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 truly love to own this knife simply because i’ve never owned a proper knife and i really do cook a whole lot.
Oh pretty please… have wanted (but cannot afford). I love more than anything cooking for my family. And having the perfect tool to do so will make the experience even better. Love your work Nagi, everyone of you recipes are just perfect. Never had a fail yet.
Making this chicken tonight for dinner!
I would love to win this fabulous Japanese knife for my son whose passion for cooking is growing daily.
My husband found recipetineats just a couple of months ago and it has already become our favourite recipe site! We have cooked a couple of dozen of your recipes and all of them have been loved by the whole family. I’ve become more brave with the flavour in my food thanks to you and this is actually the only site that I have ever subscribed to, always looking forward to your next post.
Of course I would love that amazing knife but we live on the other side of the world, in the UK so I understand if it isn’t possible to enter.
Keep it up! x
Hi Nagi, love your recipes and also the knife. Would love to win it!
Nagi, with that knife I could give your recipes the justice they deserve. It would be a fantastic win. Fingers crossed.
I would love to win this knife!!
Ruff Ruff…love the photo of Dozer !! Nagi, your recipes are over the TOP !! Made your meatloaf recipe yesterday and it was amazing !! thanks for all the great recipes you share with us. I need a really good knife and would love to own the one you are giving away.
I would love to win this knife! I love to cook but unfortunately my knives aren’t that great. Thanks for the opportunity!
I just love your recipes as well as the comments that you add in, unfortunately my husbands thinks that he is by far the best knife sharpener, well he is NOT. My knives are now history and I love to have sharp knives and this Japanese knife would be the best addition to my kitchen.
Yes please, I’d love to have this knife!
Would love to win this beautiful knife. A good knife is essential to good prep work for great meals. Thanks for the opportunity!
Oh my! I would be so happy to have this knife! I know the value of having a sharp knife in the kitchen for safety and just the joy of preparation of using a beautifully sharp knife! This knife is so beautiful and I would love to own it! Thank you for doing this! This is very generous of you! Hugs In already subscribed to you.
Would love to win this beautiful knife!
I Love your cooking you can invite me to dinner anytime.
I would love to win the knife,
Oh, I really, really want this knife!! It looks fabulous!
The chicken looks fabulous too! I have been down with a virus/flu for over 2 weeks and had no appetite for anything. I am finally crawling up from the abyss and food is starting to look good again. I think this chicken looks so yummy and I can’t wait to try it.
The knife is Great.. Doing the chicken tonight
I want this knife! Ahhhhhhh.
I would love that knife!
I love all things Japanese, lol. email is moonlitnightingale@gmail.com. Love your recipes!
I would love that beautiful knife.