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 need this knife! My spoons are too dull and the knives I received as a gift in 1992 are mostly broken!
I would love to win this knife. It would be well used in my home.
I love a good knife. Need to practice my cutting skills after a nasty injury to my thumb from some cut glass and can’t think of a better rehabilitation method!
Also, can’t wait to make this chicken.
I would love love a Japanese knife in my life!
Thanks Nagi, great giveaway xxx
I would love to win this knife. Oh how beautifully I would chop, how precisely I would trim!
I’d love a professional knife, it would be well used in my home. Thanks for all the beautiful recipes, love what you create.
I want to say something noble about why I want to win this knife… But to be honest I just want to make my husband’s knife collection jealous.
I really NEED this knife. I have had a few ‘accidents’ in the kitchen due to dull unsuitable knives. A good knife can be rather expensive and there always seems to be something else needing money.
Delicious recipe, will definitely try this in my home & will serve to the guests & I would love to win this knife & to gift this to my mother
I’d love a nice knife. I’m still using a $25 one I bought 8 or 9 years ago.
Would very much like to enter the knife competition please!
The chicken looks amazing – definitely going on the to-do list.
P.s. Beef and Rice with Veggies will be lunch for the rest of the week – love that one.
(matthew.price1139@gmail.com)
Oh my! I live with cheap cheap IKEA knives and this is one of my kitchen dreams: To actually own a proper knife!
Awesome to owe a high quality super sharp knife as an essential tool to cook well and a highly reliable form of protection against intruders! I hope you are not horrified! I am just being honest and practical! Love love all your recipes!
Thanks for another great recipe!
I would love to win this knife as my wife and I don’t own a set of kitchen knives and have been using a $10 chef’s knife from Woolies since we got married. I thought it was the bee’s knees and it could do anything so I tried to cut a lamb bone with it (unsuccessfully) and since then it’s had a couple of kinks in it which leave a pattern in any hard vegetable I cut 😆 definitely could use an upgrade.
I ran away from long standinging DV one night..took my amazing sons with me..we now live with my parents and we have found a sanctuary…I left behind all my beloved cookware….would love to win an awesome knife but the real prize is your amazing recipes Nagi
Hi Nagi don’t do this often because just learnt how to text and I’m 53 year old man that loves to cook and saves every one of your recipes because you haven’t let me down just love your flavour’s and so Doe’s my family birthday 23-3 would be a excellent present would be well looked after
Hi Nagi,
In November last year I closed a small computer business I’d been running in Penrith for 11 years 8 months to start certificate 3 in commercial cookery at tafe at the age of 36 because I’d had more interest (or obbession) with cooking than with computer for a very long time.
I’d love to win this knife for 2 reasons.
1. So I can show off to all the other students in the clas.
2. Because it will help me to be a better cook and hopefully go on to be a chef.
I have never had a chicken breast come out of the oven that juicy! Can’t wait to try the recipe.
And I would absolutely love to win the knife – it looks beautiful, and one of my favourite gadgets in the kitchen is my knife, which I always keep razor sharp. (Email: richagupta87@gmail.com)
Hello Nagi,
OK, I admit I would love to win that knife for my husband, who loves knives and is happy to cook for us whenever we need him.
Thank you for every one of the recipes you have shared with us.
Hi Nagi, I would love to win this fabulous knife. I have been making many of your recipes lately. In fact, I made your Healthy Creamy Vegetable Soup tonight. It was amazing and my six year old daughter still doesn’t know it has cauliflower and zucchini in it! Winner winner!!