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….
Hola Nagi qué he estado siguiéndote desde hace tiempo, te admiro y me fascinan tus recetas, igual que DoZer.. y si definitivamente quiero ese cuchilllo espectacular .
Hello Nagi, I have been following you for a long time, I admire you and your recipes fascinate me, just like DoZer … and yes! I definitely want that spectacular knife.
I would love this knife
I LOVE YOUR RECIPES I try them out on my friends and they think I am an amazing cook That is until I show them your page Love Dozer he is my kind of dog Like my two sit beside my while I cook hoping I drop something
Recently started learning how to cook (other than microwaving things lol) and would love to have that beautiful knife!!
I’ve been following you for a while now and i love your recipes. I’m muslim and i love the fact that you provide non-alcoholic substitutes to your recipes when it requires alcohol. I’d love to have this knife I’ve been searching for a solid knife and like you i believe a good knife is one of the most important utensils in a kitchen. I’ve been using my mom’s butcher knife which she sharpens for me every now and again but this Japanese knife would be awesome. I’m from Cape Town South Africa and i love that you’ve opened this competition to everyone! Fingers crossed i win 😉
I’ve been looking for a special knife for a long time and this one looks amazing! Knives are the most versatile and useful tool in the kitchen and a good one is hard to find…
I want and need this knife! I also want that chicken too!!
Would love this knife would make a good birthday gift to myself.
Hi, i would love to have this knife
Hi! Im an avid fan of yours. I Always love your recipe and thank you for sharing. My eyes almost pop when I saw your giving away a Japanese knife. THAT was my dream knife. Oh! Im heaven if i have one.
Godbless you heart!
I would love to give this to my mom she’s the one who got me to love cooking. Thanks for making great recipes!
I tried the recipe and this is the best chicken I’ve ever made. I want that knife.
Definetely would love the knife. And thanks for spending a lot of efforts and trials to make perfect dishes.
Love your recipes and really want this knife
ALL MY KNIVES AFE BLUNT AND I can nevef sharpen them e ough oh to nz e one knife I can rely on wojld be heave
Oh my gosh, I LOVE an excellent knife too! I have just started my collection with a couple of Shun knives. I wish I had one this sharp and beautiful! I would love to win this so I’m sending you good vibes to choose my name. 😉 By the way, love your recipes and appreciate you sharing them with us, thank you! 😘
I have a German set of knives I use at my restaurant everyday. I have been wanting to add a Japanese knife to the collection so bad. But as a chef I just don’t have all the extra money to buy one. If I won I’d use it on a daily basis on our prep.
I would love to win that beautiful knife. It is so nice of you to do a giveaway.
Here’s my email in the off chance I win 🙂
pjmush@yahoo.com
I love good quality knives. I have never seen a hand crafted knife before and who wouldn’t want to own one? I definitely would!
Pick me!