This one’s for everyone who put chicken breast in their shopping trolley this week… JUICY Oven Baked Chicken Breast. Rubbed with a simple seasoning then baked until caramelised, this is a terrific chicken breast recipe you’ll make again and again….
This is the most popular of all chicken breast recipes that I’ve published since the beginning of time!
A JUICY Oven Baked Chicken Breast recipe!
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. As simple as it sounds, if you wack 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 chicken seasoning for baked chicken breast:
Chicken Breast Seasoning
The secret ingredient in this is brown sugar. Yes it adds sweetness but don’t worry, this Baked Chicken Breast is still savoury. There are 2 reasons why this is my secret ingredient:
1. It 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;
2. It makes the chicken sweat while it bakes, so you end up with wetness that makes the chicken more juicy than the usual baked chicken breast.
How long to cook chicken breast
A 150 – 180g / 5 – 6oz 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 like the photo above, 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 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 of what others have to say! – Nagi x
On the side
- Garlic Butter Rice with Kale (pictured) – published by popular demand! (One pot carb + veg side)
- A crunchy garden salad or steamed greens with Italian Dressing, Balsamic or French Vinaigrette
- Everyday Cabbage Salad (I make this a lot – great standby)
- Kale and Quinoa Salad with Feta and Lemon Dressing
- Browse all Sides and Potato Sides
Other Chicken Breast recipes readers love!
Oven Baked Chicken Breast
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Quick video tutorial on how to bake chicken breast!
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Oven Baked Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breast , 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 425F/220C (standard) or 390F/200C (fan / convection).
- 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 paper (sugar caramelises, it's annoying to clean off tray). 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, being careful to cover 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 165F/75C 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
* 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….
Made the baked chicken with olive oil/garlic rice the chicken was delicious. Added to the family list of meals, Thanks
For once I followed the directions, and the chicken turned out fabulous!