Favorite simple recipe for cooking chicken breasts, from someone on Reddit. The recipe provider mentioned they tested both "low" and "high" temperature baking and determined the high-temperature method was best.
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, that have been pounded to even thickness and brined in saltwater (see instructions below)
1 Tablespoon melted butter or olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika (I prefer smoked paprika)
Instructions
To brine your chicken breasts, fill a large bowl with 4 quarts of warm water and 1/4 cup kosher salt. Stir to combine until most of the salt is absorbed. Add the chicken breasts and let them sit in the mixture to brine for 15 minutes. Or you can also also cover the bowl and refrigerate for up to 6 hours. Remove the chicken breasts and pat dry with a paper towel when ready to use.
Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in a large baking dish. Brush on both sides (turning once) evenly with the melted butter or olive oil.
In a separate small bowl, whisk the salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika until combined. Then sprinkle the mixture evenly over the chicken on both sides. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink. If you use a cooking thermometer to measure the temperature thickest part of the breast, it should be between 160-170 degrees F. (The FDA recommends 170 degrees F.) Once the chicken is cooked, remove the pan from the oven and loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil. Let the chicken rest for at least 5-10 minutes. Then serve immediately.