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….
The day my friend suggested this wonderful food insta link to me … I fell in love with it immediately . Love to try out all the recipes here and definitely the knife too 😘
Beautiful knife would look great in my hand ❤️ I’d love it!!
I would love the knife and sharpener! Like you I think a good knife is indispensable and makes cooking so much safer and enjoyable. Thanks for the opportunity!
I would like to win the knife because my daughter is in culinary school and doing extremely well. She had a ruff start transitioning from high school to college. When she first started college, she chose a major without following her passion. After her first year and not doing so well, I told her I wanted her to follow her passion. As far back as third grade, she wanted to be a chef. I am not sure to this day why she did not follow her passion first, but now she has. She is happy and really doing well. I am fortunate to taste the wonderful dishes she is learning how to prepare when she is home and I would love for her to have the knife to say, remember to all follow your heart and passion and you will be rewarded.
Hi Nagi! I want this knife! I’ve been making many of your recipes and making my husband salivate at work by tagging him in these videos! The knife would be a great asset to my kitchen arsenal to keep making all these fabulous recipes you creat 🙂
Would love to add this beautiful knife to my family (knife bag)!
Can’t wait to try your chicken breast recipes! Just can’t decide which one first! I need one really good knife too.
Many thanks.
Would love this knife for my kitchen, which I’m just now starting to upgrade with real tools and knives!
I do love to cook.. and using this wonderful knife for preparing food for my Loved ones would make my prep easier.. Hope i would be one of the LUCKY ONE.. it is my birthmonth this March. Hope you could give it as your birthday gift for me.. THANK YOU SO MUCH.. more POwer to you..
Really love knifes jajjajaja ☺️❤️
I would love this knife to further better myself in my knife skills and take my cooking to the next level, thank you for this oppurtunity to win the knife.
I would love to have this knife and use it to cook your recipes.
I would love to “sharpen” my knife skills by using a tool of this quality! Thanks for sharing your recipes and ideas.
I love your recipes and would love to have a good chefs knife! Cutting would be a breeze!
I’m obsessed with knives and trying to always have the perfect one is hard. I would love to have this knife to replace all the others.
How wonderful, to get a knife that will hoover through all the chopping. I am gradually cooking through all your recipes, and my family is loving it. Tonight we are having the baked chicken.
Please pick me for the KNIFE.
Del
Magi, I would absolutely love to win this awesome knife!
Thank you for all your great recipes and tips! I have never been disappointed when trying your recipes.
Thank you for this opportunity to win a knife!
As someone with a drawer full of sad dull knives I would love a smart sharp knife!
Hi Nagi and Dozer. Thankyou for all the hard work you put in. Your recipes have become staples in our home.
When I get together with my mother in-law we always chat about what recipes of yours we have tried lately. We both love you.
Also your mum sounds awesome. Learning ANOTHER language!! What a clever family.
It is so generous of you and your family to give such an amazing knife away. My husband is always telling me how incredible Japanese knifes are. We would love one if you feel like giving it to our home. I’m sure where ever it goes it will be loved. Thanks a bundle for this opportunity.
Have a wonderful week. 🤗
Regards Lucinda
I really would love to win this knife. All my knifes at dull and second hand. I never had a new knife. If, I win I will donate all my knife and just have this knife. The only knife I will keep is the one my mom gave me. I never use it. It’s just to remember her. I will keep my steaks knife and that’s it. I will use this knife everyday. And I will think of you if I win. Thanks for reading ❤️