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 want the knife because if you’re obsessed with it, it will do wonders for me🙂
I would love to own this knife, don’t have a quality high end knife…
Hello Nagi,
This chicken recipe looks delicious. Will definitely try it . The rice side look delicious too. Will you share that recipe too. I’m always a bit lost when it came to side dishes and am a bit one track minded as far as that goes.
I would love that beautiful knife. That is truly an exceptional gift.
For future gifts , any kitchen gadget that is truly useful and not “Ah this is cute and through it in the drawer never to be used”. I know this is a tall order.
Absolutely I would love to own that knife! As an aside, I just made your chicken stir-fry for a group of six friends and they universally declared it the best they’d ever had. I don’t think they were just being kind 🙂
I so badly want this knife! I currently have a $300 kitchen aid knife set that I won at a Christmas party some years ago but some of them are ruined because my husband used them as tools. (Not happy!) (would also not let him touch this knife if I win it). Also, thanks for the chicken recipe! I’ll have to try the brown sugar method next time I make chicken.
I’d sooooo love that knife. Would mean a lot. If not no worries. Keep the Fab recipes coming!
Nagi, I have cooked many of your recipes and all are great. I can’t wait to try this chicken recipe, thank you 🙂 I would also like a chance to win the knife, it would be nice to have a good knife for a change.
First of all, I am making this Chicken tonight. I sounds wonderful. The knifes look incredible. I am using the knife set someone gave me for a wedding present (I’ve been married 33 years). Yes they are that old and they where not good knifes to begin with. I have to use kitchen shears to cut the fat off of meat. I would love and be so gratful for new knifes and these look amazing. Well here hoping.
And I am so looking forward to the Chicken tonight. YUM
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE this knife. My husband and I met in Tokyo and were engaged in Kyoto. I am a huge fan of Japanese cutlery. Thank you!!
I would love to win. I have a big family and do a lot of cooking. I have several knives that I love but have used so much they really should be replaced, but I can’t afford anything nice.
Hi Nagi,
First, Dozer is absolutely adorable. It’s so funny that he is recognized more than you!!!
I would love to have that super sharp knife in my kitchen. Mine are so sad 🙁
I would love this knife! Ours have always been a little dull; can’t wait to see what a difference a sharp one would make!
I am always interested in new knives for my kitchen tool belt. It would be great to win this knife.
I would love this knife. I have been practicing my knife skills. Love your site!
I could really use a proper sharp knife. I have bought so any over the years and are always disappointed.
Hi Nagi,
I love your recipes and look forward to receiving them in my inbox each week.
I would love to win the knife it would make a wonderful addition to my kitchen!
I would love to gift this knife to my better half who is a huge fan of Japanese culture and also loves knifes 😊 I can’t imagine a better present for his birthday next month than this knife!
OMG I would luv to own a sharp knife!
Thank you for giving all of us the opportunity to own one!
I would LOVE the knife. Mine are all dull, I should through all of them out. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I really would love this knife. The best kitchen tool is a very balanced sharp knife because it makes the job faster and saves fingers lol! This would be the best gift of my life! I have always dreamed of having a knife like this but could never afford it especially now that I am disabled and cannot work. But enough of that good luck to everyone! I know whoever wins will be very excited.
the giveaway closed a month ago. are you doing this again? i would love to have some japanese steel!