Easy Oven-Baked Blackened Chicken is juicy and delicious and perfect with pasta, salads, and sandwiches!

There are a million ways to prepare chicken, from fancy to basic. While fancy can be fun, you can’t deny that basic is awesome, especially when it comes to this recipe for oven-baked blackened chicken. This chicken is juicy, easy, and versatile! Eat it alone or with your favorite pasta recipes, salads, or make a yummy sandwich out of it.

Allow me to introduce you to some of the juiciest, most flavorful chicken that will come out of your oven. This is truly the best blackened chicken!

I wish I could adequately explain how easy it is to make awesome, juicy chicken at home. Often times people assume that juicy chicken in the oven, especially the boneless variety, can’t be done. I am here to tell you that not only can it be done, but it’s also SO easy to do and comes together in less than 30 minutes.

What is Blackened Chicken

Blackened does not mean burnt, but rather refers to covering meat with seasoning and cooking it at a high temperature. The heat cooks the meat and turns the outside dark brown or “black”. This cooking method can be done with chicken like this in this recipe, shrimp, or even salmon. It results in a super flavorful chicken that is juicy and moist on the inside and perfectly crispy on the outside!

How to Make Blackened Chicken in the Oven

Here is a brief overview of how this easy baked blackened chicken comes together. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

1. Prepare your chicken. While your oven is preheating, pound your chicken breasts to an even thickness, about one-inch thick.
2. Make your spice mixture. Combine all of the seasonings and spices in a bowl. Add olive oil to the spices and mix to combine.
3. Season your chicken. Distribute the seasoning among the chicken breasts, making sure to season both sides. Use your fingers to press the seasoning into each chicken breast.
4. Bake the chicken. Bake until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want, broil for the last few minutes until the chicken is golden brown.
5. Let the chicken rest. Drizzle with melted butter and parsley and let sit for about five minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Buying Chicken

For this recipe, you will be using boneless, skinless chicken breasts. When chicken varies in size, it’ll be difficult to cook the thickest part of the chicken all the way through without drying out the rest. When you are baking chicken in the oven, you will have the best results with chicken that has been pounded out to an even thickness – about one inch thick.

I use this KitchenAid Gourmet Meat Tenderizer – it has a flat side for pounding and a grooved side for tenderizing. You will use the flat side.

You could also use boneless skinless chicken breast tenders or chicken thighs, but you will need to adjust the cooking time and check the temperature so that you do not overcook the chicken.

Seasoning Blackened Chicken

Once you’ve got your chicken prepped, you will make the spice blend. In a bowl, combine cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika (or regular paprika), and brown sugar. All of these spices and seasonings can be found at a standard grocery store and create the perfect flavor. You can very easily control the heat and spiciness of this recipe by adjusting how much cajun seasoning and chili powder that you use. As written, it is family-friendly and not overly spicy.

If you are following a low carb diet, feel free to substitute the brown sugar with whatever sugar substitute you prefer. This Serve Brown Sugar is my personal favorite brown sugar substitute.

To the spices and seasonings, you’ll add about 3 tablespoons of olive oil. It’ll become somewhat like a paste that you will spread over both sides of the chicken evenly. Make sure to use clean hands and your fingers to press the seasonings into the chicken.

Baking Blackened Chicken

It might be hard to believe that juicy, delicious chicken is attainable in the oven, but it is! As long as you make sure to pound the chicken so that all pieces are even in size, you shouldn’t have difficulty obtaining the perfect juicy blackened chicken.

You can use any oven-safe baking dish that you’d like. Sometimes I bake this chicken in a glass casserole dish, other times I use a metal baking dish. Be aware that dark metal baking pans absorb heat quicker than aluminum or glass, so things will cook a bit faster. Bake time will be around 17-20 minutes depending on the size of the chicken and your oven.

I highly recommend using an instant-read thermometer for the best results. It is the best way to make sure your chicken is cooked enough for food safety purposes, but not overcooked and dry. Chicken is considered fully cooked at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Then you’ll pull the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for about five minutes. Alternatively, you can pull the chicken out a bit early, and then broil it for the last few minutes.

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover blackened chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or air fryer until heated through.

Looking for more recipes with a little heat? This Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a favorite! Another delicious option is this Spicy Chicken Rigatoni that’s packed with red pepper flake, tons of garlic, and a combo of Alfredo and marinara sauce.

What to Serve With Blackened Chicken

Oven-baked blackened chicken is so versatile. Here are some ideas of what to serve it with.

• Slice it and place it on top of pasta, especially this Simple Creamy Alfredo Sauce.
• Caesar Salad or your favorite salad.
• Round out the meal with some Garlic Roasted Potatoes and Carrots.

If you make these easy oven-baked blackened chicken breasts or any of my other recipes, please leave a comment and let me know what you think! I really appreciate your feedback.