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….
My daughter is learning Japanese so of course …a Japanese knife would be a dream come true.
I’ve been also trying to find a chicken breast recipe that has actual flavor and not dried out, that I can put on a salad…this looks perfect.
Hey Nagi,
I adore your blog and make many of your recipes and will try this chicken. I’m always looking for new ways with chicken.
I own one Japanese knife and it’s not enough!! I love it because it’s so precise. Thanks so much for giving one away.
I would love to win this beautiful knife to continue to make so many of your great recipes. I made your wild rice salad & it was such a delicious salad. Definitely a family favorite.
Can’t wait to see Dozer in his new outfit.
Yes! Please enter me into your knife giveaway! My husband and I have been drooling over a knife much like that one for years but haven’t pulled the trigger on purchasing it.
I also want to let you know how very much I’ve been enjoying your blog. I am always excited to see the next recipe and have a mile-long list of recipes to try. The ones I’ve made so far have been fantastic! Thank you for all your hard work!
Hello Nagi, well another plowable snow storm coming our way tomorrow night into Wednesday here in Massachusetts. Spring is on our doorstep but refusing to enter…I am not a happy camper! This chicken recipe looks awesome and will add it to my “Nagi” folder, the first place I go for a recipe…made your cheese potatoes yesterday (Yummy). My Ming Tsai knives have taken a beating and I would love to start a “chef proud” knife collection with your give away! By the way, can’t wait to see Dozer in his new outfit, will look dashing I’m sure. Have a great day and thanks so much for such awesome recipes 🙂
Nagi, this is another terrific recipe. Look forward to you emails. I would love a really good knife such as the one you are giving away. It would be wonderful to use.
Nagi, I follow your blog and love your receipts and little tips you give along the way. I love being in the kitchen, my knives have lots of stories to tell and why the handles are broken. I’d love to add this one to my collection. Thank you for the wonderful blog posts
Nagi, ever since my husband put my brand new, very expensive knife down the garbage disposal 😡, I’ve been cooking with older, not-good-quality knives. Not nearly as much fun as having such a good quality tool! By the way, it didn’t do my garbage disposal any favors, either!
Hi I’ve made a few of your recipes and they are scrumptious. The knife looks absoloutly fantastic and really would like one.
Regards
Ian
I would love the knife giveaway that would be a nice add on for our meat room. We have a room that my husband fixed up this last summer to process our sheeps and rabbits.
Hello Nagi. Ever since I’ve first started receiving and using your recipes, my life as a wife and mother of four children who are very fussy about food and taste has become less burden which means ‘No stress!’ – it is easier to satisfy their tastebud with your hassle free recipes and very helpful tips. Thank you so much. I love you Nagi…🤗😙
That Japanese handcrafted knife give away would be a jackpot for me if I’m lucky…coz I can’t afford any expensive knife or any other kitchen items. 😔
Anyway, always eager to hear from you again soon. Thanks my dear life saver Nagi❤
I’ve been following your blog for over a year now and always look forward to the next recipe. I’d love to have that knife in my hands.
Thank you
Hi Nagi!
What a thoughtful and wonderful giveaway! I would absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to win this knife! You have no idea how much a very sharp, Japanese knife is needed in my kitchen. Let’s just say that dull knives are not anyone’s friend and I learned from experience that a sharp knife is a must (after cutting my hand with a dull knife, severing the nerve in my finger and surgery). No matter how much we try to sharpen our knives at home or take it to the local shop to have it sharpened, I hear that it still isn’t as nice as having Japanese knife. I’m dreaming about it…
Thanks for the delicious looking Chicken Breast recipe – One always needs those too! ; 0 )
I have ALWAYS wanted a wonderful kitchen knife, so I’d be thrilled to win this. Thank you for the offer, and thank you for the great recipes!
I have hundreds of cool books and more saved websites and recipes What I like about yours is they all work brilliantly and they are all low hassle
Have a dog like yours too lovely big fella called Simba. We have much in common …….. except I don’t have a Japanese knife 🙂
Always looking forward to new recipes coming my way and learning .
A fancy knife I do not own and winning one would be amazing.
Thank you for teaching me. Luve the video. ❤
Hi Nagi,
I am among all your other followers who would LOVE this knife and sharpener. I seriously look forward to your daily recipes. I am a descent cook but have learned many great tips from you. I also have some recipes that I have created or have in my archive that I would love to send you so you could try them out and see if you like them or would like to share them.
I’ve never had a really great knife to use in the kitchen. I’ve been expanding my culinary skills and this knife would keep me from cutting my fingers by me not having to press and push hard on the cheap, constantly dulling knives that I’ve been having to use this far!
I would love to receive this knife. Love your recipes. You are so funny.
What an amazing prize. Thank you Nagi for your wonderful recipes that always inspire me and for the opportunity to enter your competition – win, win 🤗.