Creating Southwestern Baked Chicken is simple if you follow these easy steps:

1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s hot before baking the chicken.
2. Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a baking dish with cooking spray or a bit of olive oil.
3. Season Chicken: In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper to create a flavorful marinade.
4. Coat Chicken: Rub the spice mixture evenly over each chicken breast, ensuring they are well coated.
5. Arrange in Dish: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish, spreading them out evenly.
6. Bake: Insert the baking dish into the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
7. Rest Chicken: Once baked, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. This helps retain moisture.
8. Slice and Serve: Cut the chicken into slices and serve warm, drizzling any residual juices from the baking dish over the top for extra flavor.

These straightforward steps will result in delicious meals that will get your family and friends asking for the recipe!