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 would love to win this knife
Howdy Nagi,
I enjoy your emails and have tried many of the recipes. I usually can’t help making a change or two, but the recipes provide a wonderful starting point.
I would very much like to win the knife; Japan is one of those places I would love to go and is at the top of my list when I get the chance.
Take care and have fun,
Walt
I would be so grateful to receive this knife!! I just found your blog last week, and I’ve made the honey garlic chicken twice already!! My entire family loves it. I’m going to try your baked chicken this week. I can’t wait to cook my way through all of your recipes, I used to hate cooking, but your blog has inspired me☺️Thank you, so much for these creative easy recipes that are budget and family friendly!
Hello from Vancouver! I would love to own this knife. I would keep my husband away from it though as he has a habit
of breaking the tips off my Henckels.
Thank you for your inspiring recipes. I eat Keto so I can’t try all your recipes but those I can, like this one, are our favourites.
I would love to enter your drawing. The recipe looks lovely. Thanks!
I love your recipes and enjoy reading your blog. I have cut my fingers several times because I don’t own a knife sharp enough. Please enter me in your drawing to win this fabulous and beautiful knife.
I would absolutely love this knife! Always wanted one just can’t afford it.
Along with all the other responding to your offer, I too would not only love to win the knife, but I would use it proudly in my kitchen. I love the recipes that you and your Mother share. Easy and delicious! Even If I am not the winner of a knife, I am still a winner in the kitchen, and your recipes have made me that way. Thank you for all you do for making us better cooks!!
Hello Nagi, thanks to your web page I started to prepare, for me “exotic” food – strictly only in the meaining “delicious” food. Would be nice to win japanese knife for food processing and certainly not only for japanese food.
That knife looks amazing! My husband and I both like to cook and that would be a wonderful asset for us to share. I just found this site and the recipes are very appealing. I am excited to start exploring.
LOVE Dozers cool outfit!..
I NEED THAT GREAT KNIFE!! I KNOW IT’S MAGICAL!!!
Hi Nagi, as much as I would love to win a new knife, I love your recipes! As a busy mom with three kids, two teenagers, we use them all the time. Whenever anyone comments about them I share your site with them. Thank you so much for the simple yet delicious meals.
A chance to win a knife crafted by the legendary Samurai sword masters? Yes!
Hi Nagi,
I like to fancy myself an above average home cook. I would rise up to the level of excellent home cook with this knife.
Can’t wait to try this chicken recipe. I like easy and tasty! This recipe covers both.
I just love all of your recipes and have tried many. I think I will try the chicken tonight.
I would love this knife. It is beautiful
The rice looks delicious as well. What exactly is in it?
I’d LOVE to win that knife! Also, thanks for all the amazing recipes! I’ve loved all the ones I’ve tried so far. I made the middle-eastern chickpea salad just last weekend and it was delicious! And thanks for the adorable photos of Dozer!
First, I love your photos of Dozer. Second, this chicken looks delicious… and there isn’t enough brown sugar in it to make it out of range for my Weight Watchers points! Win!! My brother and parents both have beautiful knife collections, and my parents have started me on mine in the past couple of years (a bit late in life, since I’m 55). Having this Japanese knife would make them SO envious! Besides, my husband was born in Japan and currently trains in Japanese swordsmanship, so it would be fun to have a beautiful chef’s knife from there! Please enter me in your drawing (and good luck to everyone)! Thanks Nagi!!
I almost lost a fingertip due to a dull knife. I’d be especially pleased to avoid that possibility again! Thanks for all the great recipes, and please enter me into the drawing for the knife.
I would love to win this knife! Thanks for the chance! crazy4bassets25@yahoo.com
Uh what? Oh! Sorry! I had to stop drooling with glazed eyes at the knife 🙂 !
The tips of my fingers would so very appreciate a truly sharp knife (yes, I’ve
cut one off with a dull blade, not something I usually talk about)
And thank you for all the tips and tricks Nagi, I learn something new every day
I read your recipes! The brown sugar in this chicken recipe may explain a delicious
salmon I eat out and can’t figure how they get the crust they do.
Thank you for all the fun Nagi!