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!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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 that knife! Great recipe by the way.
Email is
yorkie497@hotmail.com
That’s a gorgeous knife! I love your recipes, they are always so visual pleasing to look at, and absolutely delicious. Dozer is an added bonus, too. My email: w_lizabeth@hotmail.com
I would love this knife! I’m a huge fan of your recipes! Thanks for your hard work!
I absolutely love your page and i would love the knife!!
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS KNIFE!!!!! I love to cook and would love to have a nice knife to chop away!
Hey Nagi!
I’ve been watching your posts (expecially the ones on instagram) and been cooking a lot of it. They say love goes through the tummy! And I love it when the people whom i cook for enjoy the food. And my family really enjoys your recipes.
I often enjoy cooking asian food and really loved your chinese beef bowl, creamy garlic shrimp pasta your mango cake and a lot more.
I myself have also quite a fable for knives and other kitchen items (I also have quite a big love for my hand blender) and would love to win this knife. It is a exquisite knife and I would acknowledge such a masterpiece.
Thanks for your time you took while reading this.
Thank you for your amazing work!
Sara
I would love this knife as a present for my husband!
Weeey! I love your recipes!👍🤗
Hope to win that amazing knife 👌
Greetings from Anna
Gosh… you are making this oven baked chicken look so delicious yet so simple!! Thank you for the recipe! ANd the knife is simply gorgeous! It would be one heck of a tool in my kitchen to recreate your recipes! I’d love love to have this knife… maybe I can even pass it down from generation to generation!
I would love to win this knife! I love and have a passion for cooking, and like to explore and try new recipes. A good knife is an important staple in every kitchen. Thank you for the delicious recipes you share and for the opportunity to win a great giveaway 🙂
I want this !!!! So amazing, my knives are sorry lately
I would LOVE to have this knife. It’s looks incredible. thisismelissa.anne@gmail.com
Need that knife in my life!!! (And more recipes of course 😉)
Want this knife in my life! (And more recipes of course😉)
I’m still learning to cook good enough but I love your recipes! And a good knife wouldn’t be bad as a plus to keep getting good hahaha
I want this knife!!
I would love to win this knife. I love and have a passion for cooking and trying new recipes. A good knife is an important staple in everyone’s kitchen. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes and for the opportunity to win a great give away 🙂
Would love to have that knife!!!
Thank you for considering me– my son is half Japanese and I cook alot of Japanese foid (love your mom’s recipes too!)
O genki de,
Karen
I would absolutely love to have that knife!
I want that knife so bad i will be so glad if i can get that knife. ….. please i want to be a great chef oneday im a chef right now
Biggest fan from uk. Yes please I need this knife!