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….
Hello!!!
This is an awesome giveaway and I would love to be one of the lucky ones.
Thanks for sharing all you amazing recipes. I am originally from Bangladesh but living in US. My mom is an amazing cook like yourself but while I was young never paid any attention to her cooking. And recipes are all I get to follow now. I am not a fan of cooking in general (I don’t like the heat from the stove, I know lame excuse coming from an Asian descent- but my defense, just because I was born in a warm country, doesn’t mean I have to love it) but your recipes look delicious and you make them look so easy.
The Chinese Lettuce Wrap is my favorite!
Thanks again!
My Dad was a butcher and he used Japanese knives for all his small work. This post reminds me of him. I would love to win it. Tried the chicken-we all loved it. Thanks for plenty of easy go to recipes.
Hi Nagi – What a great prize, to top the excellent selection of recipes that my family have come to ask for the next installment of. I would LLOOOOVVEEEE this japanese knife – my significant other dropped my beautiful German version the other day and bent the tip, so that is hers now, so I need a replacement 🙂
Cheers
This is so awesome! I love your recipes and videos! I get so many ideas and helpful tips from you. It would be very cool to win but just keep those recipes coming. Have a fantastic day!
Hi Nagi! That knife looks fantastic! It would be a great addition to, and an even better knife than the one I have now. I would really love to win! Also, that chicken dinner looks super yummy! I’m definitely going to try it.
Whoa! What a knife! Fingers crossed over here to win this. My grandmother had always told me that it’s important to have sharp knives when cooking.
What a treat this knife would be, a welcome assistant in the kitchen indeed 🙂 Nagi, your recipes are delicious and easy to follow they have been printed out and are now housed in the kitchen for easy reading and access. Thank you for the opportunity to win this knife, it looks magnificent and would be a much appreciated companion in my kitchen. Best wishes to you and Dozer.
Not only do I want this knife I NEED it! I love to cook and I have never been able to afford a truly special knife. I would be so grateful to win this!!!
Oh I love it! And I really love your recipes. You have a very natural way of making the ordinary spectacular and accesible to everyday cooks. I can’t imagine the time that it takes to prepare and video everything, you obviously really LOVE to cook!! . AND …of course every great chef (and comedians as well), need a good side kick…and Dozer is utterly adorable. So even if I do not win anything, thanks for being kind and thinking about all of us out here who are following, and for having the heart to do something really nice for one of us.
Wow, I would love to cook with this knife! When I worked in a professional kitchen, my chef always used one prized Japanese knife. It looked really old and well used, but it was still incredibly sharp. I also need to try this chicken recipe. I’m always looking for new and exciting ways to make chicken breast. Thank you for sharing such awesome recipes with us!
Wow!!! This recipe looks incredible can’t wait to try it! And the chance to win a real Japanese hand crafted knife?!?! My husband and I would be so happy!! That’s really awesome! We’ve been looking for some new knives, would love to have this one!! It would get lots of use for sure 😀
kates1187@gmail.com
Katie
I love to cook!! My granddaughter is 1/2 Japanese so when I came across your recipes I was thrilled.
Need a good knife Gracias / arigato
What a beautiful knife! Thanks for the opportunity! jclark227@yahoo.com
I want this knife
My wife’s been on a cooking spree lately which I’m not complaining! She’s been trying out a lot of your recipes and their all mighty delicious. She would love to win this knife and I would love to have her continue this cooking spree lol
Oh wow! A true Japanese kitchen knife giveaway, this would be truly wonderful
s4p1999@gmail.com
I didn’t think I needed a sharp(er) knife until I encountered the dreaded slippage you mentioned…. I was dicing an onion for a soup when the knife slipped! I ended up with a cut IN my ring fingernail (still there, 2 weeks later) across the nail, but not through (phew!). My 5-year old asked me why I gasped; my dad told me that my knives are too dull. 🙈 So that’s why I’d love this Japanese marvel of a blade. 😊
Oh wow! This is such a fancy giveaway! I’d love to win it although I’ve never won a giveaway ha. Love all your videos on Instagram ❤️ Whoever wins this will be stoked!!!
Wow! What a generous giveaway! Would LOVE to win this knife! Love all your recipes! Thank you for sharing and throwing this giveaway!!
Omg ! This sounds to good to be true. Love your recipes. Just coped your crispy pork belly (want to try that ). I’m just a home cook but, love to cook and try new things. Would love and take very good care of that knife. Made your wong tong soup with the pork . Love,love, loved it.