Sometimes, the simplest recipes are the best. Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated. This garlic brown sugar chicken recipe is just that. Garlic brown sugar chicken is a simple oven-baked chicken recipe, full of flavor with less than 5 ingredients and can be on the table in 30 minutes.
Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken Ingredients
The ingredients are what the title explains: garlic, brown sugar, and chicken. Add some salt and pepper for good measure. But in all seriousness here are the exact ingredients you need to make the juiciest boneless, skinless chicken thigh recipe.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs - Chicken breasts would work too
- Garlic - a bulb of fresh garlic. The jarred kind would work as well
- Brown sugar
- Salt and pepper - Because everything needs salt and pepper in my world.
- Honey-Garlic Seasoning - If you want to be fancier, grab this seasoning. It is the best. TOTALLY OPTIONAL.
How to Make Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
Start by mincing four cloves of garlic and toasting in a small saute pan with a little extra virgin olive oil.
This doesn't have to be babysat but also toasts quickly.
When the garlic is light brown, remove it from the pan and put it into a small bowl.
Let the garlic cool a few minutes and then mix in four tablespoons of brown sugar.
Then place four boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs in a square or round 9-inch dish. I love chicken thighs over breasts. The dark meat doesn't dry out like the white meat. If you used an oven-safe skillet like a cast-iron skillet with the garlic, go ahead and put the chicken in that pan and brown both sides of the chicken before baking.
Then simply sprinkle the brown sugar and garlic mixture over the chicken. Hit with salt and pepper to taste as well.
Roast chicken at 450 degrees for 30 minutes or until juices run clear. While the chicken is cooking the brown sugar will become very bubbly.
When the chicken is done, let it rest in the pan for several minutes before serving.
And then plate it up. I served this chicken over top caramelized onion and mushroom risotto. The results were fantastic. I had a hard time controlling myself from eating two full servings.
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Side Dishes for Chicken Thighs
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- Easy Creamy Corn Pudding Casserole
- Delicious Grilled Baby Potato Kabobs Recipe
- Crock Pot Hash Brown Casserole
Crock Pot Italian Chicken with Artichokes and Roasted Peppers
๐ Recipe
Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 2 teaspoons honey chipotle seasoning optional
Instructions
- Toast garlic in a tablespoon of oil over medium heat in a small saute pan or cast iron skillet. When garlic is light brown, remove it from the pan and pour it into a small bowl. Mix brown sugar into garlic.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper or the honey chipotle seasoning and sear the chicken in the pan you toasted the garlic.
- Place chicken in a 9 inch round or square baking dish or a cast iron skillet. Sprinkle garlic brown sugar over chicken. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
- Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until the juices run clear.
- Remove from oven and let rest for several minutes before serving.
Nutrition
What is cooking over on your blog this week? Can't wait to get some weeknight meal ideas!
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Diane Balch
I'm pinning this recipe. I love the contrast of brown sugar and garlic.
Cynthia L.
Thanks so much for hosting! I didn't leave a recipe for meat, but a parfait! I am not happy with the photo, but was happy with the desert! I love the chicken recipe you posted - thanks for sharing it!
Miz Helen
Your Chicken looks delicious. Hope you have a great week and thanks for hosting.
Miz Helen
Emily @ Zweber Family Farms
This sound delicious. I am going to try it on the whole chicken.
Loy
Leah, that chicken look absolutely delicious. We eat a lot of chicken so I will be trying this one soon. I always find good recipes here. Today I bring Vegetable Beef Soup. Thanks for hosting. Have a great week.
Carissa
thanks for hosting
myers-briggs type indicator form m self-scorable
Aw, this was a really good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to generate a superb articleโฆ but what can I sayโฆ
I put things off a lot and don't manage to get nearly anything done.
ap PaulinaLal
So many reviews but I will add mine;this was fantastic!!!!Just like the chinese restaurant. Only change I made was to roll my chicken cubes in cornstarch before frying.The sauce was nice and thick. It is really good and I will make this one again. Rita
Susan
How much will the directions change from frozen chicken breast?
drPaulinaLlal
Super recipe, was out of apple juice so did as Barb suggested and used unsweetened apple sauce. Served with Ramen noodles and sprinkled with green onions. Next time will try the ornage juice and maybe oranges and perhaps carrots. GREAT RECIPE!!!
Andrev
Add me to the list of satisfied customers. Made this for dinner Wednesday and my fianc๏ฟฝ and I agreed it was an excellent meal. The only minor change I made was to up the cider vinegar to 3 TBS since I thought the sauce was a bit too sweet with just the one TBS. I used less than the 3/4 tsp of red pepper flakes also. This is a fairly healthy dish, certainly low in fat, and one we'll enjoy often. I did have to simmer it longer than the 20 minutes, since we had a delay that came up, so I just added a bit of water periodically and it turned out fine.
Malbec
Oh holy chicken I think I love you! This was soo good and so easy! The left overs would make an amazing fried rice with broccoli ! Thank you !!!
Lindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen
Sounds like such great flavor!
Maria
These flavors look amazing and I LOVE that you can make this quick. I am all about that. Thanks for sharing!
Heather
You had me at brown sugar
Carolyn
I love the combination of flavors!