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….
Wow. Omg that’s an gorgeous, magnificent knife there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be super duper happy if I get one of that! ^^ By the way I love your cooking it’s very easy to follow thanks for sharing!. ^^
Loveeeee using good knifes in the kitchen. Definitely would love to win ❤️
dearlilyyy@gmail.com
This is more than a knife… it’s a work of art. I want It so badly!
It would be so great to have this knife in my kitchen!
Thank you for all the wonderful recipes you share 🙂
I would love to win this knife for my husband. He’s such a wonderful cook. His favorite food to cook is chicken. I can’t wait to try this new recipe. Thank you!
My first cookbook and person to teach me was my mother. She consistently taught me basic things and when I mastered them taught me more. And my love for cooking came from her
I would like to win this knife and give it to my mother because she is the reason why I enjoy cooking now. She was my first cookbook 😊
I have been on a look out to buy more knives. Having this knife will allow me to practice my cooking skills and allow me to tell a pretty cool story of how I got the knife over the dinner table haha.
Nagi, I love your FB posts, especially those with Dozer! ❤️🐾 I love trying the recipes I get by email or see in your posts and I share them with my sister and niece after I’ve tried them. My husband is appreciating the variety. I’ve been trying to better my knife skills and a fabulous Japanese knife would be incredible!
Please please pretty please. I would love to win this beautiful piece of art – knife! mandybartosh@xtra.co.nz
Hi Nagi! ( you look like my cousin ) I would love to win the lovely knife as I am retiring soon and taking over the cooking since my wife did it for the last THIRTY years. I want to show my love for her by serving her great dinners while she relaxes. Big fan. E
What a beautiful knife and how sweet of your mom to bring it for you! I would love to win!!
Yes, I would LOVE this knife!!!!! Thank you so much for this give away!!
Would love to have a knife that makes cutting the Rhine of pork easy to slice to make yummy crackle. Also to cut meat and chicken properly.
Hello ! I love your recipes because they are always quite simple and yet effective ! And I get a lot of inspiration from them too to improvise some meals in the go.
I too think that Japanese knifes are the best. I want one so badly…
Thank you for this give away !
Elvire
My family only use Japanese hand crafted knives and this would be a valuable edition to our collection
Konichiwa
I found your blog googling brisket recipes… and when I saw your comment… “But I do go gah-gah over sights like this – a giant hunk of flavour loaded meat.” I knew it was the recipe for my husband’s 50th birthday.
Would love a real Japanese knife.
Now I’ve cooked several of your recipes Nagi and you have never steered me wrong so I am sure this knife is an absolute dream. Coincidentally my husband is quite the knife connoisseur (pocket variety) I’m sure he’d appreciate a finely crafted knife for the kitchen.
‘I want this knife!’ What an amazing give-away.
And… my family love your recipes as much as I enjoy cooking them.
First time on your site and definitely will be trying this recipe. I am eager to check out the other recipes. Also that knife looks like a work of art and if I don’t win it I think I’m going to have to plan a trip to Japan!
Hi Nagi,
I am an avid follower of your recipes, so good and easy to follow. I would love to own a good kitchen knife, all mine are quite old and don’t seem to sharpen as they did. I know a good kitchen knife is a bonus and I would absolutely love to win one.
Cheers
Deborah