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 really like to own this knife,looks beautifully made and the patterns in the steel are beautiful,would be like art and cutting at once,want,want,please
I want this knife, Nagi.!! … but can’t afford it..I had to retire last year, on my haematologist’s advice. Now, I have to conserve what’s left of my savings(not much!), to last me until I can qualify for the old age pension. With time on my hands, I started to learn how to cook, mainly using your recipes!.. Stir fries are my favourite, and always have a jar of your Chinese stir fry sauce in the fridge! It’s great stuff..easy to make & tastes soooooooo yummmmhhhh!!!!… I am familiar with Japanese knives, how they’re made and their sharp edge!.. I’ve always longed to own one..to be able to slice meat so thinly, as required in most stir fry recipes.!!
Thank you, Nagi
Nagi, you are my newest hero! Thank you for all of your easy, delicious, inexpensive recipes that can be made quickly for one person. I’ve been trying to “up” my nutrition game, and you’ve been such a big help and motivator to me. Plus, your posts are sweet and funny. Carry on, Girlfriend!
(P.S. I think your mom should have brought back TWO knives from Japan, don’t you? Everybody seems to want in on this giveaway. 😋 )
Love your site, love your recipes—they always work! (Lov eyour dog….dogs are the best!)
Would really like this knife a lot 🙂
Thanks!
Dear Nagi I would love to win your beautifully handcrafted Japanese knife. A sharp knife is your best friend in the kitchen. I enjoy reading your blog and have tried some of your recipes and saved others to use later.
Regards and thanks, Betsy Nield
How beautiful… I want that knife! and that chicken. Going to make it tonight. Thankyou for all the wonderful recipes.
I have now been an avid Nagi’s Recipe hunter for quite some time, and my family have been eating better since. For that I owe you a big thank you.
I would dearly love to have this knife, to help prepare another great Nagi recipe for my family. To own a handcrafted Japanese knife has been a bit of a dream for me, but not being able to afford one has always been an obstacle as well.
That knife looks amazing!
I would love to give this knife to my husband! He has not worked after a kidney transplant 18 months ago, so he spends his time in the kitchen preparing amazing meals. We can’t afford a decent knife set so he’s making do with a dodgy set that desperately needs sharpening! This would absolutely make his day!
I would absolutely love this beautiful knife. I am in the middle of renovating my house but most importantly a new kitchen which I have been waiting for over 10 years!! I have been searching for the best value and quality knife set to complement my new kitchen so this knife would totally top it off!
PS I only use your receipes, love love your cooking style
Hello Nagi:
I look forward each week to your emailed recipes. I have prepared at least 20 recipes so far and they have all been wonderful.
Please enter me into the knife drawing.
Leaving a comment to enter the knife contest. Thanks so much for all of the recipes you’ve posted over the years! This is the first place I go to get dinner ideas!
Wow, my late Son was a knife sharpener and always praised the quality of Japanese Knives. In memory of him I would love to own a Japanese Knife to assist us in our food preparation.
Please consider us.
.
YES I would absolutleeeeeeey love to have one of these knives!!
I have been following your blog and on IG also. You really have some great recipes, super easy to follow and I really appreciate all the footnotes you add. There is so much clarity that its hard to mess up. Please keep up the good work and P.S. my husband is a tiramisu critic and the first one I ever made was based off of your recipe. It was a hit with the entire family and now we don’t buy tiramisu at bakeries anymore cause we have learned to make our own.
A proper knife, what an idea! No more stropping every week, hoping the knife doesn’t slip in the onions! And my daughter’s friends would wonder why the knife is ALWAYS in the middle of the table at her games parties, even for fondues.
Yes, please, this Canuck appreciates your generosity (or is it your Mom’s?)!
I would LOVE to win this knife and sharpener! I really don’t have a decent knife in my kitchen and don’t have the means to get a really great knife. This would be wonderful and the chicken recipe looks delicious!
Chopping is the one thing I dislike probably because I have crap knives (well I blame them as well as the fact Im a leftie and no one has ever been able to show me how to chop with out loosing a finger!! 😉 )
Printed this recipe – travelling to NZ shortly and this is a quick easy one to prepare with limited utensils – thx
I want that knife. The baked chicken looks wonderful.
Hi Nagi,
My name is Misty (I am a 7 year old dog). I would like my Mom to win this fabulous Japanese Knife, it would be awesome for chopping up apples, broccoli stems, and carrots for my treats.
P.S. I think I might be in love with your “Dozer” – he is so handsome!
WOW Nagi!! What a great give away! Thank you! I have always admired Japanese steel. I have great respect for the sushi masters (and samurais) so I totally agree that a great knife is essential in every kitchen. It would be an honour to have such a beauty to treasure. My fingers (and toes) are crossed 🙂