This is the most popular of all chicken breast recipes that I’ve ever published. It’s a JUICY Oven Baked Chicken Breast sprinkled with a magic simple seasoning, baked until caramelised. It’s simple, fast and incredibly tasty! This is a reader-favourite alongside Honey Garlic Chicken, this epic Parmesan Crusted Chicken and crispy Garlic Chicken.
This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!
A JUICY Baked Chicken Breast!
Though I always stand firm that brown meat is better than white – more flavour, more juiciness – lean chicken breast is a regular in my shopping trolley, week after week.
So today, I’m sharing my recipe for how I make Oven Baked Chicken Breast.
We can never have too many really great quick chicken breast recipes!
As simple as it sounds, if you whack a seasoned breast in the oven without thought, the chances are you’ll be chewing your way through dry chicken, furiously squirting over copious amounts of ketchup to try to salvage it.
It doesn’t need to be that way. Enter – a fabulous simple, magic chicken seasoning for baked chicken breast:
The Chicken Breast Seasoning
Made with just brown sugar, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper, the secret ingredient in this is brown sugar:
Makes more seasoning, so you can coat the breast thoroughly and give it a beautiful crust without overpowering it with lots of spices that need longer to cook than chicken breast does; and
Makes it juicy – the chicken sweat while it bakes, so you end up with wetness that makes the chicken more juicy than the usual baked chicken breast.
Yes it adds sweetness but don’t worry, this baked chicken breast is still savoury!
How long to cook chicken breast
A medium chicken breast will take 18 – 20 minutes to bake at 220C / 425F. Cooking it hard and fast at a high temperature is the secret to gorgeous caramelisation and ultra juicy chicken inside. No dried out breast around here!!
The seasoning for this chicken is actually a really great indicator for when the chicken is cooked to perfection. Basically, once the surface of the chicken is caramelised, it’s cooked to perfection inside so get it out of the oven!
My last tip for a truly great Baked Chicken Breast is to pound it to even thickness, either with a rolling pin, meat mallet or even with your fist (very therapeutic). This has the double effect of even cooking as well as tenderising the meat.
The secret behind this baked chicken is the simple, magic seasoning
Most popular of all chicken breast recipes!
This Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast is the single most popular of all chicken breast recipes I’ve ever shared.
But don’t believe me. Have a browse below of what others have to say!
Try serving this with a side of Garlic Butter Rice with Kale, pictured in post. One pot carb + veg side, with kale made delicious! Otherwise, try a flavoured Rice Side like Tomato Basil Rice or Mushroom Rice.
If you’re in the mood for potatoes, try this Lemon Potato Salad, a classic creamy Potato Salad or a lighter No-Mayo Red Potato Salad with Charred Corn and Bacon.
And for something fresh, Spring Salad or Creamy Cucumber Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing would go with the chicken beautifully. Else, simply drizzle steamed greens or a garden salad with Italian Dressing, Balsamic or French Vinaigrette. – Nagi x
More chicken breast recipes readers love!
Honey Garlic Chicken Breast – Super easy, super delicious!
Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast – No breadcrumbs needed!
Chicken Kiev – A retro classic! Crumbed and fried chicken breast stuffed with oozing garlic butter …
Browse all chicken recipes
Baked Chicken Breast recipe
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. The book is mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!
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Oven Baked Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts , 150 – 180g / 5 – 6 oz each (Note 1)
- 2 tsp olive oil
Seasoning:
- 1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano or thyme , or other herb of choice
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
Garnish, optional:
- Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C (200°C fan).
- Pound chicken to 1.5cm / 0.6″ at the thickest part – using a rolling pin, meat mallet or even your fist (key tip for even cooking + tender chicken).
- Mix Seasoning.
- Line tray with foil and baking / parchment paper. Place chicken upside down on tray. Drizzle chicken with about 1 tsp oil. Rub over with fingers. Sprinkle with Seasoning.
- Flip chicken. Drizzle with 1 tsp oil, rub with fingers, sprinkle with Seasoning, covering as much of the surface area as you can.
- Bake 18 minutes, or until surface is golden per photos and video, or internal temperature is 165°F/75°C using a meat thermometer.
- Remove from oven and immediately transfer chicken to serving plates.
- Wait 3 – 5 minutes before serving, garnished with freshly chopped parsley if desired. Pictured with a side of Garlic Butter Rice with Kale.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Recipe originally published March 2018. Updated for housekeeping matters in March 2019, no change to recipe.
* The story and details of the Handcrafted Japanese Knife giveaway that originally accompanied this recipe when published was moved into a separate post because the Giveaway has finished.
LIFE OF DOZER
It’s just hanging there, taunting him. He sniffs at it, suspiciously….
Love the recipe. A sharp knife is the best
can’t wait to try this recipe
I need this knife in my life please!
I will promise I would treat the beautiful knife in the nicest way for my whole life!!
What an amazing give away Nagi! I would certainly appreciate having this incredible knife. I would cherish it and as you say, it would immediately be the most used and important tool in my kitchen. Your chicken recipe looks delicious. I look forward to trying it very soon. Thank you for the awesome food ideas you provide daily.
That Japanese knife looks incredible – I’ve had my mind on having one for a long time.
Need to get cracking on this recipe though – that chicken is just what I need!
rupal@foodienfabulous.com
Hello. It seems very sharp. I would like to have it.
The knife looks incredible! I have been on a trip to Japan recently and loved absolutely everything about it, the culture, the people and ESPECIALLY the food! I bought a pair of beautiful chopsticks from the Suntory Art Museum which I love, but you know.. winning this knife would be like.. life changing! xxx
Knife me 😉
What an awesome knife!! I would love to have this in my kitchen!
I like your cooking and iam frim kuwait hope to win this knife .
Would love the knife! Love your recipes.
I would love this knife to give to my 17 year old aspiring chef! Thank you!
Hello –
This knife is crafted so perfectly you can feel the sharpness over the internet. I’ve had a Japanese Nakiri chef knife that I used and abused for over 20 years. I still have it but it needs sharpening regularly. I’ve had family members use it for wrong things but it survived.. I would love this knife and hide it from everyone….so I could use it for its lifetime. Not much of a chicken eater but may try this on the family..
Beautiful knife! I still have a Giada set at home, had them for years, keep sharpening them to keep them good, and sharp, but boy I would love to win this one. I’ll definitley try the chicken breast recipe, the brown sugar is peaking my interests.
I would love this knife! My coworker used to own a kitchen utensil store and told me to go for the Japanese knives because they’re the best. I can’t wait for the weekend to check out a couple stores in town.
I want that knife!!! I love Japanese Cutlery, I agree with what was said about the culture and pursuit of excellence. Craftsmanship definitely shines through in Japanese Steel production and refinement. I Hope I WIN!!!
My kitchen would be an absolute dream with this knife. I just bought my first house. It would be a perfect addition.
adrianagnoto @yahoo.com
I need that knife!!!! Love your posts!
Great recipes, I cook a lot but get inspired your dishes as they come through.
I would love a knife of this quality, you are right a great knife is the most important tool in the kitchen