Italian Seasoned Chicken Breast

These chicken breasts seasoned with Italian spices are a delicious way to spice up your weeknight dinner. It is a perfect recipe for anyone looking for a quick and flavorful meal. With just a few minutes of prep and a short cooking time, the Italian seasoned chicken breast will become one of your favorite recipes for cooking chicken breast.

If you love Italian recipes, then I highly recommend making your own Italian spices mix.

You will need just a handful of simple ingredients, like lemon zest, garlic, thyme, rosemary basil, and parmesan cheese.

This mix comes together to create a zesty and aromatic seasoning blend that pairs perfectly with juicy chicken breasts.

The seasoning blend can also be customized to your liking – add more garlic for a stronger flavor, or use a different blend of herbs to switch things up.

You can use a store-bought Italian spices mix, but I recommend making your own if you have the possibility because you can adjust the taste and intensify some of the spices that you prefer more.

So if you’re in need of a quick and easy dinner idea that’s both healthy and delicious, give this Italian seasoned chicken breast recipe a try.

You will be impressed by how juicy and how many flavors this dish will have in the end.

🥰 Why You Will Love This Recipe?

• This recipe comes together in just a few minutes of prep time and a short cooking time, making it a great option for busy weeknights. If you want to shorten the prep time and the number of ingredients, you can use an Italian spice mix.
• The combination of lemon zest, garlic, basil, and parmesan cheese creates a zesty and aromatic seasoning blend that adds plenty of flavor to the chicken.
• The seasoning blend can be customized to your liking. Feel free to change their amount or to use a different blend of herbs to switch things up.

🥘 Ingredients and Substitutes

• Chicken meat. I used chicken breast because it cooks the fastest. If you want, you could follow this recipe with other chicken pieces or even use a whole chicken. You will get the same great results.
• Tomatoes. I used cherry tomatoes because they are sweeter and have a more pronounced flavor. If you don’t have them at hand, you can replace them with regular tomatoes and just cut them into smaller pieces. For a bonus of color, you could opt for a mix of tomatoes of different colors.
• Italian seasonings. I opted for a mix made by myself and used a mixture of fresh thyme, dried rosemary, lemon zest, fresh basil, garlic cloves, salt, and black pepper. If you want to save time, you could use a store-bought mix of Italian seasonings.
• Cheese. I used freshly grated parmesan, but you can choose any other cheeses you have on hand that you like.
• Olive Oil. I opted for olive oil because it has a classic Italian flavor, but you can replace it with any other vegetable oil or substitute it with butter.

👩‍🍳 Step-by-step Directions

Quick Note: If you decided to make the Italian spice mix from scratch as I did, then you will need a chopper, pestle, and mortar, or a food processor.

Put all the ingredients in a chopper.

Mix until the whole composition becomes uniform.

Coat the meat well with the Italian seasonings we just made and pour it over the chicken breast.

Place the cherry tomatoes around the chicken breast to make it juicier.

Quick Note: If you have decided to use normal-sized tomatoes, cut them into quarters or halves.

Sprinkle the chicken breasts with freshly grated parmesan or another type of cheese you have decided to use.

Preheat the oven and bake the chicken breast with Italian seasonings at 350°F (180°C) for about 40-50 minutes.

Quick Note: As the cooking time may differ, for a more accurate result, keep an eye on the meat or, even better, use a meat thermometer to check the inner temperature of the chicken breasts. It is considered safe when it reaches 165°F (74°C).

Pro Tip: Let the meat rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

By doing that, the juice inside the meat spreads evenly over its entire surface, and in the end, you will get juicier meat.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

You can serve the seasoned Italian chicken near some roasted vegetables like roasted asparagus, carrots, or Brussels sprouts.

Or, you can serve the chicken breasts near some crunchy bread slices because the meat will come juicy, and you will want a piece of bread to soak into it.

If you have any leftovers, you can cut the chicken breast into smaller pieces to make a delicious chicken salad with this juicy meat. Toss it with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a simple vinaigrette for a light and healthy lunch.

🏆 Expert Tips. What to Pay Attention To?

• Opt for chicken breast if you want a quick-cooking option, but you can also experiment with other chicken cuts or even a whole chicken. Adjust cooking times accordingly to ensure the meat is cooked to perfection.
• Pay attention to the cooking level of the chicken breast, as it can dry out quickly if you overcook it. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F, but no higher.
• After cooking, allow the chicken breasts to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing or serving. This resting period lets the juices redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring a more flavorful and tender result.
• You can marinate the chicken breasts ahead of time for even more flavor. Refrigerate them for 3-4 days in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed for up to seven days. For longer storage, marinate and freeze uncooked chicken breasts. This method preserves their juiciness when thawed and cooked.

♻️ Make Ahead, Storage, and Heating:

📋 Recipe Card: