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….
Hi Nagi!
I really want this beautiful knife! You’ve been really helpfull in my kitchen and the knife will improve my game.
matheusan0@gmail.com
I would really love this knife because I would give it to my daughter who is in culinary school and she is accomplishing a dream of hers and I being very proud of her ❤️!
Oh, yes please! What a wonderful knife. It would be well used in our home.
I want this knife!!!! 🙂
Hello!! Love the knife! Love how sharp it is. Love your blog!
Hi, hmm why i want this knife? So i can cook more japanese food! I have been trying to cook japanese food for awhile, sushi, teriyaki chicken, japanese curry, miso soup and more. A japanese knife like this will definately help my japanese cooking progression!
Hello! I would to win a sharp knife pretty please 🙂
Hope you don’t mind shipping it all the way to the US though 🙁
I think my husband would actually be the winner with this knife. He is my designated sous chef and does most the chopping for me! This chicken also looks amazing! I love to cook chicken like this and add it to salad through the week for lunch.
amycj25 (gmail email address) leaving out the entire email to avoid spambots 😉
Greetings from Nevada….I truly truly love to make your recipes….My one and only cooking knife is from Snap-on Tools. Please don’t laugh!!! I feel it is about time to have a real knife. Thank you.
Hi Nagi, you are absolutely awesome to be giving something as useful as this. If I had a great Japanese with me, I’d be hoarding it as my biggest treasure. You da best 🙂
Nagi, I don’t want this knife I NEED this knife. Best wishes to you and all the other entrants 🙂
I don’t usually follow recipes so every time I cook it is a bit different. But I do like to read your blog for useful tips like adding a bit of sugar to baked chicken or grilling salmon with mustard and mayonnaise on top; so thank you Nagi and please add my name to the knife lottery
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win this beautiful crafted knife. It would definitely be my prized possession in the kitchen. I just made a batch of your wonton noodle soup and enjoyed it thoroughly. Although mine weren’t as pretty cos some end flaps opened they tasted yum yum in my tummy tum. I would adore this knife and get so much good use out of this knife. My current knives constantly need sharpening and get blunt fast. Thanks again for the opportunity.
Susan
Hello! This is a beautiful knife and I would love to win this so I can use in my own kitchen. I have a very cheap knock off japanese knives I got at the Asian supermarket and my father in law has a stone rock sharper that he use for our knives. I can’t image how sharp this hand crafted Japanese knife would be.
Songyang6405@gmail.com
This knife would be an amazing addition to our little HKG household. It’s always a challenge to cook yummy food in such a small place, but we always manage to do so. Thanks for your inspiration!
The knives I have get very dull fast I would love to have the privilege to use these.
I NEED THIS! 🐓🐲🦑🦆
My oven has been broke for the last 3yrs, tomorrow morning I’m getting a new one. I will finally be able to try some of the recipes that require an oven! Seriously, so excited. How amazing would it be to also have a new real Japanese knife too! I would be all set to cook for my family and friends. Thanks for all your great recipes and videos!
What an awesome giveaway! I would love to win!
I popped in to get some inspiration for our dinner this week. That is a beautiful knife! It would be treasured in our kitchen.