One safety note: Steer clear of this parchment paper method if you're grilling your chicken, in order to avoid a fire hazard. (Here's how to grill chicken breasts without drying them out.) ...

Whenever I’m baking, whether making a batch of cookies, a sheet cake, or cornbread, I always use parchment paper to make my life simpler. Using it has always saved me from having to pre-grease ...

Note that there is a difference between parchment paper and wax paper, and you'll want to steer clear of the latter — it may melt in the oven, and you definitely don't want that for your cookies.