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….
This was so good! I used a bone in breast and it was great. That rub is so good!
My husband loved this chicken so I am planning on making it for a larger crowd. What are your suggestions for preparing the breasts ahead of time? How long before baking can the sugar/spice mix be applied?
“Pound using fist.” LOL
This is in the oven with your smashed potatoes right now, Easy peasy! And smells great. Baking both at 425 convection, putting the chicken on the same sheet pan after 25 minutes.
Quantities for brown sugar and spices?…
This Sunday we prepared the Oven Baked Chicken Breasts for 20. To save time, we applied the sugar/spice mix a bit early and then moved on to prepping roasted root vegetables. When it was time to bake the chicken, we found the sugar had drawn juices out of the breast. The results were still delicious, but next time we will season the breasts early and add the brown sugar at the last minute.
WOW how standing juicy and so tender a winner for our family every one loved it.
Excellent!!!! Best oven baked chicken. Thank u!!
Make this recipe part of my dinners now and my family love it even my little son. I have made this more then 10x now and it’s super easy and quick!
I cut my chicken breast into chicken tender size and works out great!
We make this once a week with an arugula/spinach salad with red onion, small cubes of white cheddar and apple. We use the simple balsamic dressing as well. Love this chicken recipe! I always pound any chicken breast I intend to bake on high heat now. Perfect!
Fantastic Quick and Delicious recipe. On rotation at our house. Plus teens cook this if home alone as sooo easy and good
As with every Nagi recipe, this is amazing! Super easy, exceptionally tasty
Great article. This article is full of information & knowledge. Many thanks to the author for sharing this informative and useful recipe.
Husband, teenage boys and myself love this so much! Not too sweet at all (I read another comment and wondering if they got the portion ratios wrong). Definitely a do over. And, yes I pounded chicken – always best to do so.
One time I forgot to add the salt. No idea how I missed that. Wonder if they accidentally did that. I never find it too sweet when I actually follow the directions. Lol
Made this! Im wondering if I used too much olive oil? Basically the brown sugar started to burn and roll off of the chicken in to a black smokey mess on my pan!
Same thing happened to me, I liked the recipe, paprika was a little to hot, if I fix again, maybe just do one side with rub or eliminating paprika
love this recipe. Haven’t tried a Nagi recipe that wasn’t delicious!
I want to make this for a crowd. Is it possible to freeze and then reheat? Do you have an idea for a glaze or topping I can put on it while reheating, so it doesn’t dry put?
I have cooked this chicken forever. I preheat oven to 325 and depending size of breast I cook for 56 – 58 minutes.
Juicy! Delicious!