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 really really like that knife 🔪 .. I WANT it badly 🙏🏻
This Japanese Knife will help may cooking easy and the best. I can’t afford to buy this special kind of knife that I can see only on TV (chefs). I will treasure this knife for the rest of my life.
#I❤️Cooking
Hi Nagi! I would love love love to have the kitchen knife 😍
Thanks for all your wonderful recipes!
-Dominique
I’ve always wanted a good Japanese knife but I’m too busy eating when in japan!
I would LOVE this knife!! Amazing!!
We’ve become very big fans of your recipes and have even converted our son-in-law who is a chef, so winning the knife for him would be a great bonus.
Keep up the great work.
Love your recipes and Instagram! I would love this knife! Either way, thanks for all you do!
This would be the best thing to have! My dream to have a really workable knife! Thank you for the opportunity. ❤️🇨🇦🔪
Would love to have this knife for my sister’s husband. He is chef in the small Asian country.
Nagi, you are very generous to give your followers the opportunity to own this beautiful knife. The chickenbreast will be tonights dinner and hopefully the knife will soon have a special place in our kitchen.
Love your recipes. Keep up the good work. And yes…….I would LOVE to win that knife.
Working long hours! You make my life so much easier with all the recipes you create and post. My wife and kids love it.
Thank you for your dedication to food and to your followers.
I would really love to have a great knife in my kitchen!
I want this knife!
I would LOVE to own such a beautiful knife! Have been enjoying so many of your recipies….thank you for the time you take to share them with us
Looks like I found my recipe for dinner! Thanks as always for another good recipe Nagi.
On another note, always wanted a Japanese knife, recently been looking at the Masamoto KS range but apparently they’re almost impossible to source, would be keen to get your thoughts on something good as an all rounder Chef’s knife as I’m sure the giveaway will be very heavily contested.
That said, I’ll still put my name into the giveaway pool 🙂
Cheers!
Hello, I’m from Panama, I love your IG, and recipes, and I really love that you Replay when I have questions. Please please give me this beautiful and amazing Kitchen Katana. Keysirudas@gmail.com
I would love this knife! I’m so inspired by all your dishes!
Hi Nagi,
The Marinade for Pork Chops brought me to your website. I tried it and it was awesome!
I will certainly try this chicken recipe too, it looks delicious 🙂
I would love to have this knife since i love Japan and Japanese culture.
Keep up the great work!!!
This knife would be such an addition to my kitchen! Thanks for all the great recipe!! My family loves it.
I will love to have this knife since none of my works as they should 😊 with one of this I will cook happily ever after ❤️
I would love to win this knife to add to my collection. I love cooking for my family and sharing truly with anyone. Love is defiantly shared through food that is made with heart💖👨👩👧👧