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 would really love to have this knife, when in japan in the late 60’s, we couldn’t bring anything like it home (military). Makes my mouth water just looking a it. Thanks for all your great recipes, I use some of them every week.
I would love to have this beautiful Japanese knife. I wish I will win this. I love Japanese food and love to try all your recipes you publish.
Thank you for the brilliant give away. I love your recipes, your pictures of Dozer and your humor. Thank you also for letting all of us get a glimpse into your life.
Hi Nagi, my woodworking husband has a Japanese saw (the teeth face backwards) and he loves it to bits. I would love to match his saw with your wonderful knife (so my teeth don’t face backwards from grinding them)! And as for them chicken..on tonight’s menu, , thank heavens I won’t have to use my 2nd rate knife!
I really need a good sharp knife for the kitchen as I don’t own one and can’t afford one. Thanks for the chance! Every kitchen needs a good sharp knife!
Thanks for the great recipes! Thanks I’ve always wanted a Japanese knife.
Hi Nagi! I would love to have this knife in my kitchen! I always wanted one! Beautiful knife and beautiful craftsmanship.
In the meantime I am making the baked chicken breast! It looks so delicious!
Hi Nagi – I am also of Japanese heritage and agree with you wholeheartedly and share your opinion of Japanese precision, pride, technology and their cultural pursuit of excellence. Although I have never had the pleasure of visiting Japan it is on my bucket list. In the meantime, it would be a wonderful treat to win this knife giveaway, such a treasure!
A wise woman (Nagi) said, “A great knife is the single most important tool in the kitchen”, I AGREE!
I love your blog, keep sharing your recipes and videos. Can’t wait to see Dozer in his kimono!
Would love to win the knife!!
Thank you for the give away!!!
I would love to have that beautiful knife,because I love to cook. It’s my zen, but housing costs in Seattle are astronomically high,so having a nice knife is not in my budget. Thanks for sharing the seasoning recipe!
Hi Nagi,
My wife and I travel abroad once a year, and she never fails to bring home some kitchen tool we both use on our Sunday “gourmet lunch”. (around 25% of the meals are receipes you posted). Although she absolutely deserves a knife like this one – being my wife and the cook she is – she never had the “courage” to spend such an amount of money for a knife so this could be an excelent birthday presnt for her.
Anyway, it crossed my mind that, as an epicurist, Dozer´s lifestyle should be more taken as an example.
Take care.
JAPANESE KNIFE GIVEAWAY! I would love to have the knife because you say how good it is, just as you do your recipes. You are certainly right about the recipes and therefor I am sure you are about the knife too!! AND – mine are dull as door knobs -“100” years old to boot!
Thank you for your delicious recipes, sharing your personal self and that of Dozer. The videos are well done and helpful. Thoroughly enjoy your website.
That would be so cool! Thanks for offering it!
I will love a great knife to use in my kitchen!
Chicken recipe was a huge success in my home. Thank you!
I would love to win this wonderful knifer
Yay, a give away I can actually enter!!!!! Yes please, I’d love the knife and stone! And I am a fellow Southern Hemispherian (you know, on one of those little islands south of you ) who gets really irritated when they say “open to US and Canadian followers only”. We miss out on sooooo many give always just cuz we live way-down-here. Maybe your next give away could be for Down Underers only
Awesome looking chicken breast and will make it soon. The knife very nice and will be used on a daily basis.
Hi I do alot of cooking, love trying all type of recipes However when it comes to cutting or chopping my knifes are so dull even if I try sharping them,I have severe arthritis it gets so painful at the end of day,From trying to cut ,SMH
Love, love your recipes, can always count on them to be full of flavour. Your Epic Chunky Beef & Mushroom Pie is a huge hit around here! ( had never used dried porcini mushrooms before). Anyway, would LOVE to own this knife as I really don’t have any of such quality.
Hi Nagi, I love your recipes, and I would very much like to have this wonderful knife!!!