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….
Wow! What an amazing knife! Thanks for making the case for sharp knives, too. Should you award the knife to me, the first thing I’d do with it is to make the Oven Baked Chicken Breast recipe. I’m not really sure that I can wait for the new knife to try the recipe, though!
Thanks for the wonderful recipes and stories.
What a fabulous give-away!
I would love this knife to give to my son, James. He is a great cook, he loves cooking and loves your recipes. (which I give him all the time!) He is saving to buy a japanese knife – for him its the home of good knives and good food. He always sharpens his knives before using them and a knife this quality will last him a lifetime. What a gift!!
Magi, yes, I would love to have that knife. You are so kind to us: wonderful recipes, great photos, and the possibility of owning that knife! Here’s hoping…
Your chicken looks so good, I cannot wait to try it! Paprika is a big Hungarian staple, so I feel compelled!
I would love to have a beautiful Japanese knife, so, fingers crossed!
I would love this knife
Would love to win the knief. Really looking forward to trying this recipe. Thanks for making life a little better.
I would LOVE to have this knife. Some women want shoes…I want knives! I don’t have an Asian knife – what an addition. Cannot wait to also try this chicken. Love the food science stuff!
I would love to have the Japanese knife, although I have been to Japan 22 times for business, I never had the time to shop
I have used your stir fry sauce many times and it is delicious, it makes my decision as to
what to gave for dinner real simple. I add any leftovers or what I have in the freezer.
I would love a new kitchen knife! I have a Japanese knife we use when making sushi – it is amazing! An overall use knife from Japan would be a great complement to this piece!
I would love to win the knife because it would help me prepare foods more quickly for our family of 7!
I’m so excited about the knife giveaway! I have a set of American Sturbridge knives that I got in 1978 – I don’t think you were even alive then! I have worn them out and would LOVE to have the beautiful Japanese knife to make my kitchen experience so much easier! I love your recipes and have multiple 3-ring binders filled with printouts from your website! Keep up the great work! 🙂
Nagi, that looks like the knife of my dreams! Thank you for the chance to win it.
Hi Nagi
I have recently discovered your blog and already made your chicken shawarma with mejadra rice twice! I found it funny that a Japanese person living in Australia would provide such an amazing middle Eastern dish recipe, and I, Slovak person living in UK would cook it!! So many countries in one sentence 😀 Can’t wait to sit down and read through your ebooks to discover even more yummy recipes! I am a big fan of Japanese cooking and culture, already attempted sushi a few times and a knife like this would be definitely considered a most precious kitchen item ever!! I would absolutely love to have a proper original Japanese knife like this. Please send it to me! Xx
I would like this knife, please. I have no good knives.
ohhhh my goodness I would LOVE this knife! My partner hasn’t a small Japanese pocket knife. The craftsmanship is beautiful!!!
Would love a chance at this knife!
Must win this knife! I really, really want it. And the photos of the baked chicken breast are making my mouth water. I’ll be making this for dinner soon.
My 22-year-old son recently moved to California and is learning to thrive while living on his own for the first time. He has enjoyed preparing food for many years, but his obsession these past few years, a nod to his late Japanese great-grandmother, has been perfecting ramen. After a few months of not working, he recently started a new job. This past weekend, he went to Marukai Market in Little Tokyo to pick out a few pots and a couple of knives. He was so proud that everything, though basic, was made in Japan. If I won this beautiful knife, I would gift it to him to add to his budding collection of kitchen tools.
I love to cook, and everything I have made from your website has been a huge hit! I would cherish this knife. It would make prep so much easier and more fun. Thanks for all the wonderful recipes! And thanks to your mother for bringing the knife to you!
This is one recipe I will be making this week – looks amazing!!!
I’d love to win this knife so I can give it to my mom to replace one that was stolen from her (wedding gift too!!!). I’m working a few jobs and don’t have a lot, so it would be nice to really be able to give her something special.