Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9" x 9" metal baking pan by lining it with parchment paper.

Melt ½ cup of unsalted butter in the microwave for about 30-40 seconds until just melted and let it cool slightly.

In the same bowl, whisk together 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth and glossy.

Add 2 large eggs to the mixture, whisk gently until just combined.

In a separate bowl, sift together ¼ teaspoon of baking soda, ¼ teaspoon of salt, ½ cup of all-purpose flour, and ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder.

Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined.

Fold in 1½ cups of chocolate chips into the brownie batter until evenly distributed.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly into the corners.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick.

Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before lifting them out and slicing into squares.