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….
I’m your avid fan and always watching your Facebook videos. Your recipes looked delicious 🤤. Please pick me to win this Japanese kitchen and stone.
Omg, I would LOVE to win this knife!! My knives are so dull even if we sharpen them every use and I just haven’t known what knives to get. Plus this one is gorgeous and from my favorite food blogger!!!!
Love all your recipes!!
Hi Nagi and Dozer 🙂
I love your page!! I’m not the greatest cook in the world, but using your recipes make me look good!! I would do anything to have a knife like that
I really really really really want this knife
Antscorp7@gmail.com
Kon’nichiwa Nagi-san!
I REALLY love ur recipes, it always makes me so hungry 😂 and I HOPE I can win the japanese handcrafted knife😍….
My Email: margreetharout@yahoo.com
Hi Nagi, I would LOVE to win the knife because the more enjoyable it is for me to cut and cook, the more of your recipes I get to try. Every one has been a success so far, your website is always my first port of call when I decide to cook something.
I would love to win this knife. It would be a great tool for my kitchen.
HOLY ROLLERSKATING JESUS I NEEEEEED THIS KNIFE!!!!
Side note: Recipe was DELICIOUS 😋
amielou81@live.com
Hi Nagi, YASSSS , I want that knife and Im gonna try that chicken recipe it looks delish…the next item you should give away should be …. hmmm your favorite stovetop skillet or pan!
Zestyboomboom@yahoo.com
What a wonderful giveaway, I would treasure this if I was so lucky to win! It would help me cook all the beautiful recipes you share with all of us!
I would love to win this knife! I strongly prefer Chicken Breast without Brown Sugar since I have hypoglycemia. Thank you!
I would love love this knife. I love all your recipes.
Gee Nagi, Everyone has used all the words I wanted to say, so I’ll just have to beg to get one of these fabulous knives.
Gee Nagi, Everyone has used all the words I wanted to say, so I’ll just have to beg to get one of these fabulous knives.
Hi Nagi, I want this beautiful hand crafted knife to make your awesome oven baked chicken breast recipe. I personally do not like to eat chicken breast. With the beautiful knife, I will give it a go! I promise!
Thank you.
I would love to win ! My boyfriend and I are into Japanese knives too. They are beautiful!
P.s. I love your recipes too xxx
Nagi, the knife would be great to cut the chicken breast when I make your famous Oven Baked Chicken Breast recipe!!! I’ve never won anything!! But would love to win this for my mom! The woman has given me so much!
Faith
I love following your recipes. Because of you I permanently have limes in my fridge for that Vietnamese chicken dish of yours YUM!
I would love this knife as all the knives I buy turn out to be blunt as heck. With this knife of yours I can continue making your amazing recipes.
Tasneemparker77@gmail.com
I love following your recipes. Because of you I permanently have limes in my fridge for that Vietnamese chicken dish of yours YUM!
I would love this knife as all the knives I buy turn out to be blunt as heck. With this knife of yours I can continue making your amazing recipes.
I would love to have this knife in my collection, it is truly beautiful!