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 from Mauritius 🙂
Would love to win the set of knives.
I reallt enjoy your videos and made a couple of recipes. Hope to see some more Thai food.
Take care
Melissa
Yum! I’ve been looking for an easy recipe for chicken breast that keeps it juicy and flavorful! I would love this knife – I just became really into cooking over the past few years and have not yet acquired a full arsenal of tools, so this would be very helpful! Thank you for doing this!
I really realllyyyy want this knife! Thanks for the opportunity and the great recipes.
Hi Nagi,
Love your recipes ,can’t wait to try this one.
Could you please do a Cook Ahead section ?
My most favourite recipe is the slow cooked shredded beef ragu pasta ,its changed the way I look at food.
Thankyou
Such a beautiful gesture to give away a knife like this – it’s a piece of art really! Cooking for me is like therapy, I’m in my happy place when I cook, and would feel privileged to have this beautiful knife to use when putting my heart and soul into yummy food.
Ok, enough salivating over this dreamy knife, off to try your yummy chicken breasts now Nagi.
I’ve never had a really good knife! Oh, the things I could do!! Faster too!!
What a great giveaway! That knife looks amazing! It would be a great one to use trying your wonderful recipes!
I am such a fan of impressive knives and having one in the kitchen you can trust and care for would be amazing. Please enter me and double please pick me.
Thanks for the great recipes always so tastey and well presented. Would love to win a new knife to chop like a pro. Keep the recipes coming I’m a fan.
I’d like this knife to make my life easier in the kitchen
I have found your recipes to be very delicious . I am always looking for a great chefs knife that will retain its sharpness. the Japanese are kings in knife blade making.
Always love your content. Nice way to organize get inspired to get dinner on the table 5 nights a week. Your parmasean potatoes are a family favorite. Would love to have such a beautiful knife in my kitchen. Cheers from Texas
Hello Nagi, I love your recipes and I keep them in a file with your name so I can go back and cook them again. Thank you for your giveaway and keep doing what your doing. I do think that this knife would be put to good use in my kitchen and hope to win.
Thank you!
I love Japan i love Japanese food i love Japanese tea i love Japanese sweets i love Japanese pottery and i LOVE Japanese knives – i have never had a proper knife ever – i was hoping to buy one when i went to Japan in 2021 –
what an awesome giveaway! I would be honored to use such a knife!
I am going to have to try this recipe – it sounds really tasty!
I would love to win this knife…. I have always wanted to go to Hspan but haven’t had the chance yet…. I have a fairly recent live for cooking. My mother had given up hope… but I strive to do something new each week. Your recipes are always a great help.
Much love 💗
Liliawalker@hotmail.com
Yes, I’d like a free knife.
Thank you for all of your beautiful recipes, my family truly enjoys them. I would live to win such a beautiful knife. I can’t eaven imagine how wonderful it would be to use such a amazing piece of equipment
ALways love your recipes. Great Home style food. Nice way to get inspired to get dinner on the table 5 night a week. Sure would love to have a great knife that that.
I would love that knife! I’m an aspiring chef and that would make a great addition in my kitchen.