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 Nagi – love your recipes! Keep em coming… I would truly enjoy owning a knife as beautiful and useful as this – my fingers are crossed…
What an amazing giveaway. I would love to win this knife as I could do with a really decent knife to have in my kitchen! I love all the recipes on your blog 😁
Ohhhh how I love a good knife. My husband likes to use mine for things other than cooking and I noticed my favorite one is bent at the end :\ Looks like I will keep a closer watch on him!
I love your recipes, and you have helped me venture into making Asian food at home. And Dozer is so cute!
Thank you!
Becky
Nagi, I would love that beautiful knife!
If I have to tell you how much I love your recipes, let me just say that I have just finished eating your honey soy garlic chicken and was sitting down at my laptop with some dessert and thought I’d just check your latest recipe… and saw this! Pleeeeeeeeease pick me!
Love your recipes. You’ve become my ‘go to’ cookbook!
Of course I want this knife!!! What a fantastic giveaway. Thank you.
I love to cook and would absolutely love this knife!!
I love your blog, and I would love to win the knife.
I’d love a great knife! My two kids, living 1000 mi apart, love to cook, and this knife will encourage them to visit and cook for me!! We love your cookbook!
I too would love this knife.
Hi Nagi, this is would be amazing gift for my husband! He loves the craftmanship of knives and the history of them. We just came back from Japan last November and he actually bought one with his last name engraved on it at a shop in Kyoto. He’s been using it everyday and is in love with it. Thank you for the chance and thank you for always putting out great recipes and videos! I’ve made so many of your recipes already and they always turn out a hit!
This sounds fabulous! I’m going to make it Thursday for my son and his family.
Oh yes indeed I would love to be the winner of the wonderful knife! I LOVE so many of your recipes. I’ll try to limit myself to mentioning 5 or less 🙂
#1 Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Bowl HOLY MOTHER !!! The very best of the very best. I make this frequently and people are stunned at how easy it is to put together and how delicious it is. And let me tell you- that is the most fantastic marinade ever for chicken! It was so cold out last week, -12 F that my grill was unable to get hot enough to cook. I chanced frying in a pan on the stove. Whew Hew! Perfect, with a gorgeous carmelization from the sugar in the marinade. I always use this marinade now for chicken lettuce cups, chicken on a bed or rice and Vietnamese chicken Bahn Mi sandwiches. SO DANG YUMMY
#2 Thai Chicken Fried Rice- I have never served this when I was not asked for the recipe. 3 different sauce options in the recipe. I’d like to be able to say that one of them was best, but I use all 3 and we love them equally.
#3 The pizzas made with Greek flatbread-OMG I make a bacon pepperoni one, a carmelized onion proscuitto one, and a spinach sausage one. Lay a piece of waxed paper between them, place them in a zip lock baggie and freeze. These are so great. My adult kids say they are the best frozen pizza they have ever had. Next time I am going to use Nag’s recipe for Easy soft Flatbread to make the pizzas instead of buying Greek flatbread in the store.The sauce is just perfect. Your directions Nagi are the best! For every recipe, I never have questions because you explain so clearly and completely.
#4 Vietnamese Carmelized Pork -hello, stupid easy! i give this recipe to all friends and family who claim that they cannot cook. SO EASY. When it is done I sometimes add 1 can of coconut milk to make wonderful “gravy” for those who like their rice swimming. Again, rave reviews everytime.
#5 Nagi’s Extra Soft & Juicy Italian Meatballs- this was your first recipe that I tried. Got such wonderful comments from everyone at the dinner table that I went back to your website to see what other recipes took my fancy.
OK i was successful in limiting myself to writing about only 5 recipes. But they are all really great
Hi Nagi I would love to win this knife like you mentioned it’s safer and less likely to cut yourself with a sharp and this knife seems like the perfect edition to anyone’s kitchen would love to have on mine. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi Nagi,
I would love to have this excellent knife. I make many of your recipes with great resilts
Hi Nagi- I would love to win the knife, thank you. I follow you through email and facebook, you inspire me to cook and gives me ideas on what to cook for dinner every night.
I have wanted a knife like but too expensive, so I would love to win this. Plus I love your blog.
What a beautiful knife!
Love your recipes, and this chicken will be what’s for dinner later this week! Good knives are essential! Hope I win! Xo
Hi Nagi,
Like many it seems, I discovered your wonder of a site unexpectedly, while looking for a decent Mexican recipe! I have been returning regularly ever since! Seconding the sentiments of others, while I would absolutely love to own that stunning Japanese hand crafted knife (all the better to slice that sumptuous chicken with!), the real prize is having access to your consistently fantastic collection of recipes, served up with your great sense of humour (not forgetting the Dozer pics of course).
Thanks for all the amazing food so far! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Thank you for such an awesome giveaway! I really enjoy reading your blog and trying your recipes. I want this knife!