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!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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….
Your recipes are always oishi desu ne! All the inspo I need to whip up a delish meal!
If only I had a fancy knife to prepare….hmmm….😍
Pick me 🙋🏻♀️🔪🔪🔪
Gahhh! I love this knife so much! I want this knife even more! It’s so beautiful! Good luck Everyone ♥️
Hi Nagi,
I would LOVE to win this knife. I follow you all the way from a small town in NY. You are seriously the ONLY recipe channel/page that I follow that I actually make recipes from bc they actually come out exactly as it does for you. So far I’ve made your chicken gyros, carmelizes pork, Dorothy’s carrot cake, beef stroganoff and next is this chicken recipe. I’d love to win this knife. Xox stetare@gmail.com
Hi, i found your site looking for a mac&cheese recipe and stayed ever since! Definitely gonna try this chicken 🙂
That knife looks astonishing and I would love to have it!
and just in case my email: unvariablewater@hotmail.com
Ooh, that’s s knife my family would love to see in my kitchen. When they cook in my kitchen, they say I don’t know how to choose s good knife! But, I’ve got them all following you, as we love your recipes, such big flavours and they always work out. Thank you!
I would love one of these knives. Thank you for the giveaway!
Winner winner oven baked chicken breast dinner! Yes that’s lame but who cares, I would love to win the knife to please.
Would love such an amazing knife that would surely help with new recipes I have waiting to try! My partner and I love trying out new recipes and cooking techniques so this would really come in handy!
What a knife! My mum’s just had a new kitchen fitted and would love to get her a present to go with it – but being a student my options are limited. Would love to get her something she deserves!
Great recipe also – so simple and tastes delicious.
That knife is truly a work of art. Beautiful craftmanship. It would be a dream come true to add this gorgeous piece to my collection. Thank you for the opportunity, Nagi.
I‘d love to call me the owner of such an amazing knife. It would be a little dream come true <3
I would love to have this. Japanese knives are truly the best!
I want this knife for my grandma’s 70th suprise birthday this March 29th,.with all the years she’s spent cooking for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren including the people she caters for I think this knife would be the absolute gift that’s perfect for her. 😊😊🎁🎁
Always on a mission to find the perfect knife that won’t break the bank. Would so…love to win this ! I look forward to your posts everyday !
OMG, I love all things Japanese, especially their food and knives.
I spend pretty much all day, 7 days a week cooking for my family, cooking is my hobby.
I would love this knife, it will be welcomed into my family like a treasured family member, something I can pass onto my boys.
Thank you for all your recipes and this fabulous give away 😍
OMG, I love all things Japanese, especially their food and knives.
I spend pretty much all day, 7 days a week cooking for my family, cooking is my hobby.
I would love this knife it will be welcomed into my family like a treasured family member, something I can pass onto my boys.
Thank you for all your recipes and this fabulous give away 😍
Ooooh… I really want that knife. What a fantastic giveaway. 🙂
And I’m always up for new chicken recipes to try. I’ll be trying this one soon.
PICK ME, PICK ME!!! Please pick me, I love to cook and I would absolutely love this knife!! I never win a thing online!!!
Your blog is one of my favourite places to source delicious meals. Also would love to have this fantastic Japanese knife in my collection 😍
Thx for these wonderful recepies . I’d love to have this giveaway knife ,