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….
I’d love a new knife! Mine are so dull!
I need this knife bc the one I have from 20 yrs ago will soon slip and cause some blood spillage!!!
Hi Nagi,
What a wonderful giveaway! I enjoy your recipes a lot especially the gyozas. Would love to participate in this giveaway as I know the importance of a good kitchen knife. Thank you.
I want this knife!
I want this knife! This article is posted on my birthday too! 🤗🤗
Thanks for all your wonderful posts!
I absolutely love your recipes and always look forward to seeing your next creation. You have inspired me to try new recipes which has made me more confident in the kitchen. Thank you for that. Oh and by the way I’d love to win that knife!
I really love to try out one of this Japanese kitchenwares and have a fun cooking time with my mom,I hope I can have one,it will be one of my most treasure item in my life💕😍
I can’t wait to try this! I never thought of brown sugar.
I wish I bought cooking knives whilei lived in Japan! Missed opportunity…
I cook about 6 nights a week…leftovers are for lunch around here! And this would make my kitchen so much more amazing!
(I can’t wait to try the chicken, too. Trying to diet has led me to lots of gross chicken breast recipes and I think this one will finally change the game!!)
Love your recipes and I would love to win this knife!
I would LOVE this knife!! I graduated from culinary school just this past semester, but don’t have enough money yet to splurge on a reallly nice knife, just the beginner ones I bought during school. Winning this knife would make me SO happy! 😀
This dish was amazing and fun to make! I love your dishes and wonderful displays.
I would fall over if winning such beautiful crafted masterpiece.
Thank you for your work!
This knife would be gem to have in my kitchen where Asian and western fare are whipped out with much thought and effort. My husband aka knife sharpener would love to sharpen this gem on his traditional limestone slap that he uses.
Hi!
My boyfriend and I love to use your recipes. They have easily become our go to each week. We normally like to “free style” with our sauces and spices but your recipes are so amazing we never change a thing! My boyfriend loves to experiment with our dinners and like a to think he is a true chef haha. I know he would love this knife. Thank you for having this give away!
Hi Nagi, I would love to win the great Japanese Knife Giveaway! Please sign me up for an entry! Hi to Dozer!
This is a delicious and easy recipe, AND that is a gorgeous knife!
I just started following you on Instagram ! and I’m in love with your page !!
you have wondeful easy to follow delicious recipes! my mother was a chef but sadly passed away to young , my husband has since became a cook. It would be awesome if we could own at least one good knife ! Thank you for the chance !
I can’t tell you how much I would love this knife! As an amateur/aspiring chef since I was 10, it would mean the world to be able to have some real cutlery in the kitchen 😀 I host Monday night dinners every week for my small group of friends — this guy would be put to good use!! Either way, love your recipes. (Just made the beef stroganoff — yum.)
I would love this knife! My partner said to me the other day, “one day I would love to get a japanese knife set.” But with a 2 year old and lots of student debt, one day is very far away. Your recipes have given my cooking new life! Thank you!
Hi! I’ve been following recipe tin eats for months! I’ve made several of your recipes and I WANT THIS KNIFE because I’m a college student who loves to cook for myself, family and friends but I can barely afford plastic cutlery haha.