Herb Crusted Baked Chicken – Easy Paleo Chicken Recipe

This herb-crusted baked chicken is a simple, flavorful Paleo chicken recipe perfect for busy weeknights. It’s easy to prepare and delivers a crispy, golden crust every time.

Super moist, full of flavor from a dried herb mix, and tender, this chicken dinner is sure to be a hit with the whole family.

Ready in 30 minutes, it also fits into a Whole30 meal plan.

Keep reading to learn how to make this delicious Paleo baked chicken.

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Ingredients for the Paleo chicken recipe

To make this herb-crusted baked chicken,  you will need the following ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of dried rosemary
• ½ teaspoon of dried thyme
• ½ to ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes (the more you use, the spicier the flavor will be)
• ½ teaspoon of dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon of kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
• To garnish: fresh rosemary, oregano, and lemon wedges

You will also need an oven-proof casserole dish. A meat thermometer is also helpful.

Making the Paleo chicken breasts recipe

Start by preheating your oven to 350ºF (180ºC).

Making the herb rub

The rub is made from equal parts rosemary, red pepper flakes, sea salt, thyme, garlic powder, and oregano. It adds a really robust flavor to the herb-baked chicken with just a touch of heat.

Rub the herb mixture over both sides of the chicken breasts.

Sear the chicken

Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat and cook the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes on each side until they are nicely browned. This step slightly cooks the herbs, gives the chicken a lovely brown color, and sears in the juices.

Place the seared chicken in an oven-proof baking dish and cook for 25 minutes. Check after 20 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165ºF (74ºC).

Be careful not to overcook the chicken, or it will be dry.

Note: You can make this Paleo baked chicken recipe with boneless, skinless breasts, like I did today, or use chicken breasts with skin and bone in. If you choose bone-in chicken with skin, cook it for 40-45 minutes.

Garnish with fresh herbs

I used fresh oregano and thyme to give a bit of color and taste, and also drizzled a little fresh lemon juice to give the chicken a slight citrus flavor that complements the herbs.

Serve the Paleo baked chicken breasts with slices of lemon.

Tasting the Paleo chicken breasts

This herb-crusted baked chicken is savory, aromatic, and bursting with herb flavor. Each bite is tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned with a golden, crispy crust that adds texture to every mouthful. It’s hard to believe there is no skin!

Add a tossed salad or a side dish (my roasted carrots and mushrooms with thyme is great with this chicken recipe) and you have a meal that is Whole30 compliant, Paleo, and gluten-free.

This garlic herb-crusted chicken is perfect for any busy weeknight, but still pretty enough to serve at a fancy dinner party.  Look at that color on the crust, contrasting with the luscious, tender chicken meat!

More delicious chicken recipes

Need more dinner inspiration? Here are some more Paleo chicken recipes to try.

• Baked Chicken Paprika Drumsticks – Whole30, paleo, gluten free
• Thai Chicken Coconut Soup – Tom Kha Gai – (Whole30 – Paleo – Gluten Free)
• Crock Pot Curried Chicken – Paleo and Whole30 friendly

Share this Paleo chicken dinner idea on X

If you enjoyed making these herb-baked chicken breasts, why not share this recipe with a friend?

Pin this Paleo-baked chicken for later

Would you like a reminder of this herb-roasted chicken breast recipe?  Just pin this image to one of your easy recipe boards on Pinterest.

Admin note: this oven-baked chicken recipe first appeared on the blog in March 2014. I have updated the post with new photos, as well as adapted it for both bone-in and boneless chicken. I have also added a printable recipe card with nutritional information and a slideshow video for you to enjoy. Bon appetit!

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Yield: 4 servings of herb-crusted baked chicken

Herb-Crusted Baked Chicken | Easy Paleo Chicken Breast Recipe

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This simple, flavorful Paleo chicken recipe is ready in 30 minutes with a crispy, golden crust and fresh herbs. Perfect for busy weeknights and Whole30-friendly!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of dried rosemary
• ½ teaspoon of dried thyme
• ½ to ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes (the more you use, the spicier the flavor will be)
• ½ teaspoon of dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon of kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
• To garnish: fresh rosemary, oregano and lemon wedges

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
2. Combine the herbs in a small bowl, then rub the mixture over both sides of the chicken breasts.
3. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat and cook the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes on each side until they are nicely browned.
4. Place the seared chicken in an oven-proof baking dish and cook for 25 minutes. Check after 20 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165ºF (74ºC).
5. Be careful not to overcook the chicken, or it will be dry.
6. Garnish with some fresh rosemary and oregano, and drizzle a little lemon juice over the top.
7. Serve immediately.

Notes

You can also make this recipe with bone-in breasts with skin. They will need to cook for about 40 minutes. The bone and skin will make the chicken even more tender, but the skin adds extra calories.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases but the price is the same for you.

• 
  Digital Meat Thermometer Instant Read Waterproof Meat Thermometer
• 
  Farberware Color Measuring Spoons, Mixed Colors, Set of 5
• 
  Sunnydaze Decor Oval Enameled Cast Iron Baking Dish Pan, 6 x 1 x 8 Inch, Red and Cream

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 239Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 370mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 37g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

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