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….
So glad I get regular recipe e-mails from you Nagi. They are always as good as they look, and I am so much more interested in cooking since trying your great ideas. The knife would be an added bonus as mine are never sharp enough. Thank you
I’ve used this recipe many times now and you are spot on with the brown sugar. I would love this knife. I have been in the hunt for this life since I love cooking and this would be a great addition to my kitchen, especially since I’m just now starting to learn how to make my own jerky. This would cut the meet perfectly. All I do is work, cook (many cookouts with friends and family) and sleep. This would get plenty of use out of it.
Knife* not life. Thanks voice to text
We are in the middle of buying a little beach house which has a lovely new kitchen in it and this knife would take pride and place in this kitchen where I know we will be cooking lots of family meals with the grand children when they come to stay at pop and nans 🙂
Love your recipes and Dozer! He is adorable! Would love to have this kitchen knife!
Hi Nagi, I love reading your blogs and your recipes! They are so so wonderful and delicious 🙂 would love to win this knife.. For my husband more than me. He is an amazing cook who values a good knife and he always chops vegetables for me when I’m cooking 😀 he’s been amazing looking after me lately as I’ve had bad back pain.. He’s been holding the fort and looking after our little boy 🙂
I need the knife. What more can I say….please.
Hi Nagi. Thank you for this yummy looking chicken recipe…have printed it off and will be trying this one too.
Would absolutely LOVE this fabulous looking Japanese Knife. Have watched the video and it astounds me how easily it can cut the paper. My good knife was a reasonable knife until my partner took to a deer carcass with it and used it like a meat cleaver and now I have these lovely gashes in the sharp edge. Who would do that 🙁 .
Thanks for all your great recipes!!!
Please enter me to win that beautiful looking Knife
I would love to win this knife!!! It’s time to renew mine, and this one is fantastic! Thank you for this giveaway!!!
I would love to win this knife, love your recipes, you and especially Dozer.
Yes please! I want this knife! I will also give this chicken a try as it looks very tasty. I can almost smell it. Dozer I like the new suit. I think you’ll look quite the dapper dog in it.😊
awf1988@gmail.com
I would love to have one decent knife instead of “making do”…that’s fine for my pots and pans, but one really great knife would be a blessing.
Thanks for your consideration!
Will try the recipe next week.
I am of Japanese decent and I know that Japanese knives are far superior to American made and other foreign made knives. My mother had just a couple of knives that she brought here with her but they were lost in one of many moves over the years. I have slowly begun purchasing more but, as I live in a very small town in Nevada, it is really hard for me to find any. I have to travel almost 400 miles to find a store that sells any. I really would like to have this knife that you are giving away.
Thank you,
Grace
Another awesome recipe thanks Nagi, I am addicted to your chicken satay which is best ever so it will take some beating. Am fascinated with knives but have never been game enough to buy a Japanese handmade knife so having one that was picked out by someone that knows what to buy would be awesome. Thanks for the great site.
I donot wount this knife I would love to get it.
I just stumbled across your site, looking at a delicious-looking oven-baked chicken recipe can’t wait to try it out. would love to use a knife like that to prepare meals for friends and family and to share with them the joy of using a truly sharp knife.
The knife would be well loved, and used.
The recipe looks so good, definetely gonna try it out.
I’ve been thinking of buying a new knife but winning one would be even better ha. Reallt want it!
Please, please, please may I have this knife? I am ALWAYS jealous when I see people on TV and on the internet using these knives as they really are the best according to everyone that speaks of them (so you are not alone!). These knives are so beautiful as well. I promise to give it a good home, care for it lovingly, keep it sharp and give it lots to eat (chop). PS: I love your recipes and usually try out each one that appeals to me, always with good results.
Would love to win the knife. I wouldn’t want to use it but that’s what it is made for lol