The Best Baked Chicken Breasts

Name: The Best Baked Chicken Breasts
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H10M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H50M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 small bunch parsley; 1 lemon, sliced 1/4 inch thick; 1 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc; Four 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/4 teaspoon paprika; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

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Level: Easy

Total: 50 min
Active: 10 min

Yield: 4 servings

The downfall of most baked chicken breast recipes is the long time in the oven that dries out the lean meat before it can fully cook through. We've solved that problem with a couple of secret weapons. The first is white wine added to the baking dish, which creates steam. (While we think it’s worth using wine, you could substitute stock or even water.) The second is a piece of parchment paper placed directly on top of the chicken to lock in the moisture during baking. The result is the best boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are plump and juicy, with a minimum of hands-on time. A bunch of parsley and lemon slices infuse the dish with fresh flavor and the seasoning is neutral enough that the chicken can be used for a variety of different meals. Serve it alongside vegetables and grains, shredded into soup, spiced up for tacos or chopped on top of salad. Feel free to switch up the herbs and citrus if you have leftovers in the fridge to use up.

Level: Easy

Total: 50 min
Active: 10 min

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

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1 small bunch parsley

1 lemon, sliced 1/4 inch thick

1 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc

Four 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon paprika

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the parsley in the center of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and top with the lemon slices. Pour the wine around the parsley. Brush the tops of the chicken with the olive oil and season with the paprika, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Arrange the chicken breasts on top of the lemon slices. Cut an 8-by-10-inch piece of parchment and place it on top of the chicken.
Bake until the chicken registers 165 degrees F on a digital thermometer, 40 to 45 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. The chicken can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.