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 Nagi. I am one of your biggest fans. Tried many of your recipes & love them all. The baked salmon is one of our favourite. Always looking fws to your posts on fb.
I would love to win that Knife. Japanese knives ate the best. I have a sushi chef friend and had the opportunity to try the japanese knife on a few occassions.
I love cooking for the family and believe that a good knife is the key that makes magic happens in the kitchen 😊
My son has started joining me in the kitchen create yummy dishes that u share with us
Thanks for sharing all these yummy recipes with us
I so enjoy your recipes and constantly share them on face book. I look forward to trying this one out. I’d sure love to win the knife and sharpener. It would have pride of place in my kitchen. Thank you for sharing.
I would love this Japanese knife! The craftsmanship is very detailed. I’m a fan of great knives!
Love all of your recipes but my favourite is probably the slow cooker lamb leg. Just delicious!!
I would love this knife as you said, a great knife is the back bone to any good kitchen! Somehow I think my knifes are lacking at the moment 🙁
I would love to win this knife! My fiancé is a young chef and since we met, cooking has been the soul of our relationship. He also says I need to get myself some real knives and not the ones I love from the Asian market hehe. He continues to inspire my recipes and also finds a way to make them better when it’s missing that something special. Lately, we’ve been grubbing on recipes that we see you posting and they are so delicious! The no bake mango cheesecake was a house favorite!
I found your recipe for Crispy Asian Pork Belly on a Victoria Basement website over a year ago and since then I haven’t bought cooked Asian pork belly because I can now make it myself – it’s become a family favourite on special occasion and I can’t think of a better knife to cut it with. P.S. your website is my got to for recipes. Thanks for the opportunity Nagi😊
I really want this knife ! All my cooking life I’ve used good knives. But this knife is a gift from heaven. This knife will become an heirloom in my family forever.
Please give me the knife! 😀😀🔪🔪🔪
I will use it to cook from your page! x
davidoke@hotmail.co.uk
What a nice prize anyone would be blessed to receive it. I have been following your sight for a short time, but find it illuminating. Even for a vegetarian. You should give away a 🚗 lol. Just kidding. What about one of those Instant Pots i’ve been hearing about for your next prize? Keep the recipes coming.
Yes please Nagi! Who would not love a knife like that!? Never even held a knife that expensive before. I only have the typical Asian kiwi knives. Lol.
Thank you for all your wonderful recipes! ❤️
I would love this knife. It is so beautiful. Thank you for doing this.
Leah
I would love to win the beautiful Japanese knife!
Warm greetings from Long Beach California 🏖
Dear Nagi,
I absolutely love your recipes and my husband and I as well as a few close friends pick one every weekend to try out. I can’t even pick which has been my absolute favourite.
My husband has been looking for the perfect knife and loves cooking his meat. This would be the knife for him.
Keep the recipes coming and thank you for them!
Hi Nagi,
I would love this knife it is so beautiful 😍. I love so many of your recipes and selfishly take all the credit when I cook them up for my family lol, they are big fans of your shortbread and I love that the recipe is so simple and easy and to remember and I’m totally going to try this chicken
Hi Nagi,
I promise I’ll love and treasure the awesome knife!
Thanks for all your yummy and always reliable recipes. Have cooked many of them for family & friends since I found your site over a year ago. Always a hit!! Big thank you ❤️ ありがとうございます
I would love to have the experience of prepping my family meals with such a device!
I would LOVE to have this knife because I revere Japanese culinary style and I agree with you Nagi- Japanese knives are known to be some of the best knives in the world because of their attention to detail and craftsmanship.
BTW- For Easter I am making your (or should I say Dorothy’s ?) carrot cake again…..(probably for the 6th time now since I discovered it on your website! I get requests for it EVERY TIME we have a family gathering.)
Love your recipes! And I really would be happy to get this knife.
Hi Nagi,
I am your fan since day 1 and I really love all your dishes. My husband and my kids loves this recipe of yours so much. Thank you for your time in sharing alll of your dishes. Very inspiring. Keep up the good work.
I will be blessed if given the chance to have this beautiful knife of yours for I do really love to cook. Such a beautiful remembrance.
Would love to be person to win the Chefs knife. In the last 6 months I have been really love doing the cooking for the family. I have started to slowly building my utensils needed for cooking and this would be a great addition. Love your site and your crispy chicken thigh recipe was a super hit with my picky eaters (kids). They love the Japanese style of cooking. You helped open my kids eyes to food other than popcorn chicken. Thank you so much Nag .