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….
Has anyone tried frying this recipe in a pan? 🙂 I would like to make it when I’m on the road with only gas stoves.
Also is there much change to taste if sugar isn’t used at all?
Simple, delicious and flavorful!!! Made it twice in one week because my family just devoured it. Thanks!
I still can’t work out why I didnt try this earlier and still can’t work out why such a simple recipe tastes so good – it just does! A genuine keeper
Wow, so good. Hard to get my husband to eat chicken breast over thighs and he gobbled this up.
Wow, so good. Hard to get my husband to eat chicken breast over thighs and he gobbled this up.
Made this as a quick meal for my family and they LOVED it, including my picky 4yo
A keeper!!!
Simple and super tasty!!!
Thank you!!
I really like the spices and seasoning on this chicken recipe. Thank you for sharing this.
Fantastic recipe! Turned out exactly as pictured. I had all ingredients on hand and it was so quick and easy to put together. I don’t usually like to mix sweet and savory flavors but this tasted balanced even with the addition of brown sugar. A great topper for my salads and my husband couldn’t stop eating these on their own!
This was so good and so easy to prep. I will definitely be reusing this recipe.
5 stars and then some. The Oven Baked Chicken Breast is my go to recipe! So easy to prepare and so delicious to eat! Thank you. f
Very quick and easy to make, resulting in extremely juicy and tender chicken!
Hi Nagi
Love this recipe but I was wondering if I can make this seasoning and keep it in the cupboard for future use? And how long would it keep? Xxx thank you love ur recipes
Great easy recipe for when I don’t have the energy to do much more than a baked chicken breast. I always double the rub in the recipe, the original amounts don’t entirely cover the breasts.
Juicy and easy! Flavor was decent but I didn’t feel it was anything special. I don’t think I’d go out of my way to make it again. Nagi has so many recipes that are AMAZING that now I can’t settle for anything less in the old cookbook lol
Absolutely FANTASTIC!! Husband loved and he’s not usually a big fan of other seasoning combos I’ve used in the past. Chicken cooked beautifully and remained moist. Will be saving to use again 🙂
Is this the masterchef episode recipe
Husband and I loved it
This chicken breast recipe is the best recipe I tried for meal prepping chicken. It’s so versatile in many different meals. And so flavourful and easy to make! I don’t like chicken breast but I did enjoy this!
I made this for the first time last week and, as someone who is new to cooking, it was simple and delicious! If I wanted to make a sauce to go with it, what would be recommended?