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….
Wow, a knife giveaway!! I would love to add this beautiful knife to our kitchen…especially if it’s from you! Thank you!
Hello Nagi, We love your Asian recipes. We have tried several of your recipes they are great. Without this newsletter, our dinners would not be near as great or tasty. Thank you very much for the recipes, keep up the good work. It would be an honor to have such a great knife in my kitchen. I would also be honored with such a knife being as that is what you also use in your kitchen.
Don
Rocky View County, Alberta Canada
Hi, I’m Meredith from Adelaide, South Australia. I’ve never used a Japanese knife before and would absolutely love to have one! All the knifes I currently have are from Daiso or the supermarket, so it’ll be a great addition to my kitchen!
Thank you!
I would like this knife, yes who wouldn’t?
More than anything I would love this knife to share with my dad- to me the worlds best home chef! I may be biased but I admire his love for his knives, the kitchen, food and just bringing everyone together at table.
I would love the knife 😁
I would love to have 1/One really good knife! We have been married for 42 years April 9th and we have never had any good knives. Ours look good but that’s the end of it. Love your recipes.
I would love this awesome knife and give it a great home! eyeofnewt67@yahoo.com
My boyfriend is starting soon in culinary arts school.
I would like to give him the knife as a anniversary gift and also celebrating his entrance to College.
Btw, I LOVE YOUR RECIPES💕
I enjoy watching all of the recipes that you’ve posted and I’ve even tried a few! I would really love to win this knife! Quality knifewear is often unappreciated by many people!
I would love to win because I don’t have any good knives!!! The ones I have need to be updated!
I would love love to have this awesome knife in my kitchen 🙏🏼 Thank you for all the great recipes 💕
A good knife makes all the difference in the kitchen. I would never cut my finger with a dull knife again if I had this one.
Hi my son would love this knife he cooks all the time loves all the spices over his meat, I always see him trying to sharpen his knife and cut paper not quite like this knife thou , he also makes holders for his knifes to look after them but his knife never cuts paper like this one I know he would love this knife his main kitchen items would be a chopping board and a good knife.
I would love to win this knife! It will definitely get my husband into the kitchen to show off his unseen knife skills! 😂
Nagi I’d love to have this knife!!! I just moved out of home and am using flimsy ikea knives that make my heart quiver every time i cut a pumpkin/something wobbly. 🙂 Please enter me into the comp! Leaving my email in the deets attached w this comment.
Also thanks for the chicken breast recipe, I’d just bought some chicken breasts and they’re sitting in my fridge so great timing! I was originally going to sear them then chuck in the oven with some sausages according to your sausage bake recipe but now I might do the opposite and chuck sausages in with the chicken recipe 🙂
I’m 86 and love your recipes. I’m learning cook and realize that I need a good knife in the kitchen, but can’t afford one. Keep up the good work.
Ralph Bauer
Pick me, pick me! 🙌 Would LOVEEE this knife 😍 P.S love your recipes, simple and delicious!
I’ve been looking for a new knife for so long! This would be a great asset to help me grow as a chef.
I NEED this knife in my life!!!!
I can’t think of any reason why I would not like to have this knife !!!! Yes please!
my wife and i have cooking competitions every week, one of us gets to cook, and we make it like a 5 star meal, it would be amazing to have a knife like that to help us in our cooking competitions. 😀