Description
This Baked Honey Mustard Chicken recipe offers tender, juicy chicken breasts marinated in a flavorful blend of Dijon mustard, honey, and fresh herbs. Baked to perfection, this dish is quick to prepare and perfect for a healthy, satisfying weeknight dinner.
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 ensure it’s ready for baking the chicken.
- Prep Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness of about 1 inch and cut them into 4-5 ounce portions for 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 mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Save Some Sauce: Reserve 2 tablespoons of the honey mustard sauce for brushing on the chicken after baking.
- Marinate Chicken: Add the chicken portions to the remaining sauce in the bowl and toss until each piece is well coated. Place the coated chicken in the refrigerator and let it marinate for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight for enhanced flavor. For easier storage, transfer the chicken and marinade to a gallon-sized Ziploc bag.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly coat a 9-inch square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking during baking.
- Place Chicken in Dish: Arrange the marinated chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
- Bake Chicken: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature will rise to the safe final temperature of 165 degrees after removing from the oven.
- Brush with Reserved Sauce: Once baked, brush the chicken with the reserved honey mustard sauce to add an extra layer of flavor and shine.
- Serve: Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme and serve immediately. Enjoy your delicious baked honey mustard chicken!
Notes
- For best results, marinate the chicken overnight to allow the flavors to fully develop.
- You can use chicken thighs instead of breasts if preferred, adjusting the cooking time as needed.
- Ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F for food safety.
- If you don’t have fresh thyme, dried thyme can be used, but reduce the quantity to about 1/4 teaspoon.
- Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
