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….
Yes, yes, yes I want the kids ife. Iover that you are using this method for your giveaway. I can never figure out the new ways so I just don’t enter. Thanks.
OMG! That knife is gorgeous. My story: a month ago, my fiancé and I were getting ready to go purchase some high-end knives to replace dull ones I had been suffering with (lol), but we got into a huge fight and… BROKE UP! He was going to buy them…why didn’t I wait until after??
Of course I would love a great knife..and I would never be able to justify this price so it’s the only way I can have something like this
I WANT THIS KNIFE! 🙂
Thanks Nagi for another delicious recipe. I want this amazing knife, chopping would be done in a fraction of the time. Yay 😁
Hi Nagi
I would love to own this knife!
Hello Nagi I would love to win your knife to give to my husband who cooks all our family meals even afer working all day the is a very follower of your recipes andhe is for ever moaning about not being able to keep an edge on our old ones it would be a lovley 72nd birthday present.Thank you for all your lovely recipes.
Nagi, what a fantastic giveaway! I would be ecstatic to be the winner of this beautiful piece of precision workmanship. I’ve always worked towards somehow owning a Japenese knife but out of my price range unfortunately.
Absolutely loving your recipes and your entertaining posts and Dozer is a darling.
Thanks to your mum too for bringing the knife back and her traditional recipes as well.
Have a wonderful day and I’m now off to buy some chicken breasts lol
Hi Nagi, Wow I couldn’t believe my eyes! A $500 Japanese knife to give away?! Of course I want it!!! I’m Japanese and cook everyday but I don’t even own one Japanese knife. If I win, your mum doesn’t need to translate the instructions for me! 😂 I love your recipes, so simple & easy to make. My 17years old son has been living independently in interstate from January this year. He has been cooking his own meal and I told him to check your website because you have fast, easy & yummy meal recipes with video. It’s lovely to see Dozer too!
This giveaway is AMAZING! 🙌🏼
Simple reasons for entering : #1 Japanese Steel is the BEST! #2 Using this sharp knife for meats and veggies will keep me motivated in the kitchen to cook more often! ( of course making recipe tin recipes! 😉 ) Thank you for sharing all of your delicious food and tips with us Nagi!
I don’t want this knife. I need it! Lol!
Thank you for all your great and easy to follow recipes. As a full-time working mom who has never cooked anything before in her life, I am now able to cook healthy food for my family (quickly), and I don’t have to rely on heavily processed foods anymore. Thanks for all your recipes Nagi!
Maybe if I have areally good knife my chopping skills might improve!
Follow Nagi daily. attempt to prepare yummy recipes with rotten blunt knives
Nagi I would love to own this knife. I love to cook all different recipes (including many of yours that I have tried) but I simply cannot afford to purchase a really good set of knives they are just too expensive for me!! This would be a great opportunity to begin my collection! xxxx
The knife is absolutely gorgeous and I would love to add it to my kitchen (like everyone else lol), decent knives are hard to find, excellent knives even more so. Also, just made this recipe tonight and it was so lovely. My husband always frowns over chicken breasts because they so often end up dry and that is a big thing for him, but he loved this and said we could make it a few times a month. Thanks so much!
I would love a really good knife. My old Henkels are wearing out after years of use and sharpening. It would make a great 65th birthday gift. Gawd! How did I get to be so old?!
What a beautiful tool! Of course I want it!
Orphaned at birth, I have found the Table to be a median to serve others with a meal and bring people of all different backgrounds together. Though not professionally trained, I show love through the service of food, one of the few beautiful things that not only creates memories but provides nourishment. This knife would help to continue to pay it forward.
If I win this knife I’m giving it to my son who just got his own apartment. I think it will inspire him to cook like you!
Hello! I would adore this knife. Our 29th anniversary is March 25th… what a gift, eh? 😉
Thanks for your great recipes.