Description
This Baked Honey Mustard Chicken is a simple yet flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts marinated in a tangy honey mustard sauce with hints of thyme and garlic. Baked to juicy perfection, it’s a quick, healthy dinner option that pairs well with a variety of sides.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 – 1 ¼ pounds chicken breasts (pounded and cut into 4-5 oz. portions)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon fresh thyme (finely chopped)
- 1 clove garlic (crushed)
- ½ teaspoon salt (to taste)
- â…› teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
- â…› teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s ready for baking the chicken evenly.
- Prep Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to about 1-inch thick and cut into 4-5 ounce portions to ensure even cooking.
- Make Sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, finely chopped fresh thyme, crushed garlic, salt, black pepper, and paprika until the sauce is smooth and well combined.
- Save Some Sauce: Reserve 2 tablespoons of the honey mustard sauce for brushing on the chicken later to enhance flavor and moisture.
- Coat Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the bowl with the remaining sauce and toss well to coat each piece thoroughly.
- Marinate: Refrigerate the coated chicken for at least 20 minutes or up to overnight to allow the flavors to penetrate. For convenience, transfer to a gallon-sized Ziploc bag for easy storage.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly coat a 9-inch square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange Chicken: Place the marinated chicken breasts evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- Bake Chicken: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The chicken will continue to cook slightly after removal, reaching a safe 165 degrees.
- Brush with Sauce: Remove chicken from oven and brush each piece with the reserved honey mustard sauce for added glaze and flavor.
- Serve: Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme if desired, then serve and enjoy your delicious baked honey mustard chicken.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken longer for more intense flavor.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked safely.
- Pair with steamed vegetables or rice for a complete meal.
- Leftover chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Adjust honey amount for sweetness preference.
