1-Brine the chicken: Dissolve the salt in warm water, add the chicken breasts, and let them sit for 15 minutes at room temperature (or up to 6 hours refrigerated if you’re planning ahead). This simple step seasons the chicken throughout and helps it retain moisture during cooking.

2-Preheat your oven: Set your oven to 450°F (232°C). The high heat is essential for getting that golden exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy.

3-Prepare the chicken: Remove the chicken from the brine, rinse briefly, and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Arrange them in a single layer in a baking dish.

4-Prepare the butter-wine sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together the white wine, melted butter, lemon juice, and thyme leaves. Set aside 1 tablespoon of this mixture for later.

5-Add the garlic: Add the whole garlic cloves to the remaining sauce and toss to coat them evenly. The garlic will absorb all these wonderful flavors as it bakes.

6-Season and coat: Pour the garlic-laden sauce over the chicken in the baking dish. Arrange the garlic cloves so they surround each piece of chicken. Brush the tops of the chicken breasts with the reserved 1 tablespoon of sauce mixture, then season generously with salt and pepper.

7-Bake to perfection: Place the dish in the preheated oven and cook for 15-18 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160-170°F (71-77°C). For a gorgeous golden top, switch to broil on high for the final 3-5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.

8-Rest and serve: Remove from the oven, loosely cover with foil, and let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. Spoon any extra garlic-lemon butter sauce over the chicken and garnish with your choice of parsley, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, or lemon slices.