Preheat – Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F) (200°C/400°F fan-forced).
Prep the chicken – Use a mallet, rolling pin or your fist to pound the chicken, with a sheet of baking (parchment) paper on top of the chicken, until it is even in thickness (roughly 1.5 cm/½ inch thick).
Toss the chicken in the marinade – In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, brown sugar, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, dried thyme, salt and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and toss to coat evenly.
Bake – Place the chicken breasts on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake in the preheated oven for 15–18 minutes or until cooked through.
Rest – Allow the chicken to rest for 2 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh thyme, if using.
Serve – Serve the chicken with mashed potatoes drizzled with the baking tray juices and a side of leafy green salad.
Notes
Note 1 – You can substitute chicken breast with chicken thighs. Use a mallet to pound the thighs so they are an even thickness (approximately 1.5 cm/½ inch thick). Adjust the cooking time as thighs will take slightly longer to cook through (20–22 minutes).
Make Ahead
Marinate the chicken breasts up to 24 hours in advance, then store refrigerated in an airtight container.
Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for best results. Not suitable to freeze.
Nutrition Facts
Baked Garlic Chicken Breast
Amount per Serving
Calories
199
% Daily Value*
Fat
16
g
25
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
0.01
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
11
g
Cholesterol
36
mg
12
%
Sodium
656
mg
29
%
Potassium
237
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
2
g
1
%
Fiber
0.3
g
1
%
Sugar
1
g
1
%
Protein
12
g
24
%
Vitamin A
293
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
10
mg
1
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.