🍗 Easy Weeknight Chicken Bake
📝 Recipe Overview
This easy weeknight chicken bake is designed for busy evenings when you need a comforting homemade dinner without stress. By blending three classic oven-baked chicken methods — sheet-pan roasting, garlic butter seasoning, and simple herb baking — this recipe delivers tender, juicy chicken with rich flavor using minimal prep and everyday ingredients.
⏱️ Preparation Time
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 4 people
🛒 Ingredients
- 900 g (2 lb) chicken thighs or drumsticks (bone-in, skin-on)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Fresh parsley (optional)
👨🍳 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C / 400°F. Line a baking dish or sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels for better browning.
- In a small bowl, mix olive oil, melted butter, garlic, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Arrange chicken in a single layer in the baking dish.
- Brush the seasoning mixture generously over each piece.
- Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, turning once halfway through.
- For extra color, broil for 3–5 minutes at the end.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
🔄 Why This Recipe Is Original
✔️ Combines 3 oven-baked chicken styles
✔️ No frying, no breading
✔️ One simple garlic-butter seasoning base
✔️ Clean, repeatable method (ideal for food blogs)
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Steamed rice or quinoa
- Roasted vegetables
- Simple green salad
- Mashed potatoes
