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….
Dear Nagi,
You’ve must be overflooded with lots of reactions from all over the world with this special offer. How kind of you!
Even I know my chances are limited I want to bid on the knife as well. Not for myself but for my younger brother who loves to cook and appreciates an excellent knife.
And making your chicken dish would be even more delicious with this knife!
All the best!
CM Leung
The Netherlands
What a knife! Yes please! Would most definitely enjoy using a knife like this! Love your recipes and have tried many of them. :)))
Thanks, Nagi!
magnghi@hotmail.com
Love this handcrafted knife with amazing detail, would love to use this to craft the amazing recipe by you 😌
Recipetin is simple and delicious . Thumbs up👍🏻👍🏻
Happy cooking people !
Mail:ach61297@gmail.com
Love the effort and your generosity! As though you have not done enough for us by coaching and sharing with us your amazing and honest recipes! Fingers crossed to win the knife! Thank you…
Hi I must complement your recipes love them all just got into Japanese and Chinese cooking was love at first sight I went to all the shops to find good knives nothing like the one you giving away thx if I’m the lucky one
totally would love this knife 😍
Hey there,
Yes please, I would love to have this knife. 😍😍😍
I’d love to be selected for the knife, looks exquisite!
Also, Love the brown sugar tip and I’ll try it next time for sure!
I desperately want this beautiful knife and sharpener. Can’t think of any reason why I deserve it more than others except I really want it and would use it daily.
Your my go to for trying new recipes and a Japanese knife would be handy! I would love to win this knife!
All of the recipes of yours that I cook have worked perfectly and taste amazing, and I have tried most of them! I am so keen to go to Japan but it is not looking like it will happen this year so a Japanese knife may help me wait 🙂
Hi Nagi,
Yes please!!!!! I would love to win this knife!!! I’ve tried some of your recipes and always delicious. Very easy to follow and love all those helpful tips and comments. Thank you for sharing wonderful recipes!
Ummm… this super fancy Japanese Chef’s knife would totally knock our “expensive” $40 Chinese meat cleaver (that we got in Chinatown San Fransico when we eloped) out of the park! Man, it would be a whole new world of cooking for us! Also, can I just say that every single recipe I’ve tried of yours has become a favorite? I don’t even remember how I stumbled across your blog, but you are amazing. The hubs proclaimed your chicken gyros as one of the best meals he’s had all year! (Doner kabob, mushroom rice, and Greek chicken and rice are on my menu to make soon. Also, I’m really wanting to try your slow cooker leg of lamb.)
Dear NAGI,
Thanks for opportunity to win a masterpiece in the kitchen.
I enjoy viewing your recipes daily on Facebook. We have cooked & baked almost every one very delicious!
Keep the great work.
Rcviper77@gmail.com
I need this knife in my life!!
I would love to have this knife! Thanks!
I must have this beautiful knife!
Oh the design..!! You can almost feel it in your hand. Beautiful!
First off, thanks for starting this blog. I am a huge fan of your simplistic methods. Your is the first blog I look for if I want to cook something new Also, that’s one stunning knife! I wish to win the giveaway. Crazy fan of everything Japanese!
That knife is really sharp! I would ❤️ to win that awesome sharp knife and throw away all my dull knives. Thanks for the opportunity!
I’ve always been obsessed with knives but does not have the funds available to justify buying a quality knife. Would love love to own one that I could use all the time.