 2–3 minutes after baking.
07 - Remove from oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The garlic butter sauce practically creates itself while the chicken bakes, so you get a rich pan sauce without any extra work.
  • It uses ingredients you probably already have sitting in your fridge and spice drawer, which means no last minute grocery runs.
02 -
  • The resting step is not optional since cutting into the chicken immediately lets all those flavorful juices escape onto the cutting board instead of staying inside the meat where they belong.
  • If you have time, letting the chicken sit in the garlic butter mixture for 30 minutes before baking transforms the flavor from good to genuinely memorable.
03 -
  • Pound the chicken to an even thickness before baking and you will never again face the frustration of one dry end and one undercooked center.
  • Spoon the pooled pan butter over the chicken right before serving because it carries concentrated flavor that elevates every single bite.

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