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Classic Baked Chicken

Calories: 936kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken (whatever cut you like - I used 1 lb breasts & 1 lb thighs)
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
  • Drizzle olive oil in the bottom of a baking dish or roasting pan (just enough for a light coating).
  • Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels, then place them in the baking dish (skin side up if they have skin!). 
  • Lightly drizzle the tops of the chicken with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt & pepper, and any other spices you like.  I use a lot of black pepper!
  • Bake at 400ºF for 30 minutes to get the browning going, then reduce the oven heat to 350ºF.  Bake for 10 to 30 more minutes, depending on your oven & how much chicken you use, until the juice run clear with no pink when you poke the chicken.
  • Turn on the broiler for the last 4-5 minutes for extra browning on top!
  • Remove from the chicken from the oven, and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting & serving.
  • Tip:  I find that cutting the chicken in the pan with its juices (or at least returning it back to the juices after cutting) makes it extra tender & moist!  Just drain it before you store the leftovers.
  • Enjoy on a salad, in a wrap, or as a main dish with whatever sides you like!  It saves really well for great lunches!

Nutrition

Calories: 936kcal | Protein: 81g | Fat: 66g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 327mg | Sodium: 305mg | Iron: 4mg