Description
This Honey Dijon Garlic Chicken Breasts recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts glazed with a flavorful combination of honey, whole grain Dijon mustard, and garlic. Baked to perfection at a high temperature, the chicken develops a beautifully caramelized, savory-sweet crust that makes for an easy yet elegant main dish perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 6 ounces each
Glaze
- 3 tbsp butter
- 6 cloves minced garlic
- pinch salt and pepper
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tbsp whole grain Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Choose a pan large enough to keep about half an inch of space around each chicken breast, but not too large to avoid glaze burning. Place the empty pan into a 425 degree Fahrenheit oven to heat up while you make the glaze.
- Make the glaze: In a small sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 to 60 seconds just until softened, taking care not to brown it. Stir in the honey, whole grain Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Simmer the mixture for one to two minutes until the glaze begins to slightly reduce and thicken.
- Prepare the chicken: Lightly season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Carefully remove the hot baking pan from the oven and evenly space the chicken breasts in the pan.
- Glaze and bake: Pour the hot honey Dijon glaze evenly over the chicken breasts. Return the pan to the oven and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
- Baste and continue baking: Remove the pan from the oven and baste the chicken breasts with the glaze pooled in the bottom of the pan. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Rest and serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let the juices redistribute, ensuring tender and juicy results.
Notes
- For even cooking, try using chicken breasts of uniform size and thickness. You can pound thicker breasts gently to even them out.
- If whole grain Dijon mustard is not available, regular Dijon mustard can be substituted, though the texture will be smoother.
- Do not overcook the garlic in the glaze to avoid bitterness.
- Using foil in the pan helps with easy cleanup and prevents sticking.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked safely and remains juicy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast (about 6 ounces)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg