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 would love that knife! ❤️ Thanks!
I would absolutely love to win this knife as I am moving out on my own for the first time and my current chefs knife is beat to smithereens and will certainly need a replacement soon! I also loved your wonton recipe and it was my first time ever making them and your recipe was so detailed that my folding of the wontons was near perfect if I say so myself!
It would be great to have this knife, as I live in Thailand and cooking here can be really difficult (no western kitchens lots of make do utensils) but this knife would certainly make life easier…. thank you
Thanks for the contest entry Nag. I love your videos and please post a picture of Dozer in his new clothes on Facebook, I can’t wait to see it!
I want this handcrafted japanese knife!!!! I love your recipes! It’s so practical and really delicious!!!
Hi Nagi,
I would love this knife!! I stumbled across this site and ever since have been using your recipes as part of my weekly meal planning. My husband loves them all!!
Thanks and keep the yummy recipes coming!
I’m going to try this chicken recipe tmw night. Love your videos and enjoy trying your recipes. I would love to try out this Japanese knife!!! Mine are west too dull!!
Japanese knives are brilliant. Would love to own one. The joy of cooking!
My C and I love cooking and would absolutely love this knife.
I so look forward to seeing your recipes everyday. I could never afford a knife like this & I’m so sick of struggling with the semi-sharp ones that I do have. I would LOVE this so much!
Omg I was literally JUST thinking how I wanted a REALLY GOOD knife & then I see this competition- it’s fate!!!! Ps, your recipes are what I love for atm! SO good!!
I’ve been looking for a good knife for ages! So excited.
I need this knife in my life. ;0)
That’s a wonderful knife I would love to win. I’ve been enjoying your recipes and have been making some of them. I loved the slow cooker barbeque. Delicious!!!
What a beautiful knife – something I don’t think I’ve ever said! Seriously would be a wonderful additional to my kitchen.
I recently started following you on instagram while looking for new easy-to-make recipe ideas for me and my 3 kids. I was stuck in a rut with same old recipes but have added a few new easy recipes to the rotation! Would love to win this knife to make cooking more enjoyable. Also it’s legit my birthday today (can show you id ;-)) so would be such an awesome birthday present!!!! Thanks!
Would love to be the proud owner of this fine knife. Japanese knives are an art form, no better tool to use while creating delightful delicacies in the kitchen.
Would love to have this amazing knife in my kitchen!
I would love to have that beautiful knife. Watching your videos and trying your recipes have become part of my weekly routine. Everything I have tried has come out just as wonderful and as easy as you make them look. Thanks from Canada.
I would love love this knife! Ps made your churros today. they were awesome