Description
Baked Honey Mustard Chicken is a simple and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts marinated in a tangy honey mustard sauce infused with garlic, thyme, and a hint of paprika. This easy-to-make recipe results in juicy, oven-baked chicken perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 – 1 ¼ pounds chicken breasts (pounded and cut into 4-5 oz. portions)
Honey Mustard 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 prepare for baking the chicken.
- Prepare Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to about 1-inch thickness and cut them into 4-5 ounce portions for even cooking.
- Make the 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 mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Reserve Sauce: Set aside 2 tablespoons of the honey mustard sauce for brushing on the chicken after baking.
- Marinate Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the bowl with the remaining sauce. Toss to coat each piece thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight for more flavor. You can transfer the chicken and sauce to a gallon-sized Ziploc bag for easier 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 in the prepared baking dish, making sure they are spaced evenly.
- Bake Chicken: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature will rise to 165 degrees after resting.
- Brush with Sauce: Remove the chicken from the oven and brush the reserved honey mustard sauce evenly over each piece.
- Serve: Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme and serve immediately for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken overnight will enhance the flavor and tenderness.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F after resting.
- You can substitute fresh thyme with ¼ teaspoon dried thyme if fresh is unavailable.
- Serve with a side of vegetables or rice for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
