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….
Hi, Nagi!
There was a time when a friend asked me what my thoughts were about Japanese knives. The only thing I could say was that “I’ve heard they’re one of the best knives out there”. Please let me have this knife so I can finally give my thoughts on the knife based on experience and not just based on what I’ve read and heard. 🙂
Your recipes are amazing, by the way.
Excellent website, thanks for all the recipes.
Would love the knife too 😋
Hi Nagi! Thanks for the excellent baked chicken breast hack. I made the chicken for dinner last night, using smoked paprika and dried thyme. Both complimented the brown sugar in the rub quite well. I served the chicken breasts with mushroom risotto and fresh asparagus to celebrate the official arrival of Spring in the northern hemisphere. It was an excellent meal! I made a sandwich today with the leftover chicken and it was also delicious. I toasted an onion roll, melted Havarti cheese on it and added the sliced chicken breast and a couple of pieces of crispy bacon…yum!! I would be thrilled to win the superlative Japanese knife you are so generously giving away but it certainly looks like a long shot with over 3700 entries at this time. A special thanks to your mother for bringing the knife from Japan. The picture of baby Dozer in today’s post is adorable!
Hi Nagi,
I love how precise and easy to follow your recipes are, and it gives me the confidence to cook more often. This knife is beautiful and I would love to put it to use!
Love your recipes!!! I would love to win this knive
Hi Nagi! Greetings from Atlanta, Georgia!
I would love to win your handcrafted knife. It will come in handy In making all of your recipes that I have saved:)
Hi 🙂 I just love your recipes ! And I would love to win this knife !
Nagi, I love your site. It has inspired me to cook more. My wife all is all over that, she is thrilled I am in the kitchen (so she can have a well deserved break a few days a week)! My current knife is an 8″ Henckels Chef’s Knife, so I think it is time east meets west. I want that knife!
cheers
It would make my day to win this knife 🔪
I will be chopping all day 😄
I would love to give this to my father as form of appreciation. He really loves to grind and also owns some of those tools and different “grinding stones”. He never really requests any gifts or anything which is why I would love to see how his happiness is growing. He is a really quiet person and I’d hope to give great pleasure to him. ^^
Hi Nagi
How I wish I could have this beautifully crafted Japanese knife it would be a not so late gift for my Birthday Thank you 😊
I’ve been cooking and baking ever since I was about 15 years old. I love to try new recipes or experiment with flavours. As I’m a student, I don’t have that much money to spent on good kitchenware as I prefer to spend it on fresh and local ingredients. And I’m really lacking a good sharp knife.
I would love one! My husband lived in Japan for three years and he would love it!
I need this knife! It would complete me 🤗
I’d love to own this knife. Have a couple of older Japanese knives and pretty beaten up. They have always been my favorites. A new one would be great!
I would love to win this awesome knife! thank you.
What a delicious and easy recipe !!!!!! And I would love to win a truly good knife …mine are pretty pathetic ! Lol
I’ve never had a really good knife so that would be awsome
Hi Nagi, please, please, please!
Make me have that awesome knife!
Appreciate all your recipes!
I love ,love to cook and bake and have always dreamed of a good ,sharp knife instead of the cheap dull knives thzt I keep cutting my fingers on.,