Description
Maple Mustard Glazed Chicken is a delightful one-skillet recipe combining sweet maple syrup and tangy mustard with tender, oven-baked chicken breasts. This easy-to-make dish balances savory and sweet flavors, perfect for a comforting fall dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (4-6 ounces each)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Glaze and Sauce
- 1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon stone-ground mustard
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Skillet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Heat a large, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat on the stovetop to get it ready for searing the chicken.
- Season and Sear Chicken: Add olive oil to the hot skillet. Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Place them in the skillet and cook for 2 minutes on each side until they are nicely browned but not fully cooked through.
- Remove Chicken: Take the browned chicken out of the skillet and set aside temporarily to prepare the glaze.
- Make Glaze Base: To the same skillet, add the low-sodium chicken broth, pure maple syrup, half of the chopped thyme (about 1 teaspoon), and minced garlic. Bring this mixture to a boil while scraping the bottom of the pan to release all the flavorful browned bits.
- Simmer Glaze: Let the sauce cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to combine and reduce slightly.
- Add Vinegar and Mustard: Stir in the cider vinegar and stone-ground mustard, and continue cooking for another 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Return Chicken to Skillet: Place the seared chicken breasts back into the skillet along with any accumulated juices. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken to coat.
- Bake the Chicken: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is safely cooked through.
- Remove Chicken and Thicken Sauce: Take the skillet out of the oven and remove the chicken breasts to a serving platter. Place the skillet back on medium heat and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring and watching closely as the sauce thickens into a syrup-like consistency.
- Serve: Pour the thickened glaze over the chicken breasts and sprinkle with the remaining fresh thyme right before serving for a fresh herbal touch.
Notes
- This recipe is a wonderfully easy one-skillet dinner that offers a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors ideal for fall meals.
- Using an ovenproof skillet allows for seamless stovetop to oven cooking, enhancing flavor and texture.
- Fresh thyme adds aroma and freshness; if not available, dried thyme can be used but reduce the quantity by half.
- Ensure the chicken is cooked to 165°F internally for food safety.
- The sauce thickens quickly, so watch closely to avoid burning when reducing it on the stovetop.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 147 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 243 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
