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 to win the Japanese knife! It’s just lovely and considering the state of the knives I own, it’s very much needed! Thank you for the contest! Callie says hi to Dozer!
Oooops!! I forgot to hit the stars……..so sorry 😐!
I would love to win this so I have at least one decent knife in my kitchen. Thanks for the Recipes Nagi I always look forward to them
Fantastic read. I’ll definitely try the recipe!
I want this knife!!!
Email: joshua.j.mitchell@hotmail.com
I would really love to have this knife, when in japan in the late 60’s, we couldn’t bring anything like it home (military). Makes my mouth water just looking a it. Wonderful recipes!!
Oh Nagi, I would dearly love to win this superb knife. I learnt about knife quality when I studied cookery, and although I’ve had to put that on hold to care for my elderly mother, she’s 88 and has dementia, I am doing food prep and cooking daily for her – more often than not lately, I’m using your beautiful recipes. This knife and stone would hold pride of in my kitchen.
PS: Hugs to Dozer. xo
I would love to have the fancy Japanese chef knife it is a very beautiful knife they are supposed to be the most highly crafted nice around,,, I am new at being a diabetic and I’m learning different ways of cooking the chicken recipe is absolutely divine and it’s low in cholesterol which helps my sugar in my heart great recipe
Hi Nagi
One thing I lack is a good knife-please continue with your easy tasty receipies
I would really love to have this knife, when in japan in the late 60’s, we couldn’t bring anything like it home (military). Makes my mouth water just looking a it. Thanks for all your great recipes, I use some of them every week.
I would love to have this beautiful Japanese knife. I wish I will win this. I love Japanese food and love to try all your recipes you publish.
Thank you for the brilliant give away. I love your recipes, your pictures of Dozer and your humor. Thank you also for letting all of us get a glimpse into your life.
Hi Nagi, my woodworking husband has a Japanese saw (the teeth face backwards) and he loves it to bits. I would love to match his saw with your wonderful knife (so my teeth don’t face backwards from grinding them)! And as for them chicken..on tonight’s menu, , thank heavens I won’t have to use my 2nd rate knife!
I really need a good sharp knife for the kitchen as I don’t own one and can’t afford one. Thanks for the chance! Every kitchen needs a good sharp knife!
Thanks for the great recipes! Thanks I’ve always wanted a Japanese knife.
Hi Nagi! I would love to have this knife in my kitchen! I always wanted one! Beautiful knife and beautiful craftsmanship.
In the meantime I am making the baked chicken breast! It looks so delicious!
Hi Nagi – I am also of Japanese heritage and agree with you wholeheartedly and share your opinion of Japanese precision, pride, technology and their cultural pursuit of excellence. Although I have never had the pleasure of visiting Japan it is on my bucket list. In the meantime, it would be a wonderful treat to win this knife giveaway, such a treasure!
A wise woman (Nagi) said, “A great knife is the single most important tool in the kitchen”, I AGREE!
I love your blog, keep sharing your recipes and videos. Can’t wait to see Dozer in his kimono!
Would love to win the knife!!
Thank you for the give away!!!
I would love to have that beautiful knife,because I love to cook. It’s my zen, but housing costs in Seattle are astronomically high,so having a nice knife is not in my budget. Thanks for sharing the seasoning recipe!
Hi Nagi,
My wife and I travel abroad once a year, and she never fails to bring home some kitchen tool we both use on our Sunday “gourmet lunch”. (around 25% of the meals are receipes you posted). Although she absolutely deserves a knife like this one – being my wife and the cook she is – she never had the “courage” to spend such an amount of money for a knife so this could be an excelent birthday presnt for her.
Anyway, it crossed my mind that, as an epicurist, Dozer´s lifestyle should be more taken as an example.
Take care.
JAPANESE KNIFE GIVEAWAY! I would love to have the knife because you say how good it is, just as you do your recipes. You are certainly right about the recipes and therefor I am sure you are about the knife too!! AND – mine are dull as door knobs -“100” years old to boot!
Thank you for your delicious recipes, sharing your personal self and that of Dozer. The videos are well done and helpful. Thoroughly enjoy your website.
That would be so cool! Thanks for offering it!