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….
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
I would love to get this knife for my husband because he is a sous chef and loves to cook. My email is, momma417.da@gmail.com
I have been slow-roasting much of my meat lately, so your recipe goes back to my old school method–which is WAY more-convenient when one wants to get a meal on the table in a hurry.
And–yes–I would LOVE to have a professional-grade, heritage knife. Thanks for the recipe and the contest.
I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to win such a beautiful sharp knife. I cook a lot and this would certainly make my job so much easier. Please pick me, Nagi! I would be ever so grateful.
Yes. I would really like the knife. Your recipe sounds delicious. I will try it tonight as I am one of those worst cooks in America I will probably use the knife for everything. Dont tell mom.
Would love to win this wonderful knife. I could never afford to buy something like this to myself. New to your site and I like it.
Hi nagi I would be over whelmed to own a knife of this quality as I would never be able to afford such an edition to our kitchen, the Damascus patterning is beautiful.Thank you for at least giving me a fighting chance of winning such a knife ,keep up all your good work and great recipes and again thanks for giving all us house cooks a chance to be better chefs.ps say hi to Dover from me and my wife.
You are right. The most important tool in the kitchen is a sharp knife. I normally use French or German knives but would love to try the knife that you are offering. I used to be a chef in ski resorts ( French Alps) but now I cook only for my wife , son and friends but I still enjoy it so very much. Tried a lot of your recipes and have all worked really well- if I don’t have all the ingredients then I just make it up and all seems to turn out well.
Thanks , Kev Blackadder.
Wow Nagi the knife is amazing!
I’d love to have it – it would mean so much coming from you!
Hi I would love this knive I use a parring knives for every thing
Hi Nagi,
I certainly would like that precious knife, but wonder if you would ship it to the other end of the world, since I’m in the USA. I generally believe that your recipes are fool proof and enjoy trying them out, so I hope the chicken breasts are as juicy as you say they are.
Thanks, and I hope to win!
Xenia
Hi Nagi. I have recently discovered your blog and have tried several recipes- all simple and delicious.
My eldest daughter is preparing to fly the coop and I would love to give this knife to her to get her started on home cooking. Her favourite dish is Asian noodles and we have a permanent supply of your master sauce in our fridge with her name on it!
YES Please I would love to win this knife! Thanks, for the opportunity. love your site keep up the great work.
I have always struggled with chicken breast so will definitely give this a go!
Would also definitely love to have this knife! I have always admired them but haven’t been able to afford one….. yet!
Ooh! Yes please.
And the rice and spinach recipe if there is one. It’s great to have simple tasty recipes like yours to include in the weekly menu. Thank you.
This recipe looks delicious!!! I would love to win this knife. It would be a miracle I win:)
I would love to win this knife! Thank you for your awesome recipes too!
I would love to have this knife!
And this recipe looks really good and simple!
What a treasure this knife is! Hope I win it, this knife is one to be able to pass down to my daughter . She loves to cook with me. Thanks for the chance.
Another yummy recipe to try this week! Would like to know what the side dish is too??
So glad I found your site, I can always rely on your recipes, and would love to be relying on that super knife! What a great giveaway. Thank you Nagi.