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….
Hi 🙂 I just love your recipes ! And I would love to win this knife !
Nagi, I love your site. It has inspired me to cook more. My wife all is all over that, she is thrilled I am in the kitchen (so she can have a well deserved break a few days a week)! My current knife is an 8″ Henckels Chef’s Knife, so I think it is time east meets west. I want that knife!
cheers
It would make my day to win this knife 🔪
I will be chopping all day 😄
I would love to give this to my father as form of appreciation. He really loves to grind and also owns some of those tools and different “grinding stones”. He never really requests any gifts or anything which is why I would love to see how his happiness is growing. He is a really quiet person and I’d hope to give great pleasure to him. ^^
Hi Nagi
How I wish I could have this beautifully crafted Japanese knife it would be a not so late gift for my Birthday Thank you 😊
I’ve been cooking and baking ever since I was about 15 years old. I love to try new recipes or experiment with flavours. As I’m a student, I don’t have that much money to spent on good kitchenware as I prefer to spend it on fresh and local ingredients. And I’m really lacking a good sharp knife.
I would love one! My husband lived in Japan for three years and he would love it!
I need this knife! It would complete me 🤗
I’d love to own this knife. Have a couple of older Japanese knives and pretty beaten up. They have always been my favorites. A new one would be great!
I would love to win this awesome knife! thank you.
What a delicious and easy recipe !!!!!! And I would love to win a truly good knife …mine are pretty pathetic ! Lol
I’ve never had a really good knife so that would be awsome
Hi Nagi, please, please, please!
Make me have that awesome knife!
Appreciate all your recipes!
I love ,love to cook and bake and have always dreamed of a good ,sharp knife instead of the cheap dull knives thzt I keep cutting my fingers on.,
Nagi!!! It will be a dream come true to win this Knife!!!
I really want this knife! I love the really great recipes on your website.
Hello there. I follow you on Instagram also, and I love that you teach us how to cook. I make your recipes with my family so that we all learn good skills using ingredients we can readily get and are healthy and great to eat. I would love to be able to use a proper knife while creating your wonderful dishes, and hope that the Japanese knife may come to help us cook at our home. Thank you for sharing your great ideas and skills with all of us. Please say Hi to Dozer for us, too!
Your recipes have become my 1st go-to list of recipes.I even made a special page just for Recipe Tin Eats. I so much would love to have this knife. Blessings from Nashville!
Thank you for your wonderful recipes! I would LOVE this knife!
Yes, want in on the drawing for the knife and stone