Baked Chicken with Sauce is a versatile and flavorful dish that can be made with a variety of sauces. Below is a simple recipe for baked chicken paired with a garlic butter sauce, which is rich and delicious, but you can adapt this with other sauces like a tomato-based marinara, creamy mushroom, or lemon sauce.
Ingredients:
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or rosemary
For the Garlic Butter Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup chicken broth (or white wine)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
2. Prepare the Chicken:
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
- Rub each piece with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and dried thyme (or rosemary).
- Arrange the chicken in a baking dish or oven-safe skillet in a single layer.
3. Bake the Chicken:
- Bake the chicken for about 20-25 minutes, depending on the size of the breasts. The internal temperature should reach 75°C (165°F).
- For crispy edges, you can broil the chicken for the last 3-4 minutes of cooking. Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes.
4. Make the Garlic Butter Sauce:
- While the chicken is baking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes, until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in the chicken broth (or white wine) and let it simmer for 3-5 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Finally, stir in the chopped parsley.
5. Serve the Chicken:
- Once the chicken is out of the oven and has rested, pour the garlic butter sauce over the baked chicken.
- Serve with a side of vegetables, mashed potatoes, or rice to soak up the flavorful sauce.
Optional Variations:
- Creamy Mushroom Sauce: Sauté mushrooms in butter, then add heavy cream and chicken broth for a rich, creamy sauce.
- Marinara Sauce: Use a classic tomato sauce with Italian herbs to top the chicken.
- Lemon Herb Sauce: Replace the garlic butter with a lemon and herb sauce by mixing olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs like basil or oregano.
This baked chicken dish is simple yet flavorful, and the sauce really enhances the overall taste.
