Baked Chicken with Italian Seasoning

Name: Easy Italian Baked Chicken Breasts
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 24 min
Total time: 34 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts (about 3 breasts); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1 lemon (optional)

Recipe

Make chicken breasts taste amazing with this simple recipe for baked chicken with Italian seasoning.

Italian seasoning infuses the baked chicken breasts with tons of herby flavors in this easy recipe you’ll want to make often.

Baked Chicken Breasts with Italian Seasoning

Laura fuentes holding a skillet of food standing in front of a blue door

These baked chicken breasts with Italian seasoning are the kind of recipe I make at the end of the week when the fridge is nearly empty. The herbs do the heavy lifting, and a few simple baking tips keep the chicken juicy. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Cooking flavorful chicken breasts with Italian seasoning is super easy, and a few basic staples are more than enough. All you need is chicken breasts, olive oil to mix with the seasonings and coat the meat, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. I also like to add lemon for moisture and flavor, but it’s optional.

How to Make Italian Chicken

Everything you need to make this juicy Italian chicken is in the recipe card. Here is a quick overview with visuals:

Prep the chicken breasts.
Pat the chicken dry to help the seasoning stick. If one side of the chicken breasts is significantly thicker than the other, pound it on a board to ensure even baking.
Season.
Coat the chicken breasts with a mix of olive oil and seasonings. Optionally, you can add lemon slices to the bottom of the baking dish for extra flavor and moisture.

two image collage for Italian baked chicken. on left is the herbs with olive oil mixed in an bowl, on the right the chicken breasts are in a baking dish seasoned before baking

Bake the chicken for 20-24 minutes.
Check the chicken's doneness after 22 minutes using a meat thermometer. When the internal temperature reaches 165F, remove it from the oven. Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the meat.

Laura’s Tips for Juicy Baked Chicken Breasts

Cooking juicily delicious baked chicken breasts with Italian seasoning every time is a breeze if you follow these tips:

Even out the chicken

To ensure even cooking, pound the chicken breasts if you notice that one of the sides is thicker. This also breaks the muscle fibers, helping make the meat tender.

Don’t omit the oil

Along with helping the seasonings stick to the meat, oil adds moisture to the chicken breasts, making them juicy!

Preheat the oven before adding the chicken in

Oven temperature might be the difference between juicy and dry chicken breasts. Preheat it to 400F and cook for the correct length of time.

Check the chicken’s internal temperature

Chicken breasts are usually cooked after 20-24 minutes in the oven, but the best way to ensure even cooking and keep them from drying out is to use a meat thermometer. Insert it after 20 minutes of baking, and know that chicken breasts are ready when the internal temperature reaches 165F

juicy baked chicken with Italian seasoning over rice on a plate

What to Serve With This Easy Baked Italian Chicken

While the oven turns the meat into a delicious Italian chicken, you have time to make rice or some of these easy chicken sides, or a simple side salad.

Easy Italian Baked Chicken Breasts

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 24

Total Time: 34

Make chicken breasts taste amazing with this simple recipe for baked chicken with Italian seasoning.

5 from 14 votes

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Ingredients

1 ½ lbs chicken breasts, about 3 breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 lemon, optional

Instructions

Prep:

Preheat the oven to 400F and lightly spray a rectangular baking dish with oil. You can also use a parchment-lined baking pan.
Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. This removes the "slime" and helps the seasoning mixture adhere (stick) to the chicken. Tip: If one side of the chicken breasts is significantly thicker than the other, pound the thicker side on a board to ensure even baking.

Season:

In a large bowl, combine the seasonings and olive oil. Add the chicken breasts to the bowl, and toss to coat them in the seasoning.
Slice the lemon into thin, round slices. Place 2-3 thin lemon slices on the baking dish, then place the chicken breast on top. Repeat. While the lemon isn't an essential ingredient, baking the chicken over it adds moisture and flavor.

Bake:

Bake for 20-24 minutes until the chicken's internal temperature reaches 165F. Cooking time might vary based on the thickness of the chicken breast; I highly recommend cooking chicken by temperature.