Description
This Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts baked to perfection in a sweet and savory brown sugar garlic sauce. It’s a simple, flavorful dish perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or a fresh salad.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to season
Sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp water
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare chicken: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Season both sides of the chicken breasts evenly with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Make the brown sugar sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, water, garlic powder, dried thyme, salt, and ground black pepper until well combined to create a flavorful glaze.
- Arrange chicken and add sauce: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Pour the brown sugar sauce evenly over the top of the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated.
- Bake the chicken: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165°F for safety and optimal juiciness.
- Serve and garnish: Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer to serving plates. Drizzle the remaining sauce and juices from the baking dish over the chicken. This sweet and savory sauce also pairs wonderfully drizzled over pasta or rice for an added burst of flavor.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F to guarantee it is fully cooked.
- You can adjust the sweetness by modifying the amount of brown sugar to your taste preference.
- For extra crispiness, broil the chicken for the last 2-3 minutes but watch closely to avoid burning.
- Leftover sauce can be saved and used as a glaze on vegetables or additional proteins.
- Serve with steamed vegetables or a leafy green salad to balance the richness of the dish.
