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….
Oh Nagi, I would love this knife too! My grown (american) son now lives in Japan (osaki, miyagi pref) and recently married a wonderful japanese woman. Wouldn’t they be jelly for one of these?! No, as much as i would love it myself, actually I thought I could give it to them in honor of their wedding. I think they both would be so proud to own something so fine! Thx for the opportunity and the recipes! Gonna try this chicken.
How kind of you Nagi to provide this opportunity to win that incredible knife. It’s the ultimate tool in any kitchen. As one of your other readers said, I look forward to seeing what recipe you post ever week as they are user friendly, ingredients are mostly staples on hand and your notes and tips are very beneficial. Love your funny anecdotes!
An idea for another giveaway could be a “clay pot”, the alternative to the InstaPot craze.
What a beautiful knife! I was very impressed with the paper cutting video also. I would love to have this knife!
Always wanted a Japanese knife but can’t afford it ! Love to learn more about Asian cooking specifically Japanese cooking .
Nagi, you have yet to steer me wrong! Your recipes are clear, concise and delicious. You’ve got me cooking more than I ever have and I could use a really great knife. I’ve yet to find a knife that makes me feel complete in the kitchen. I would really like to have this knife!
I love your recipes and your Dozer stories, and look forward to them showing up in my mailbox nearly every day. I have looked for and researched chef knives for a very long time because I really need one, but the ones I want are over my budget. Please enter me in your drawing.
I of course would love this beautiful knife!! I would love Dozer more, but I suppose he isnt going to be a prize. I am going to try this chicken recipe, it looks yummy! Thanks!
Hi Nagi,
I would dearly love a new knife! I had a really nice set of German knives that were lost during moving. I miss my chefs knife the most!
XOs
Carrie
HI NAGI:
LOVE, YOUR RECIPES! I HAVE A PROBLEM NOW AND SO I’M GOING VEGETARIAN & I CAN MAKE YOURS, AND TRANSFORM OTHERS.
BUT, THE KNIFE IS FOR MY GRANDAUGHTER JAMIE, WHO IS LEARNING ALL OUR FAMILY RECIPES. HER KNIVES NEED HELP. SO I WOULD HOPE TO WIN FOR HER.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
CAROLE
Hi Nagi! Thank you so much for always providing such amazing recipes for your readers. I’m not much of a creative cook on my own, but I can follow a recipe like a champ…and yours are always loved by my whole family (even my 2 tweens as 1 teen)!
I can’t get over how beautiful that knife is and know that an amazing tool like that would transform my prep work (and add a lot of style)!
I’ve had my current knife set since 1997. I received them as a wedding gift. I am now divorced and those knives are now dull, weathered, chipped and sad (kinda like the marriage). Fortunately, I am in much better shape than those knives! A new knife set to prepare your delicious recipes would be awesome!
Love your blog. Really enjoy your detailed descriptions of the recipes. Would really make great use of the knife. Please include me in the contest.
Love your recipes and never had one fail yet! I would love to win this knife as my Chinese knife I bought about 20 years ago is getting near the end of its life (after all the sharpening and use through the years). Gone from 4 inches wide to about 1.5 inches!
Keep sending the recipes and why not do some doggy Dozer recipes!
I would love to win the knife…………………………it has my name all over it! (and I would cut more than newspaper with it!)
Love the chicken! WANT THE KNIFE!
Thank you for so much. I always look forward to your posts, knowing that even if a particular recipe is not one that I will try, I will always get a few grins from reading about your life and your family and your observations. And Dozer!
keep on cookin Nagi and i would’nt say no to the knife either.
Came across your website by chance last year and have been LOVING it ever since. The recipes posted and in the cookbooks have been winners in my house every time.
The knife would help me build my cooking skills, aligning with the techniques you demonstrate on your video posts. Winning the knife would help me further wow my family but I’m also happy to follow Recipe Tin Eats to continue making great dishes my who family will love.
Thanks for all you do, all you contribute.
I want this knife Nagi!
I just recently started getting your recipes and have been reading them all the way through and especially like your tips! I’m always learning something new! I’ve been forwarding your recipes to some friends and family sharing the recipes I’ve tried and really love! I would love to have a new knife for my kitchen!
Would love to win this remarkably, beautiful knife. I could definitely put it to very good use. Love cooking and a good knife is key. What a wonderfully thoughtful idea. Thank you for giving us all a chance.