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Home » Ingredient » Chicken

Chicken

Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Breast

Published: May 30, 2021   |   Updated: September 9, 2022   |   14 Comments

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5 from 6 reviews
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This oven-baked chicken breast recipe makes the BEST juiciest chicken breasts. With a simple dry rub for foolproof deliciously caramelized and flavorful chicken.

Three freshly baked chicken breasts on parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Let’s face it. Chicken breasts can be quite boring unless they have crispy skins or breadcrumbs like this baked Parmesan-crusted chicken, or are smothered in lots of sauce like honey garlic chicken, maple glazed chicken, or chicken in a creamy lemon garlic sauce. So today we’re making a simple, foolproof oven-baked chicken breast recipe that does away with the problem of bland, dry and chewy chicken.

The secret is in the rub. Brown sugar makes the chicken sweat a lot more than usual so you end up with juicier chicken breasts. Couple it with some paprika for some savory chicken with a hint of sweetness. Add in some garlic powder and Italian seasoning or top it with fresh parsley just to bring up the flavor some more. There are many ways to customize this but the endgame is no more dry chicken breasts. So let’s get started.

Sliced oven-baked chicken breasts on a cutting board.

How to Make Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Breast (1 Min Video)

EASY OVEN-BAKED CHICKEN BREAST RECIPE TIPS

Chicken breasts – Be sure to pound it to an even thickness so it cooks evenly in the oven. A mounded center usually means the ends will be drier by the time the thicker part finishes cooking. You can use a meat mallet or a rolling pin and place the chicken breasts between some plastic wrap, parchment paper, or in a Ziploc bag.

Olive oil – Make sure to pat the chicken dry with paper towels before adding olive oil. I like to baste the chicken breasts with olive oil instead of drizzling onto it directly because you get a more even coating this way. It’s the same way we prep our chicken before grilling; baste with olive oil and a dry rub patting down after.

An oven-baked chicken breast on a gray plate with a side of crispy broccoli.

Two-hand seasoning method – The easiest way to minimize hand washing while seasoning meat is to use the dry hand and wet hand method. Use your dominant hand to sprinkle seasoning onto the meat and use your other hand to pat it in.

Seasoning – If you don’t have or don’t like Italian seasoning, feel free to substitute it with dried oregano, thyme, rosemary, or parsley. Either of these herbs will work.

Paprika – Instead of regular paprika, you can also use smoked paprika because it adds a delicious smoky flavor.

Salt – I like to use coarse sea salt because it’s more forgiving than your average table salt and I can be generous with the seasoning.

A sliced chicken breast on a gray plate with a side of broccoli.

Baking – Bake with either a baking sheet lined in parchment paper or foil, in an oven-safe skillet like a cast-iron skillet, or in a casserole dish.

What to Serve with Oven-Baked Chicken

Try some greens on the side like garlic butter mushrooms, lemon pepper asparagus, garlic Parmesan roasted broccoli, cauliflower au gratin, or green beans and something starchy like rice, potatoes, or risotto.

Customize It!

  • Add some heat – To spice it up a little, add some chili powder or cayenne to the seasoning mix. You can also use ancho or chipotle chili powder.

And that’s about it. Enjoy your chicken and let me know how you liked it and what you paired it with in the comments below!

MORE CHICKEN BREAST RECIPES TO TRY

  • Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken
  • Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Breast
  • Baked Honey Balsamic Chicken
  • Honey Garlic Chicken

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Three freshly baked chicken breasts on parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Breast


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 6 reviews

  • Author: The Cooking Jar
  • Total Time: 23 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
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Description

This oven-baked chicken breast recipe makes the BEST juiciest chicken breasts. With a simple dry rub for foolproof deliciously caramelized and flavorful chicken.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5–8 oz. each)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Fresh chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

SEASONING MIX

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Pound the chicken to 1/2″ thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
  2. Combine all ingredients of the seasoning mix.
  3. Baste one side of the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle generously with seasoning mix. Pat seasoning into the meat with fingers.
  4. Flip chicken breasts over and repeat the basting and seasoning step for the other side.
  5. Line a baking tray with some foil or parchment paper and bake at 425°F for 18-20 minutes or until internal temperature reads 165°F.
  6. Remove and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts on the smaller side (about 5-8 oz. each). If you have large chicken breasts, you can cut 2 breasts into half lengthwise to get 4 chicken cutlets.
  • Add some heat – To spice it up, add some chili powder or cayenne to the seasoning mix. You can also use ancho or chipotle chili powder.
  • Scroll up to RECIPE TIPS for more useful tips, suggestions and ingredient substitutions.
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 18 mins

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know how you liked it, what substitutions you made, or what you paired it with in the comments below. If you enjoyed it, help me out with a  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating!

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posted in: Chicken, Main Dishes, Oven, Popular Recipes, Quick and Easy

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Bit says

    May 20, 2025

    Just made this oven-baked chicken breast, and it turned out perfectly juicy and flavorful! The brown sugar in the rub really helped keep the chicken moist, and the paprika added a nice depth of flavor. A simple yet delicious recipe—thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      May 20, 2025

      Thanks for trying it out! The brown sugar really does make a difference. I use a brown sugar rub for lots of meats since it works out so well.

      Reply
  2. Jessica Diggs says

    February 4, 2023

    Very good, very fast–and really easy! I triple the recipe. Then I chop potatoes; one or two onions; yellow, red, and orange peppers; yellow and green squash if I have them, plus fresh or canned mushrooms. If I’ve got enough room on the chicken pan I throw them all together on one sheet. Usually I need another dish, so I place the veg in a lightly sprayed Pyrex dish and cook them both for the same amount of time, stirring the veg once or twice. Delish!

    (My “kids” are young adults now–but the brown sugar makes this an easy way to ensure they eat ALL their veg LOL!!!)

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      February 5, 2023

      Thanks for sharing your sides or the conversion of this to an easy sheet pan meal! I love roasting veggies and potatoes in the oven – I usually toss them with olive oil and herbs like rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper.

      Reply
  3. Kelly says

    November 23, 2022

    Tried this tonight with only a Tbsp of brown sugar and it turned out fantastic! Super tasty and moist and most importantly, super easy. Thanks so much for sharing this gem.

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      November 25, 2022

      You’re very welcome, Kelly. Thanks for sharing your substitutions with us and I’m glad you found this recipe an easy one to make.

      Reply
  4. Tony says

    February 6, 2022

    I just made this chicken today and it turned out great. I omitted the brown sugar and increased the herbs and it still turned out amazing. Cooked to perfection in the time specified.

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      February 10, 2022

      I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Tony! Thanks for sharing your substitutions.

      Reply
  5. Patti says

    January 4, 2022

    My new go to quick and easy chicken breast recipe. So moist and flavorful!

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      January 10, 2022

      Yay! I’m happy I helped you find a staple, Patti. Happy eating 🙂

      Reply
  6. Wendy says

    November 21, 2021

    Excellent recipe and so easy to make. My hubs and I eat a lot of chicken breast but we have not perfected a recipe yet. We both really liked this one. It’s awesome. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      November 30, 2021

      Chicken breasts can be tricky! It’s so easy to end up with dry and defeated ones, I’ve had my fair share. So I’m glad you both found something can rely on 🙂

      Reply
  7. Charmaine says

    October 26, 2021

    I made this tonight and my only addition was cayenne pepper. It was delicious. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      October 28, 2021

      Cayenne is an excellent addition! Thank you for sharing it, Charmaine.

      Reply

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