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!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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….
Hi Nagi, I really want the knife! Thank you for the opportunity!!
Love your recipes and cook a lot of them already!
Hi Nagi,
I would love to win this knife.
Thank you for your entertaining, informative posts and wonderful recipes.
What an amazing give away! My husband & I would just love this precision knife – it would have pride of place in our kitchen!
I would love to have this knife. !!!
I would love this knife!! Love to cook, and do so frequently, although my knives aren’t the best, and most are dull. Can’t wait to try your recipes!
I think this knife is absoutely beautiful. I have never been to Japan, if I could go, I would bring this home for my family.Thank you so much for offering a chance to win this fine piece of culture.
This chicken sounds so good. I do not have to put the baking power for ten minutes before pounding chicken to 1.5cm.
I just love that baking soda technique. It gets so moist.
I will try this recipe for sure. thank you. Especially, I am from Toyota, Japan, I really want this great Japanese knife!!!!
The recipe looks great… I wish I could have this knife… it looks amazing…!
First, let me say, how happy I am that I signed up to receive your recipes! We love cooking the Nagi-way! As far as the knife goes, yes, I would love to have ONE great knife from your favorite store in Tokyo, but if someone else wins, all is fair in the game! Good luck to everyone who has entered.
Hi Nagi,
As a young cook and single mom that cooks everyday with my daughter, this would be really nice to have. Especially since I’m yet to find a “good” affordable knife. I ran across your website when browsing recipes and was immediately hooked. I enjoy opening my emails and finding new recipes to cook and enjoy with my daughter. This knife would be be super cool to have and it would be a great conversation starter with all my friends and family when they come over. Thanks to you and your mum for making this giveaway possible!
Cheers from California!
-Jackie
By the way my daughter is obsessed with Dozer 🙂
I LOVE your recipes (and your mum’s too). I agree that a fantastic knife in the kitchen is a huge asset and would love to win the one you’re giving away. It would certainly help when I attempt to make your beautiful recipes! bitte@cnrstone.com.au
I want this knife……..please.
A good kitchen knife is always wanted. A great one would be over the rainbow! I’d love to have it!
I really need this knife!!
Also, the side dish looks delish … is there a recipe?
I am following your instruction: “I want this knife”:)
Every time I’m sawing through a tomato (my butter knife is sharper than the “good knives” we have) I swear I am going to buy myself a sharp knife YET here I am still sawing away 🙁
sure is a beautiful knife. Definitely like to add to my collection.
I want this knife!!!
Thank you for the opportunity AND for all of your amazing recipes, my family and I love them!
I would love this knife. Mine are old & losing their edge. As I get older I am losing hand strength. New knifes would be so helpful. Thank you for the opportunity & for the wonderful recipe. Sounds delicious & I can’t wait to try it.
Oh, how I need that knife!!! My kids make fun of my DULL dreadful knives. They came over for dinner yesterday and brought THEIR OWN KNIVES! What a zinger! They really know how to get to me, don’t they? Imagine their shock if I were to whip out THIS knife!!!
I’m making this chicken tonight—looks yummy and doesn’t require a good knife! I have tried so many of your recipes and never been disappointedly, Nagi. Keep ’em coming!