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….
This knife would be just what my kitchen is missing. It is so beautiful too.
Thank you for the opportunity to enter this giveaway. I would love to get this knife and sharpening stone. It looks amazing.
I would LOVE the knife!
This is for my mother. She has taught me all that i know about cooking. I’m still learning that’s why i follow you 🙂 thank you for the delicious recipes <3
I love all your recipes, Nagi, and they always turn out perfectly! Beautifully handcrafted knife, would be a joy to use. 🙏
So that I may cook many Malaysian Kitchen dishes!
I want this knife!
I originally fell in love with your videos on Insta and still find myself drooling everyone you post a new recipe. When I visited Japan a few years back I was so impressed by the food scene and culture. As a student, I’m just getting started cooking and this knife would be an absolutely fabulous and timeless addition to my ever growing collection of kitchen utensils!
I really really really want this knife!!! I love to cook and I need a knife like this. My knife set is about 8 years old! Time for some new knives. Quality knives.
Hi!
Your blog is awesome! Contents and recipe. Good story – moms are the best! I would love to own the Japanese knife!
I would love to have this knife! 🤩 I appreciate all your recipes and I’ve even prepared two already 🍽 I look forward to watching more of your recipe videos, thank you for sharing! 🙏
Love this knife!! Beautiful and elegant and stylish.
I love this knife and I absolutely need it for my kitchen. Cooking is my favorite thing and I have got awesome recipes from your site!
Dear Ms. Nagi and Dozer,
I love you guys! First, your recipe is simple and yet the taste was amazing. Simple in a sense that you can find the ingredients easily that’s what we want, easy to prepare that a busy working people would love to learn. And your cute Dozer, all of his pictures are heart melting. It’s like, when you look to his eyes he is telling “Mommy Nagi pls, I want it! Pretty pls”.
Now, I’ll be the one who will tell you Ms. Nagi, I’m dying to have that handcrafted japanese chef knife, pretty pls. That’s a gorgeous knife, how intricate the design was made and how sharp it is, I really needed it to my kitchen. Please 🙏🏻.
Thank you Ms. Nagi and Dozer😊
More recipe to come and pictures of you cutie Dozer 😊
I would love this knife !
Would love a good Japanese chefs knife Brown sugar on chicken That’s the bees knees good tips
Hi I would love to try a new brand of knife a good knife motives me to cook lol
Thanks for another great recipe. And I would love to win the knife!
I would love this knife ! 🙂
A JAPANESE KNIFE is a cut above the rest, and would be a great addition to my kitchen.