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 definitely need to try your oven baked chicken breast — mine always comes out dry!
I would LOVE receiving this knife. I love cooking different types of cuisine and also meal prep my lunches and breakfasts on Sundays for the week (aka LOTS of chopping for 2 or 3 hours on Sunday). This knife is gorgeous and would make my prepping so much more efficient.
Would love such a wonderful knife. Keep on with the excellent recipes please.
I would absolutely love this knife. We love a good knife in my family but my favourite of all time is the good ole staysharp knife that was given to me for my 21 st Birthday, ummm 37 years ago! Still going strong (ish)
Hi Nagi,
I love your recipes and will still follow you even if I am not lucky to win that dream of mine… 😉
I have tried more knives than I care to mention but have yet to find one that fits all my needs. Would love to be able to say this knife is the one and only that anyone would ever need. Thanks for all the good recipes.
As beautiful as your recipes
What a great asset this would be in my kitchen!
あなたのママのお好み焼きを作るためのキャベツの準備から
to
tritare la zucca per il mio nuovo preferito: le tue lasagne vegetariane
this knife would become a very valuable tool.
Thanks for all yours and your Mum’s great recipes Nagi.
Umm Japanese steel?? Yes please… #HattoriHanzo
I love your recipes and what wonderful treat to get to win a great Japanese knife to boot! Thank you for your recipes, your passion for cooking is contagious…
Hi Nagi, this note was long in the making! My daughter, Maria, and I love your recipes, and every time we call each other to make a comment about how wonderful one recipe or the other turned out to be, Maria would say: “Mom you should leave Nagi a message and tell her about it.” So here I am telling you, Nagi, how much I enjoy your stories and recipes.
I am of Lebanese decent, and as you know, our cuisine is varied and exquisite. But I am a late bloomer and I did not come into cooking until about four years ago. My mom lived with us for thirty some years and over these years I never had to cook. I would come home from work and every day, our family would have the most delectable spread on the kitchen table… When my mother fell ill and couldn’t do the cooking any longer, she would sit at the kitchen table and teach me how to cook. I do the cooking now, and with experience, trial and error, I learned to cook my mom’s Lebanese dishes.
One day I stumbled over one of your recipes and the rest is history. What I appreciate most is how detailed your recipes and notes are, and how it teaches what pitfalls to avoid or what not to substitute…
Moreover, I think your stories are very entertaining and you have a great sense of humor 🙂
Wow! That was a lot of writing! I bet my Maria would be proud that I finally got in touch, Nagi.
Thank you for sharing your gift. Leila
Can’t wait to try this recipe! Chicken can be so bland, but this sound yummy.
A good knife is one of the major things missing from my kitchen! I would love to have it!
Thanks for you blog, your recipe, and your generosity!
I have made five of your recipes and have enjoy each one. I am looking forward to preparing many more. Thank you for getting me out of my cooking rut. The knife is beautiful and I would love to own it
I REALLY want this knife!!
I would love to have this knife. Hope I win
Hi Nagi,
I have been following your cooking page for about 3 months now. I must say it the best one I have ever seen, of course being a dog lover does not hurt. I always look forward to seeing what Dozer has been up to. Bravo to you and please keep up the wonderful recipes and photos of Dozer. May God continue to give you health, energy, and creativity to keep the rest of us blessed. How very generous of you to give away the very special knife. Yes, I too, would love to have it. Hugs!
I have never owned a good knife before. With 3 kids under the age of 4, Its hard to find time in the kitchen. I think this would give me the push I need to get back in there! I do love to cook!
Hi Nagi! I would love to win this knife to help me whip up all your fantastic recipes! I also fell in love with Japan when I travelled there recently. All the skill and care taken in preparing Japanese food is like a work of art!
Kon’nichiwa Nagi. l have recently retired and taken over doing many of the house chores that we’re previously handled by my wife. I can’t say that I particularly enjoy cleaning or doing laundry, but I’m starting to enjoy cooking. I’ve been experimenting with different dishes and spices and am starting to feel much more confident in the kitchen. I’ve definitely come a long way from kraft dinner and grilled cheese sandwiches! I just invested in some quality cookware and would love to have this beautiful knife to help with meal preparation. Keep up the good work, I’ll be making your chicken recipe later this week.
What a wonderful give away! Thanks Nagi! I’d be thrilled to win.
Yes. I would love this knife. All my knives are ruined from mis use from the hubby. Email bng0555@optonline.net. This knife I will hide. Lol. Love your recipes. Easy and delicious 😋