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 have this knife in my kitchen, it would be a great birthday gift..thanks for this giveaway and good luck to everyone near and far!
Thank you for the opportunity to win this amazing prize! A Japanese knife as part of my kitchen tool set would just be such a blessing. Fingers crossed and holding thumbs!
This is an amazing knife, a chef friend of mine owns. one. Thank you so much for running this giveaway.
I love your site…good luck to all!
Love this knife….
and the chicken I’m making tonight…
Win win win for me today
REALLY REALLY REALLY want this knife
I would love to have this knife!!!!!
Our family loves your website and all of your delicious recipes! I would love to win the knife set 🙂
Hi! This knife would really be a special “treat” in the kitchen, after cooking for my family for thirty years, with much cheaper, duller knives! I endured hours, of standing up at the kitchen sink, sawing chicken, beef and pork, for my family’s consumption. Now, it’s my time to shine in the kitchen, showing off my skills, that I have obtained over the years! I would be truly delighted an grateful, in receiving this package,(knife and stone), as a gift, for my continued dedication, in getting the job done, throughout the years, in a much simpler fashion! Thanks so much for your (and your mom’s) consideration!
I would love to win this knife because it would help in cutting things that are harder to do with a duller knife like when slicing chicken breasts in half. I don’t really have a good knife for things like that and I cook all of the time, so thanks for the chance to win! Can’t wait to try this chicken recipe with my kids.
Wow! That knife is beautiful! Mine are all beat up and dull as a stick. It would be fantastic to own this beauty and the sharpening stone. Thanks for the opportunity to enter!
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Yes , Nagi I’ve been looking for that knife, please send it my way xxx
I want this knife! 😁
Love your recipes and videos.
I want this knife! And this chicken. But the knife would help making the chicken so much better!
This knife would be a great tool for any kitchen! Thanks for the chance to win and the great recipes!
Hi Nagi. Warm greetings from Sunny South Africa.
Thank you for the opportunity to win something from Australia. Lord knows the Aussies kick SA’s but in the current Test Cricket games.
I NEED that beautiful knife!!! We are having this chicken recipe tonite. Will let you know how it turns out. Please enter my name in the contest for the knife.
It’s a very beautiful knife and I would love to add it to my small collection.
That knife looks gorgeous, my tiny kitchen needs it! Keep up the fabulous work!
Nagi, I love your recipes and sense of humor in writing them. I’ve used a lot of your recipes and they come out amazing every time. I can’t wait to try this one as well.
Winning this Japanese knife would be super cool. I love cooking, it is one of my biggest passions in life. All the best, Dori.