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….
Love your site. I would love to have the knife. Thanks!!
Fab recipe and fab knife, would love to add that to my collection!
Hi,! I want the japanese knife, please👏👏👏
I would love to have it!! Thanks for the giveaway and thank you to your mom!
LOVE this knife and LOVE to be owner of it!
Love your recipes and would LOVE to have that gorgeous knife! Thanks for the offer!
Hello
I would like to win this knife
To use it at work since I’m a cook at a Mexican restaurant here at Houston
Hope to hear from you soon
I would love that knife ❤️
Also the recipe looks pretty delish too, thanks!
Wow!!! I have never seen a knife this sharp 🙂
Nagi, I have been cooking for a very long time, and I love your posts. I credit you with the highest compliments on the meals I’ve made. upgrading the most used hand tool in my humble home would be incredible. I could share my salsa recipe that I put with your carnitas. Thank you for being so generous with your recipes! I can’t wait to try this oven baked chicken breast recipe! I included a link to my old blog where I made magic from scraps and culls.
Dear Nagi,
I’d love to winn this extraordinary knife, it looks amazing!
Thanks for sharing the recipes, I enjoy reading your blog and preparing the meals.
With love
I would love to win this knife!
I would love to win this knife!!!!
Love your recipes,got your website from Mary Hunt’s newsletter!! Just talked hubby into putting up a magnetic strip in the kitchen for knives but he said “yes,but then we really need new knives!” This would be a great start…..
I’m a novice at the kitchen but have constant recipe support from magical beings such as yourself. I currently have an Ikea knife which to me is a pretty awesome knife plus its special as its the first knife I ever bought after moving out of my parent’s place. I’ve always been fond of Japanese knives and I’d be happy for a chance to win this one and continue to learn and discover the beautiful art behind kitchen cutlery.
I made a couple of your recipes this past weekend. They all turned out great! I know because there were no leftovers. If I got this chef’s knife it would probably be the only knife I use for the rest of my life.
I would really love this knife!
I love your recipes, thank you for the opportunity to win this exquisite knife! I’ve heard many good things about Japanese knives, my being a stay at home Mum it would be wonderful to prepare healthy and tasty meals for my family using this amazing handcrafted knife! 👍👍
It will be great to win this knife because I always complain about our knives to my husband. Everytime when I complain aboutdull knives he sharpen the knives for me (very nice) instead of thinking buy good knives 🙂 I love your blog! Your blog makes me cooking and I love it.
What a beautiful knife and the Japanese sure make the one of the best knives! Using a great knife makes cooking more fun, safe and turns food more beautiful! Would love to have this beauty in my kitchen!