Step 1

Add the salt and water to a large bowl and stir until the salt dissolves.

Step 2

Add the chicken breasts to the brine and let them rest for around 30 minutes (and no longer than 1 hour or the chicken will be salty)

Step 3

Remove the chicken from the water and pat it dry with paper towels.

Step 4

If the chicken is uneven in thickness, gentle pound the chicken into a more uniform thickness.

Step 5

Place the chicken in a baking dish and brush with melted butter or oil on both sides.

Step 6

Mix the additional salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder together in a small bowl. Season both sides of the chicken with the seasoning mix.

Step 7

Bake in a hot (450 F degree) oven for 15-20 minutes. Use a cooking thermometer to measure the temperature at the thickest part of the breast, it should be between 160-170 degrees F.  (The FDA recommends 170 degrees F.)

Step 8

Once the chicken is cooked, remove the pan from the oven and loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil.  Let the chicken rest for at least 5-10 minutes before serving.