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….
Can only dream of a knife this nice. Please accept my entry into the giveaway. Thanks for the many recipes, it makes dinners that much easier.
Hi Nagi, I love your recipes and the 2 Free Cookbooks. I refer to them often when I don’t know what to make for meals. Also enjoy your sense of humour. I would love to meet your mother, she sounds like a fun person.
Hi Nagi,
My family has enjoyed several of your recipes! The favorite is Salisbury Steak. Just yummy! I just bought chicken today and I think I’ll be trying a new recipe.
I have a set of knives of slightly better than average quality and would love to have the experience of using a really good knife.
Thanks!
I definitely want this knife! The chicken isn’t so bad either 😜
Hello, I don’t usually leave comments anywhere but I’d like to have a chance to win the knife and sharpener. Yesterday I tried the Magic Broccoli from your website and it turned out delicious. Thanks!
I have yet to find MY favorite knife. I admit, I’m not able to spend high prices for a knife
so maybe that’s an issue. Not only will I try this chicken recipe, but will keep my fingers
crossed to win this beautiful knife. Many thanks for the chance to win!!! PS Always love
seeing Dozer.
I agree, a good kitchen knife is essential and my kitchen could sure use one. Love all your recipes!! Thanks, Marylou
The only way I will ever own such a beautiful, EXPENSIVE knife is if I do win it, so naturally, I would love a knife like this one, especially since it is a fave of yours and my daughter and I LOVE your recipes!!! angie@adstowe.com
My husband has always been the cook in the family. I would be the one in the living room drinking wine while he did his magic. Unfortunately he has had a rough two years with his health and I am finding the kitchen It has been fun reading recipes with some failures and some successes, but fun nonetheless. A beautiful knife would be fabulous and may lead to more successes because I would be inspired to try new things. Will be trying the fried fish and chicken recipes in today’s blog. Whoever wins, enjoy the knife and raise a glass to all of ous.
Where was this recipe last night when I needed it??? Looking forward to trying this one. My husband is forever asking for good kitchen knives. We’ve tried many different styles and brands and none of them last. Hoping I could win this but if not, can it be purchased in the USA? Thanks!
Hello Nagi!
My husband (and kids) and I have become a huge fan of your recipes! We always make them with confidence that they WILL BE delicious! I had honestly never sharpened my kitchen knives until my husband came into my life (honestly probably 8 years without sharpening 😳…maybe my cousin did it once!). Anyway, it changed my cooking life!!! I would love to win this knife for our home kitchen. We both love to cook and my husband dreams of owning really, really huh quality knives.
I will be making the oven baked chicken tonight!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
*high quality knives 😉
I want that knife
Hi Nagi
Look forward to Monday Wednesday and Friday when I know more of your fab food lands in my inbox.
Why do I deserve the knife? Because I am Dozers number one fan!! (Maybe you consider him as the next giveaway??! 🐶)
Keep up the good work 👍🏻
What a great giveaway! You’re the best, Nagi! If I’m the lucky winner, I promise to give that amazing knife a wonderful home.
As for using brown sugar for a chicken recipe, it adds an unexpected depth of flavor to a dish. I have used a spice blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice, salt and sugar on whole chicken, and even though it may sound like dessert, the chicken is savory, a little sweet and the skin is crackly beyond belief.
I would love to win this knife because I am very sure that this will make my cooking job a lot easier!!!!
Hoping for the best!!!!
I’m trying my very first recipe from you tonight! The knife is gorgeous! I’d love to win it! 🙂
i love your RECIPES!!! I DROPPED MY GOOD KNIFE AND IT BENT THE TIP!! I WOULD LOVE TO win!!
The knief is gorgeous and something I would cherish for along time. You can’t see that it was handcrafted with pride. This would be a family heirloom for sure and it would be past down from generation to generation. I would love this knief and so would my family! I want this knief!
Hello Nagi I LOVE 💕 getting your emails – they always make me hungry 😋 and yes I too would love to have such a wonderful knife in my kitchen. My son can never wait to see what Dozer is up to next!
Hi I love all you’re recipe, s and I really need a decent knife! I would greatly appreciate it, thank you. kolalucky.jh@gmail.com
Your recipes make up at least 50% of my kids’ favorite meals! I have so many printed out to try! The knife looks fantastic, I would love to win it! Then I could give my husband a break, constantly asking him to sharpen our knives!