Ina Garten's Easy Chicken Dish Is Perfect For Weeknights

Whether it's been a long day at work or you simply want an easy meal for an impromptu dinner party, Ina Garten has you covered with this quick weeknight chicken meal. All you need are some chicken breasts with the skin on, goat cheese, fresh basil, and some spices that you likely have on hand.

This dish can be quickly assembled in 10 minutes and thrown in the oven. In an Instagram reel, Garten puts some herb goat cheese (my favorite is the Chevre Fine Herb goat cheese sold at Trader Joe's) under the skin of the chicken breasts and tops them with fresh basil. She finishes the dish off by sprinkling on salt and pepper and rubbing olive oil into the skin before baking it for 35 to 40 minutes.

Once the chicken is cooked, cover it with aluminum foil to seal in moisture and let the meat rest — it's the same reason you should keep the lid shut when grilling chicken. Be sure to let the chicken cook to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a meat thermometer (one of Ina Garten's favorite kitchen tools) to double-check. A dish this simple can be paired with a salad, rice, potatoes, and so much more.

Ina Garten has many other great recipes for easy chicken dishes, including her roasted chicken and potatoes, which just involves seasoning the ingredients and cooking them in a skillet in the oven. She also has a mouthwatering one-pan meal made with chicken thighs and a creamy mustard sauce. (You can use the same sauce recipe to dress up grilled chicken.)

And while I may not be Ina Garten, I know that easy dinners make the evenings far less daunting after a long day at the office. I always have chicken on hand as it takes multiple flavors very well and can be turned into lots of simple meals that I have on my weekly rotation. One of my favorites is chicken breast, chicken broth, and rice blended and cooked on a low heat to make a comforting winter soup.