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….
Omg Nagi I always love reading your stories with your mum. Always hilarious! Since I’ve discovered your site last year I’ve tried so many of your recipes and they’ve turned out so great. Laksa is my fave! Would love a fancy knife to add to my poor uni student kitchen collection 🙂
This knife is amazing and beautiful – fit for a ‘queen of the kitchen’, which should be your title.
I am a huge fan of your site, and smile as I see all of your food photos and wonderful recipes that are outstanding. Of course, seeing Dozer along with your food photos adds to my smile – he’s also of course, an important member of your fan club!
I would love to win and use this knife, which is an exquisite piece of art and undoubtedly, the best knife in the world. I do think that (if I won it) I couldn’t just have it in my kitchen solely, I’d have to bring it with me wherever I would be invited to go and share food. It seems it would lift anyones spirit to use a beautiful, flawless and magical sharp knife!
I would love this knife. When I visited Japan a few years ago I purchased a knife from a little shop.
Which had a small outlet at the front and the forge at the back. It was amazing. So was the knife. My three daughter who all love to cook love the knife also. I ended up giving the knife to one of them and have regretted doing so . I would love to have such a brilliant knife again
Hi Nagi,
Love your email recipes every week, as it always gives me ideas for mealtimes whilst I’m here at work every day. It’s great for busy mum’s like myself. Will definitely try this new chicken dish, and that knife would go down a treat to replace my tired old knife in the kitchen at home. Cheers!
I want this knife because I think it would make a fantastic heirloom to go along with family (and favourite non-family!), recipes!
Love your recipes and would love the chance to try this knife! My friend’s Japanese chef’s knife has been handed down to her over four generations and she swears by it…must be pretty decent!
My current knives are 30 years old and are running out of steel. I love to cook especially with your recipes and would dearly love such a quality knife in my kitchen.
Yes, yes, yes I want the kids ife. Iover that you are using this method for your giveaway. I can never figure out the new ways so I just don’t enter. Thanks.
OMG! That knife is gorgeous. My story: a month ago, my fiancé and I were getting ready to go purchase some high-end knives to replace dull ones I had been suffering with (lol), but we got into a huge fight and… BROKE UP! He was going to buy them…why didn’t I wait until after??
Of course I would love a great knife..and I would never be able to justify this price so it’s the only way I can have something like this
I WANT THIS KNIFE! 🙂
Thanks Nagi for another delicious recipe. I want this amazing knife, chopping would be done in a fraction of the time. Yay 😁
Hi Nagi
I would love to own this knife!
Hello Nagi I would love to win your knife to give to my husband who cooks all our family meals even afer working all day the is a very follower of your recipes andhe is for ever moaning about not being able to keep an edge on our old ones it would be a lovley 72nd birthday present.Thank you for all your lovely recipes.
Nagi, what a fantastic giveaway! I would be ecstatic to be the winner of this beautiful piece of precision workmanship. I’ve always worked towards somehow owning a Japenese knife but out of my price range unfortunately.
Absolutely loving your recipes and your entertaining posts and Dozer is a darling.
Thanks to your mum too for bringing the knife back and her traditional recipes as well.
Have a wonderful day and I’m now off to buy some chicken breasts lol
Hi Nagi, Wow I couldn’t believe my eyes! A $500 Japanese knife to give away?! Of course I want it!!! I’m Japanese and cook everyday but I don’t even own one Japanese knife. If I win, your mum doesn’t need to translate the instructions for me! 😂 I love your recipes, so simple & easy to make. My 17years old son has been living independently in interstate from January this year. He has been cooking his own meal and I told him to check your website because you have fast, easy & yummy meal recipes with video. It’s lovely to see Dozer too!
This giveaway is AMAZING! 🙌🏼
Simple reasons for entering : #1 Japanese Steel is the BEST! #2 Using this sharp knife for meats and veggies will keep me motivated in the kitchen to cook more often! ( of course making recipe tin recipes! 😉 ) Thank you for sharing all of your delicious food and tips with us Nagi!
I don’t want this knife. I need it! Lol!
Thank you for all your great and easy to follow recipes. As a full-time working mom who has never cooked anything before in her life, I am now able to cook healthy food for my family (quickly), and I don’t have to rely on heavily processed foods anymore. Thanks for all your recipes Nagi!
Maybe if I have areally good knife my chopping skills might improve!
Follow Nagi daily. attempt to prepare yummy recipes with rotten blunt knives