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….
This chicken recipe is fabulous and I love the explanation of how the brown sugar adds to the moistness of the chicken. And the knife? How I would love to win that amazing knife your sweet mother brought back from Japan. I love the commentary on your mom and how she is so accommodating to you and your siblings! Oh, and your doggy is also adorable…what an expressive face!
OMG Nagi!!! I am a cook from heart and would love nothing more than having that magnificent knife in my recently renovated kitchen. I purchased a lot of modern, high performance appliances and that knife will combine tradition and excellence in my household. I look forward the results of the contest.
Thank you very much.
Best regards from the USA.
Love that your blog is filled with recipes that I can actually make here in Canada- like this great chicken breast one!!! Would love the knife in my continuing search for the ‘perfect’ chef knife!
Your recipes and notes are beyond useful. I have been cooking for 60+ years, and the older I get, the less time I want to spend in prepping a recipe. Your recipes have removed the need for me to do much prepping or any tweaking at all! I would love to win the knife. Hmmm, which of my 7 “favorite” children will receive it in the will?
my knife’s are all serrated cutting with a smooth knife would make one hell of joy. thanks for all the fab recipes
I want that knife please!
What a wonderful knife. It would replace a knife that we got 50 years ago as a wedding present.
I would be honored to own this beautiful knife. thank you for the opportunity
I would love to win the Japanese knife. I try to cook dinner for my family at least 4 nights a week and having a great sharp knife is an essential kitchen staple. I just recently discovered your website and have been impressed at how easy and delicious your recipes are! The slow cooker pork carnitas have become part of my dinner rotation and mushroom rice is a new favorite! Thank you for giving your readers the opportunity to win such an amazing knife!
Nagi,
I’d love to have this knife in my kitchen. True craftsmanship and eye appeal.
Your give-away Japanese knife is very beautiful. I would delight in honouring it in our kitchen. Please therefore count me in. Thank you Nagi
I would love to win this knife! I agree with you about having a good knife. My one treasure in the kitchen.
Nagi, I would love to win the knife. Thank you for all your delicious recipes. I truly enjoy reading your blog.
Can’t wait to try this chicken recipe..always looking for ways to prepare chicken breast ..great protein food in our diet. Owning this special knife would be a super addition to my culinary knives. But I know my daughter-in-law would really love this .. she loves to cook and have the best utensils at hand. If I won it, I’d put a big smile on her face when I handed it to her. Then she could make a special dish and invite me over..lol.
Nagi,
Your one-pot recipes have fed me through medical school. Thank you for teaching me how to cook and providing a resource that I can always look to for warm, delicious food. I would love to enhance my kitchen with such a fine knife.
Love all your recipes, family does as well. I have really old dull knives.
I would absolutely appreciate a new knife, very much!!
Thanks for offering the draw.
In a new marriage and am currently using a 6 inch steak knife for all my cutting jobs from bread to meat. A REAL knife would be a gift from heaven. Nevertheless still love your reciepes, but most of all love Dozer, he is genuine doggy beefcake.
I want the knife!!!!! I can never slice chicken thin enough 😒 I love your recipes. Delicious! Email faith4ever1981@gmail.com
Happy Cooking!
This chicken sounds amazing! I really enjoy simple recipes and your website in general.
And, that is a beautiful knife and I would love to add it to my collection. 🤞🏻 Good Luck to everyone!
Hi Nagi, would love to WIN this beautiful knife:)