Baked Blackened Chicken Breasts are juicy, flavorful, and ready in 30 minutes. Add a touch of honey for a sweet and spicy version that's off-the-chart delicious. Or leave it off for a low-carb dinner. Either way, you'll reach for this recipe again and again.
When life gets crazy, you need tasty recipes that are easy to prepare and provide plenty of ways to enjoy them! Oven-baked blackened chicken fits the bill and is the recipe on repeat at our house. And I always plan for leftovers.
The addition of honey is entirely optional. But, customers at our Meal Assembly Stores loved this tried-and-true trick to take chicken to the next level. The same technique can be used to make Blackened Fish and Spicy Shrimp.
Here's why you'll love this recipe:
- It's easy to prepare (and freeze), and the cooking time is mostly hands-off.
- It's versatile and perfectly pairs with many popular dishes, such as pasta alfredo, salads, and sandwiches.
- Each serving can be customized as it cooks. Add as much or as little seasoning as you like.
- A slight drizzle of honey may win over someone that "doesn't like spicy food!"
- It's healthy, family-friendly, and low-carb (even with a little sweetness added!)
Jump to:
What is Blackened Chicken?
Blackened chicken is NOT burnt! Chicken gets its dark color from a blend of spices that are mixed with oil or butter. The chicken can be cooked on the stovetop, baked, or grilled.
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make blackened chicken breasts:
- Chicken breasts - Pound chicken to a uniform thickness, about ½ to ¾ inch. This will allow it to cook evenly. Other cuts of chicken such as fillets or tenders can be used, but the cooking time will need to be adjusted.
- Blackened Seasoning - Purchase this spice blend or use our homemade version below. It's often labeled Cajun or Creole seasoning, with Cajun blends tending to be a little spicier.
- Honey - Adding a touch of honey is optional.
- Olive Oil - Ingredient is used for searing the chicken.
Blackened Seasoning for Chicken
Below is our DIY Cajun seasoning. It will easily cover 16 ounces of chicken. Combine the following ingredients in a small jar and shake:
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
The nice thing about preparing your own blend is that you can adjust it to taste. If you're watching your salt, then reduce the amount used or leave it out. Play with the level of heat as well. And, if you happen to have some other spices on hand, experiment with those too.
Best Pan to Blacken Chicken
A pan that goes from stove-top to oven is fantastic for this recipe. If you have a cast iron skillet, use it!
However, a non-stick skillet can also be used to blacken chicken. I do it all the time. Many will withstand relatively high oven temperatures too. Be careful when you grab the handle!
Directions
To make baked blackened chicken: coat chicken with spices, sear, and bake That's it!
I just remembered another reason why you'll love this recipe. You do not have to measure anything out, and the amount of spice or honey can vary on each piece of chicken. Perfect for picky eaters.
Here's the process:
- Pat chicken dry with a paper towel.
- If using honey, drizzle a little over the chicken and spread it around with a spoon.
- Evenly sprinkle blackened seasoning over each side of the chicken breast. Some people like to make a paste with a little bit of olive oil and use their hands to rub it in.
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken on the stove-top for a couple of minutes on each side. (Don't skip this step! It makes a big difference.)
- Bake the chicken uncovered for about 30 minutes. If the pan is not oven-safe, transfer the chicken to a glass baking dish or sheet pan first. The exact cooking time will vary depending upon the thickness of the chicken.
Top Tip
Use a meat thermometer, and you will never under or overcook chicken! A programmable timer with a probe that stays inserted in the chicken while it cooks is ideal. You'll know the moment it's reached the proper temperature of 165 °F.
Storage, Reheating, Make-Ahead Tips
- Refrigerator - Place leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Reheat - Place chicken in a covered dish with a few drops of water or broth. Warm chicken in the oven at 350 °F until heated through. Alternatively, reheat in the microwave. Place chicken on a microwave-safe platter. Add water or broth, cover to keep moisture, and microwave at 1-minute intervals until heated through.
- Freeze - Leftovers may be frozen in an airtight storage container, such as a freezer bag. Store up to 3 months. For best results, defrost overnight in the refrigerator before warming.
- Make-ahead - Add uncooked chicken, spices, olive oil, and honey to a large resealable plastic bag. Massage the spice mixture into the chicken. Remove excess air and seal the plastic bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and then cook according to the recipe instructions.
- Tip: Set out a few plastic bags and do this while you have all the ingredients out.
FAQ
No! Blackened chicken gets a dark color from the blackened seasoning used and the process of searing and cooking it.
Yes! Instead of cooking the chicken in the oven, simply grill as you normally would.
Top Ways to Serve it
Once it's done, there are so many ways to use baked blackened chicken breasts.
- Top off a pasta dish, such as Zucchini Noodle Alfredo.
- Serve over salad greens (with a little red wine vinaigrette salad dressing.)
- Make a traditional chicken sandwich or make Chicken Salad.
More Baked Chicken Recipes
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📋 Recipe
Baked Blackened Chicken Breasts Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast
- 2 teaspoons honey leave this out if you don’t want the sweet taste or for fewer calories
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons Cajun Spice Blend see ingredients below or purchase a spice blend
Cajun Spice Blend
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F.
- If using, drizzle honey over each side of chicken and spread with the back of a spoon. (I make a thin line down the center of each breast and spread it out to the sides.)
- Sprinkle seasoning on both sides of the chicken.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear the chicken for one-two minutes on each side.
- Place chicken in baking dish and cook, uncovered, for about 25-30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink inside and reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on 3/18/15 and has been updated to improve the reader experience.
Camilla
Nothing beats a simple dish after a long day, love the addition of honey here, must try this:-)
Lizzy
I didn't add the touch of honey, but the chicken was perfect!