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….
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!!
Thanks for the opportunity to win such a great knife – I would be thrilled to win it & own a genuinely sharp knife for the first time ever!!
That knife looks AMAZING! I would love to win, thanks Nagi. I only cook your recipes now, I have donated all my cookbooks to Vinnies 🙂
I would love to win this knife.
I want this knife Nagi!
Ps love love love you recipes!
Hi Nagi!
Recipe looks fantastic! So does the knife! 😉
I want to win that knife! 🙂
Thanks for running the competition,
Nathan
Hi Nagi,
Thank you for the delicious chicken recipe. It looks easy to halve for those times when you only have one or two pieces of chicken in the freezer. 😊
I have a Japanese knife that I use for absolutely everything. It is getting older, but still performs like new. Somehow I think I could still find room in my heart for another fantastic knife.
Thanks again, Emma
Hi Nagi, looks like another great recipe. Your chicken recipes are always great. Would absolutely love the knife!
Hi Nagi. I simply love your blog and recipes. Hope to see you publish a cookbook one day soon. I will definitely be buying it to add to my library of cooking and baking books. Love Dozer too! Do you have recipes for dog treats ?
Please include me in the Japanese knife giveaway. 😄
Cheers.
Wow! That knife!! And yes you d love to win thanks!
Hi Nagi
Yet another wonderful recipe and yet another keeper! So easy and sooo juicy. My most visited site for recipe ideas and inspiration.
Would love to win this knife, it looks absolutely stunning, thank-you for giving your readers the chance to win.
Gillian
Love, love, love your recipes! Oh, and I would love to win this knife!
I want that knife 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
I went to Japan for the first time this year and absolutely loved it! I loved wandering around looking at the kitchenware and ceramics. Friends we travelled with wanted to purchase a knife but were so daunted by the task. I would love to win this knife to pass on to them. One that I know comes highly recommended!
i would love to win this knife would be an added bonus when making one of your amazing recipes 🙂
This recipe looks incredibly delicious! I agree that a good knife is essential to a kitchen. I have so many kitchen tools/gadgets and appliances (including several food processors), but it’s the knives I use most. I’d rather dice by hand than use the processor. So yeah, I’d LOVE to win this knife. 🙂