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 would love this knife!! (Pretty please 😃😃)
The stir fried noodles with peanut sauce caught my eye and then I saw the knife give away. Yes, I would be delighted to have that knife. I have a Cutco knife that I’ve been using for about 11 years now and I would like to see which one is better. Thank you for sharing your recipes!!
A new knife to go with my new kitchen. Would love to win it.
I would love that beautiful knife! Your site is my first stop for recipe ideas and you never fail me. Chicken breasts for tea tonight I think. Many thanks for such a wonderful variety of great recipes.
I would LOVE to have this knife. I feel that the best tool in your kitchen is a sharp knife, and to have one this beautiful and sharp would be a dream come true. Thank you for the opportunity to possibly win this gorgeous piece of art.
I need this knife!
Hi Nagi,
I luckily had all of these ingredients handy and ready to use! The sauce turned out delicious and the chicken ended up being super juicy.
As for the knife, I feel like this is what I need right now in my life!
Cheers!
Great read not usually a fan of chicken breast but going to try your suggestions. Would be real nice to get a fancy knife
I cook all the time and I would use it!
I would love to win this knife. My husband has to eat certain foods, including chicken & I will definitely use this recipe & the knife would come in handy.
#1. This recipe looks delicious.
#2. This knife would help me prepare your delicious recipes! 😉
Hey Nagi,
I have wanted one of these large knives for ages coz all my little knives make it so hard to dice and slice veggies and things quickly! What a beauty it is 🙂 And I love having a sharp knife – I am often asking my husband to sharpen our current ones (much to his dismay!).
Thanks for the giveaway Nagi. Love your recipes.
EEEEEEEE I WANT THIS SO BADLY
Hi Nagi, a sharp knife is always safer than a blunt knife in the kitchen. I would love this beautiful knife to call my own.
A Japanese Chefs knife and Sharpening stone would truly be a dream come true. Love cooking your recipes.
I have learnt that a really good knife is essential to meal preparation, unfortunately I lost my very best knife in a move to a new house and made the mistake of buying an inferior one – a decision I regret overtime I chop or slice.
Your recipes are fantastic. It’s so hard to find such a great recipe website like yours. I would be so excited if I was the lucky recipient of the Japanese knife.
Whenever I need something yummy for dinner I come to your recipes, Nagi. They are easy, tasty and all the ingredients are usually in the pantry. More importantly, my children eat the meals without fuss.
I desperately need new knives but get so confused as to which brand to get…. so would love to be involved in this competition.
Thanks for the great meals and easy steps, it’s nice to enjoy cooking again!
Hi love your recipe as they user friendly we look forward to every post for a new recipe to try .
I would love to have such a precision knife to assist me in preparing your recipes
Hoping to hear from you
Oh, to win a knife so sharp and so beautiful
Its every use so easy and not dutiful
Improving all my ninja kitchen skill
Making trimming and shaping a thrill
Dining at mine forever deliciously FULL
I would love to have this knife ! To be honest I have a mish mash of dull knives – but this post inspires me to elevate my situation….
I WANT THE KNIFE!! It’s absolutely gorgeous!