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 will try this recipe, my chicken does not look like that! It looks totally delicious. I would never be able to afford such a beautiful knife, so I can only hope to win!
I love your Japanese knife and I also love your wonderful special hints that make your recipes so special. I would love to have the knife and look forward to your recipes every week. Have made every one of them so far!! Every time they turned out perfectly!
The recipe looks very tasty and will be made soon. I want this knife because it would be great to work with one that is sharp and isn’t nicked and dinged from years of use. Thanks for the chance to win the knife.
Hi Nagi
It must be magic, how you can manage to make a humble chicken breast look and taste so
amazing! Like everyone else I would love to be the proud owner of such a good knife, I can’t
honestly say I cook many Japanese recipes but I do love to cook chinese food and a decent
knife would be wonderful as I definitely can’t be trusted with a cleaver!!
I really really really need a good knife. I just can’t seem to find one I like. Adlopez77(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to experience using a real knife. Ha ha. Thanks for the recipes you share.
My mom is Japanese as well – Dad is Chinese and we grew up in the states so we ate more of a mix of all 3.
I would love to win that knife, never had an excellent knife so far. Thank you for sharing your amazing recipes. Keep up the excellent work.
I would love this knife!
P.S. Can’t wait to try this chicken recipe. I love your blog.
I would love to win that beautiful knife! I love your recipes, I’m so glad I subscribed.
I love all the recipes I’ve tried your tips are very good. It’s my 72nd birthday and can’t think of a better surprise, there aren’t many left other than food and I do love a good eat. Thank you for the recipe books also like free things on my budget.
I have loved you recipes and those of you mother since I first found your blog. I also have no doubt that I will love this one as well.
I would also love to win the knife. It is gorgeous.
Thank you for the opportunity.
As always a beautiful delicious looking recipe. And yes would love a knife like that it is gorgeous.
I would love this knife!! And I plan to make this chicken for dinner tonight 🙂
I would love to win this knife.
Thank you for all the wonderful recipes !
I would love to make a home for that beautiful knife! My best friend is, quite frankly, obsessed with knives and will own none but Japanese knives. I have one beauty that he bought me as a thank you gift, and it is well used, and well loved.
I also want to say how much I enjoy your recipes and your posts. I don’t often have time for following posts and reading blogs, and so i’ve deleted many from my feed. You, however, still brighten my day! Wela’lin, thank you in my language, for your recipes and your posts. And maybe even a knife!!! 🙂
i don’t have a good kitchen knife. Really need this one.
Love to win this knife! 💖
What a fun giveaway! I’ve always wanted a knife like that! By the way, it was Nagi Day at our house over the weekend. I made your Slow-Cooked Shredded Beef Ragu with Pasta and No-knead Cinnamon Rolls. Wow! They were both to die for!
Count me in for the chance to win the knife! Thanks!
Naggi
Love your site – awesome recipes
The knife would be awesome – I have several decent knives but nothing like this one
Thanks
Nagi,
I love all of your recipes. I try at least on each week. This giveaway is just icing on the cake! Thank you so much!