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….
OMGGGGGG I want the knife Nagi. Please please please 🙂
From Sweden with love! I would love to win the knife, I almost exclusively cook with recipes I have found on your site and they always turn out great! Thank you for all the inspiration 🙂
Yes please! Thank you for the awesome giveaway – can the next one be a yakitori grilling station 🙂 ?
I would love to win this fantastic knife! My favourite knife in my kitchen was my grandmas, it’s over 80 years oldamd its blade is thinning. I have tried to replace it many times but still end up using my old faithful one. This knife looks and sounds like the one that will retire my old one. ☺️
I have wanted a knife like that for a long time but can’t afford it. Would love to win.
I love your receipes, i love getting your emails your an inspiration! Having a decent knife would make things much easier!
I would really love this knive 😍
Wow the recipe looks great, I can’t wait to try it out.
I love cooking but I have never invested in a nice knife. This knife is so beautiful and I love the demonstration of how it slices paper so easily. I’d love to win this knife because it would be a great addition to my kitchen.
I would love this beautiful knife. My partner an i really enjoy cooking together with your recipes. it would be a gorgeous addition to our collection of slowly growing kitchen equipment.
r.jasper@live.com.au
I would most definitely put this knife to good use.
I would love to have this knife. This would be the first knife I have for my very own home!
I would love this knife
I need this beautiful knif. My knifs are terrible.
I would absoultely love this, ive been cooking since i could walk and im still learning to this day. This knife would help me and my techniques and would look perfect in my kitchen.
I would love that knife! My friends think I’m weird because I get excited about things like a good sharp knife :p I also love japanese culture and food, am dying to go back someday!
I would absolutely love to win this knife. Also thank you for sharing all your wonderful recipes!!! Definitely My favourite recipe site!!!
nikkihop12@hotmail.com
I would love to win a knife like that i have never had the pleasure
That knife would be a true ‘once-in-a-lifetime- treasure. You’re a good person for offering it! Thanks for the recipe and the fun!
hej!
I love to cook and try out new meals. I started following your instagram and your online blog some time ago and I absolutely love it. A great knife would really help me – love, from Denmark
Dear Ms. Nagi,
I am obsessed with the same Japanese knife that you are using.
I would love to share that knife with my husband, whom I share my kitchen with.
Thank you very much. Domo arigatou gozaimase.
Jenny
I am following your instagram page for quite some time and I love it. I am a student on Germany and love to cook – for myself, my friends and my family. Since I do not have a lot of money I am always saving some for ingredients and other coaches stuff.