Oven Baked Chicken Breast
Juicy, golden oven baked chicken breast rubbed with a simple brown sugar-paprika seasoning and baked at high heat for just 18 minutes. Pounding the chicken to even thickness is the secret to perfectly tender, never-dry results every time.
- Total Time25 minutes
- Yield4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 Chicken breasts (150-180g / 5-6 oz each)
- 2 tsp Olive oil
Seasoning
- 1 1/2 tbsp Brown sugar
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Dried oregano or thyme
- 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
Garnish (Optional)
- to taste Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C (200°C fan).
- Pound Chicken: Pound chicken breasts to 1.5cm / 0.6″ even thickness using a rolling pin, meat mallet, or your fist. This ensures even cooking and tender results.
- Mix Seasoning: Combine brown sugar, paprika, oregano (or thyme), garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Season Chicken: Line a baking tray with foil and parchment paper. Place chicken upside down on tray. Drizzle with about 1 tsp olive oil, rub over with fingers, and sprinkle with half the seasoning. Flip chicken, drizzle with remaining 1 tsp oil, rub with fingers, and sprinkle with remaining seasoning, covering as much surface area as possible.
- Bake: Bake for 18 minutes, or until surface is golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F/75°C.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and immediately transfer chicken to serving plates. Wait 3–5 minutes before serving, garnished with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Pounding the chicken to even thickness is the single most important step for juicy results. Use medium-sized breasts (150–180g each); larger breasts should be butterflied or pounded thinner. Do not leave chicken on the hot tray after baking — transfer immediately to plates to prevent overcooking. Resting for 3–5 minutes allows juices to redistribute. Excellent for meal prep; store in airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 220
- Sodium: 380
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 95
