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….
Made this for 12 people, quick and easy, I eliminated the brown sugar for a few pieces to please my non sugar guests
Best chicken breast I have had. I am not a fan of white meat as find it dry and much prefer the dark meat but this was the exception. Delish!
This dish was delicious
Absolute success and added to my arsenal of treating fussy eaters. Thank YOU Nagi
I have made these chicken breast 10 or more times in the past month! They genuinely taste like they are restaurant quality. So juicy and full of flavour. Everyone say “THANK YOU, QUEEN NAGI!”
I made this for dinner last Friday. It was sensational. For anyone who is looking for a recipe for totally delicious, juicy chicken breast, look no further. absolutely delicious.
I used a full bone in breast, split it open and flattened it.
Baked apx 20 minutes.
Came out very quick and tender. Very good recipe. This will be my go to recipe from now on. No need to try other recipes, this is a must try.
If you crave juice tender chicken this is the one
This recipe is easy and my three teen boys and husband love it! Two of one of my son’s friends even ask for the recipe!
Fabulous! Incredible! Delicious!
The second time I made this, I used coconut sugar. I think I preferred that. It was also easier to sprinkle on the meat. The recipe comes out so juicy and it great for making a larger amount. I think I’ll play around with the herbs next time, I have some Greek mixed herbs that I think would be great! I might mix up a jar of the seasoning and start making it more often. 200° (fan) for 18 minutes worked for me
This is my family’s go to chicken recipe. Perfect every time and every person I
serve it to raves about it. So simple and so delicious! And the house smells amazing! Thank-you!
Thank you for this simple and wonderfully easy recipe! The chicken was so juicy and clean up was a breeze. 10 out of 10!!!
This recipe for chicken breast is great. The chicken is moist and really delicious. Will definitely make again
After reading the comments and taking into account I was using an air fryer oven, I cooked mine at 200C for 10 mins. Perfect. Thanks Nagi and “commenters.”
We haven’t eaten chicken breast for years. They often turned out dry, tough, boring. This chicken breast is the best! It was super easy to prepare, quick to cook and was moist, flavorful and delicious. Thank you for this recipe. I will certainly make it again.
I made it as is and found with 17 minutes at 200° fan forced it was a tad dry. Tried it again the next day for only 7 minutes at 220° and it was perfect!!
Made this last night, exactly as written. So delicious and easy, this will be my go to for baked chicken. Thanks so much 🙂
Thank you for this easy but delicious recepi, it was on our dinner table last night and everybody loved it. Please give Dozer a massive cuddle from all of us x
Tender, juicey, flavorful, and easy.
Perfect for a busy life
We love this recipe! We’ve used it several times since we found it We make chicken sandwiches with it also with Colby or pepper jack cheese and brioche buns ! Amazing every time !