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….
Ciao! Mi piacerebbe tantissimo vincere il coltello!!! I’d LOVE to win the knife. But even if I won’t win I will be happy. I love this blog and your recipes. I discovered it few weeks ago and already tried many of your recipes. Ciao! Francesca from Milano, Italy
I love cooking your recipes but desperately need some new knives x-
I love your Recipes and Would love to Cook Them with this knife. I agree you if i had 500 $ i would buy a good knife. So hoppfully i will win 🙂
Hi Nagi, That knife is a work of art and I would be honored if you chose me as the winner of it. It would also be right in time for my 58th birthday is on the 27th of March.
Oh Nagi,
I only have blunt knives in my kitchen! I thought that if I had a sharp knife, I would cut off my fingers😝…..but, I AM always cutting myself 😭
SOOOO, I really need a handcrafted Japanese Chef’s Knife , PLEEEZE ✊🏻
I would love to win that knife since I always wanted a Japanese knife but always been too stingy with it.
Thank you for the giveaway contest, how exciting! I would love to have that knife.
I want to his knife
Would love to get this knife.
I would love to surprise my girlfee with a totally cool knife!
Also, I usually butterfly cut my chicken breast but maybe I should try tenderising too.
This knife looks amazing!! I love your easy to follow recipes too!!!
I would love to win this knife! And I would give it to my mum who cooks all the time!
mishinauz@gmail.com
I would love this Knife please Nagi 🙂
Please, I would love to have this knife!
My family are enjoying the food I cooked from your recipes. Thanks a lot for sharing! More power to you!!
ellenpbisrael@yahoo.com
Ciao madre do Nagi e Nagi. Mi piacerebbe vincere un coltello!
That’s so cool that your mum is learning Italian, it’s such an expressive language! I’d love to win this for my dad as it’s his birthday next week and he’s been cooking with the same old gear for decades and could really use something new and shiny (and sharp!). He’s Italian so maybe he could give your mum lessons and she can teach him Japanese so he can read the instructions! 😂
I could never afford a decent knife. I can cook but I’d feel very cheffy if zi had a great knife and didn’t need to struggle.
I would love to have this. Would be very useful when we transfer to our new house. Thanks!!
I would love to win this knife! I love your recipes & always look forward to seeing what you cook up next. Thank you for making such a wonderful site!
I would cherish this authentic Japanese knife. Perhaps next give away could be an indoor electric 2 way grill.
I would love the knife!