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….
This sounds great! But all I’ve got is a Truvia blend of brown sugar and truvia. Think it will work?
I want to make this next week. Can this be made with chicken tenders instead of breasts? This would allow one to skip the pounding out step. Has anyone tried this?
Hi Julie, yes that will be fine – tenders really only take up to 20 minutes in the oven depending on size. Just make sure they aren’t thick – if they are, just bash them out a little. N x
Made this tonight for two people using one 350gm chicken breast halved… SPECTACULAR! Timed it perfectly with the garlic kale rice and made a big green salad.
Delicious! Thank you, Nagi x
Any suggestions if I am out of Paprika? Or is that essential?
Made this for my husband tonite, he loved it. And he’s not a big fan of chicken. I’m not a meat eater so I didn’t taste, but it was an easy recipe, with little clean up,and I liked that part! I’ll be making it again and I shared the recipe with some family. Thanks for such a great recipe 🙂
I love this recipe so much am I able to do it the same with the rest of the chicken like the wings and legs.
This recipe looks fantastic! Can I cook in a Pyrex dish instead?
I just found this recipe & can’t wait to try it!! I’m not much of a cook, but I was wondering if I could let the chicken marinade in the oil & seasoning for a bit before baking or is it best to apply the oil & seasonings and cook right away?
Hi Brittany, you’ll find marinating it in the seasoning will just slide off the chicken when you remove it as the sugar will dissolve. Best to cook it straight away for this recipe 🙂 N x
My husband doesn’t really like chicken and he took seconds. I doubled the recipe for topping and added some butter at the end of cook so we could use it as a “gravy” on the rice. Delicious
That’s great to hear Kristina, I’m so glad you both enjoyed it! N x
Had this for dinner and it was delicious just as I suspected. You are so great Nagi and all your recipes are so delicious. Thank you so much 🙏🏻
My family of very picky eaters loved this receipt!
Will definitely make this recipe a family staple. 😍
This was delicious! My family loved it!
So I’m not sure what I did wrong , followed the recipe as directed but all my coating just melted off and left the chicken with really nothing on it… the little was left was really good though. Any tips for making it stick?
pat the chicken dry before adding any seasonings
Holy crap this chicken is amazing!! it’s so juicy and flavorful, but not overpowering. there’s a nice glaze left over after you cook the chicken. soooooo yummy
This was very good. Nice flavors. Very easy to make and no mess to clean up, just fold up the foil and toss. Served with baked sweet potstoes, salad and bread. Yum.
Could you delete this recipe? I told my girlfriend I created it.
😂 I love this Jonny, your secret is safe with me! You better create her a chocolate mousse too https://wellness-better.today/chocolate-mousse/%3C/a%3E 🤫 N x
To funny lol
Delicious! I am not a fan of bake chicken breast. But this recipe is great! This is a keeper.
Just made this tonight and it was beautiful and tender!
Really good! Easy to prepare, low sodium & fat. Husband not a chicken eater but liked it! Will look at all your recipes 😋👍
I changed the spices to paprika, chilli powder, garlic powder and cayenne it was amazing, really moist and then I put it in a brioch bun with mayo and spinach. Amazing
Sounds absolutely delicious Deborah!!! N x