Description
This Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken recipe delivers a deliciously sweet and savory flavor combination with tender baked chicken breasts coated in a rich brown sugar and garlic sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it’s easy to prepare and pairs wonderfully with rice, pasta, or vegetables.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to season the chicken
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 to prevent sticking. Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper to enhance their flavor.
- Make the Brown Sugar Sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, water, garlic powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper until well combined. This mixture will create a sweet and aromatic glaze for the chicken.
- Coat the Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Pour the brown sugar sauce evenly over the chicken, ensuring each piece is coated well with the flavorful mixture.
- Bake the Chicken: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Check that the chicken is fully cooked by ensuring it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F using a meat thermometer for safety and optimal juiciness.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer to serving plates. Drizzle the remaining sauce from the baking dish over the chicken before serving. This sauce is also excellent when drizzled over pasta or rice for extra flavor.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken doneness to avoid undercooking or drying out.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can transfer the baking juices to a saucepan and simmer briefly on the stovetop until reduced.
- This recipe adapts well to chicken thighs if preferred, adjusting the cooking time accordingly.
- Leftover sauce is delicious over steamed vegetables.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce mixture.
