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….
I have to admit that I do already have an amazing Shun knife that my husband gave me as a gift. The problem is, we cook a lot together and I won’t let anyone touch my knife. It would be amazing to win this knife for him. He is a fan of your recipes too! So, please include us in the knife giveway!
….and we’ll soon try this chicken recipe!
What an incentive to improve my knife skills! We admired one like this on a trip to Tokyo last year. Thank you for sharing all your recipes Nagi. So easy and delicious. All the best to you and Dozer.❤️
You are so right! Nothing, but nothing beats a beautifully crafted and stunningly sharp knife in the kitchen. Yes, please…I would love to win it and, if I did, would cherish it.
Oh my goodness I would LOOOVE this knife!!!
First of all, it is beautiful!
Second, I am in love with Japanese culture and Japanese design. (Did I mention this knife is gorgeous?). My little kitchen in my little rented basement suite is in need of this knife!
Third, I love to cook and this knife will help me so an amazing job!
My only problem is trying to find the perfect name for the knife when I win it. Maybe you can help me pick out a suiting name?
Cheers!
linsblair@hotmail.com
This knife would be the perfect addition to my kitchen. I WANT THAT KNIFE!! Very much enjoying the recipes straight to my inbox. Thank you.
Nagi!
Love your blog and the recipes are great and not too complicated, which is nice for me. The knife is gorgeous! I work at our local food co-op and prepare fruits and veggies, so really appreciate a good knife. I think that Dozer wants the pom-poms! He is lucky to have you. The swim-pics were awesome, what a lucky dog!
Nagi,
I would love to have at least 1 sharp knife! My others are dull but require me to send them in to the company for sharpening:(. What would I do if I sent them all in at the same time??
This knife just might be what I’ve been wishing for,I always seem to struggle to find just the right knife.
Nagi, we have hosted many a Japanese student in our Maine home being sister cities. This knife is so wanting to make Maine her home!
My dream is to have a great knife but just could not afford it. I love to cook and specially now that I cook for my grandchildren, lots of chopping involved.
thank you Nagi for this incredibly exciting and generous offer and thank you also to your mum for doing your bidding and bringing this gorgeous and precious item back, hand delivered!
I would feel blessed to to hold this beauty in my hand … and I might just wave it around excitedly every now and then to capture the light …. Just not in anyone’s face because that could be a bit scary! Lol ☺️
Wishing all your readers luck and you a wonderful day!!
Ps. This chicken dish looks very delicious and I can see it becoming part of my Nagi repertoire!! 😊
How do I sign up for the knife giveaway!?
I’m only a home cook for my family but actually really love cooking. Everyone talks about these amazing Japanese cooking knives but I have never been able to justify the cost. I would love the opportunity of winning this amazing knife which I’m sure would make my cooking even more enjoyable. I love your recipes Nagi
I’d really like a new knife, but $500 is a lot of money. Would love to be convinced it is wirth that.
I love your recipes and cook them every week. I would LOVE to win this knife to help me be a better cook. Many thanks Nagi!!!
I would love to be the new owner of that lovely knife you made your mother buy. Thank you to her
Linda
I would love to win this knife, Nagi. It would be a much loved tool on my kitchen and preparing your recipes for my family would be even more enjoyable
I would LOVE this knife!! I have bought many and given them away each time hoping I’ve bought a better knife. Fingers crossed!!! PS.. loved the Vietnamese Coconut Caramel Chicken -my favourite!!!
I would love to win an authentic Japanese knife, Thank you so very much for offering this give away!!!
I really really want that knife, I love to cook and I could use a knife like that…