Description
This recipe delivers incredibly tender, flavorful, and juicy baked chicken breasts with a simple spice rub and a hint of lemon. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that’s sure to become a favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 450g chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp honey (optional)
- 2 Tbsp pomegranate arils, for garnish
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Dry Chicken: Pat chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels.
- Make Spice Rub: Whisk together salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin.
- Season Chicken: Brush chicken with olive oil and rub with spice blend. Place on baking sheet.
- Add Lemon: Sprinkle with lemon zest and drizzle with lemon juice.
- Bake Chicken: Bake for 20-22 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Rest in Oven: Turn off oven, keep door ajar, and rest chicken for 5 minutes.
- Glaze (Optional): Warm honey and lemon juice for a glossy glaze.
- Rest & Glaze: Rest chicken for 5 minutes, then brush with glaze.
- Plate & Garnish: Plate with pomegranate arils, parsley, and lemon wedges.
Notes
Resting the chicken in the oven and on the cutting board is crucial for juiciness. Adjust spices to your preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Poultry
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 150g
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg