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….
Wow how exciting a real cooks knife I have kitchen knives that are always blunt it’s so frustrating as I love to cook your recipes they are always yummy.
I would love to win the knife.
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This would change my wife’s cooking dream!
<3
One of my dreams is to by Japanese hand crafted knife, but I’m in colloge so, I can’t afford it. I love cooking so much and I really want to be a chef one day besides my major. I would love a Japanese knife as a gift.
Wow! What an amazing giveaway! I have never owned a nice knife and would be so thrilled to have this knife! Thank you for your great videos and inspiring recipes!
I love all of your recipes and find myself going to your site just to see if you’ve posted a new recipe. I cannot wait to try this chicken recipe, and hopefully a beautifully crafted Japanese knife ❤️
What a beautiful knife. I would love to own this knife. As would anyone. I hope whoever wins keeps us updated with a few recipes they make.
Also I tried the vegetable curry on Monday night, absolutely delicious.
At least once a week I follow one of your recipes and I’d love to be using a real Japanese knife while making something off your website one day.
I’m glad I found your website as every recipe has been great!
I want to be the winner!!
That’s a beautiful knife. ENtirely too much for me but I’d love it. The recipe looks good too.
I hope I win!
I would love this knife and put it to good use!
I not only want this knife, I NEED this knife! All of my current knives are dull as dishwater and I lack the skills to get them sharp again. P.S. I love your website! So many great recipes!
II WANT THIS KNIFE! Our knives fall apart So we keep glueing the handles back on. My husband is a really good cook. Much better than I. He would be so thrilled and grateful to win your knife. Thanks for all the cooking videos. Yours are the best.
RecipeTin,
You guys are awesome!! I started using you guys 2 years ago for a number of recipes and still do!! I’ve also shared heaps of the them to friends.
To win one of those Japanese knifes would make my Asian cooking feel complete! Please consider me for this top prize!
Cheers Graham
I love to cook, and that knife would greatly help me. I will surely try this recipe! Good luck to everyone!
Please pick me! 🙂
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Love your recipes and your fb page!
Wow ! I enjoy your recipes and am entering to win the knife. Thank you.Kay
Yes please! We have the same hands! LOL
I love being in the kitchen and creating meals with different flavours textures & colours. To me serving a meal that is created with passion is key to the whole enjoyment process. That process starts in the preparation.
The knife!!
I cook & deliver to my family( & guests) every time an experience of flavours & cultures that always make for wonderful & interesting dining discussions.
I desperately need new kitchen knives and would be so grateful to win a knife that is handcrafted with passion and would be used, loved & cared for with passion.
I love your slow cooked chilli con carne ….now thats a power packed dish that delivers everything Im loving with being a home cook.
Thank you