Sweet And Tangy Honey Mustard Chicken
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This honey mustard chicken is the flavor bomb you need for your weeknight dinners. Juicy, tender chicken breasts are coated in a golden, glossy honey mustard sauce, then baked to perfection in the oven. And yes, it tastes as incredible as it looks, with its perfect punchy tang balanced by a rich, natural sweetness. A chicken dinner has never been this good!
Sweet and tangy is one of my favorite flavor combinations. In fact, we just had pineapple teriyaki pork chops for dinner. Another favorite in our house under this category is honey mustard chicken – the sauce has that perfect balance of flavors that’s not too overwhelming, and it complements chicken very well. The best part? It takes 25 minutes to make from start to finish.
This dish is a total game-changer for weeknight dinners, lazy weekends, and even special occasions when you need something impressive but effortless. It’s fancy enough for a date night at home but easy enough to whip up when you’re short on time. Serve it up for a cozy family dinner, make it an easy meal prep option for the week, or bake a quick batch for entertaining. It’s so good, yet so simple to make.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy dinner option: Honey mustard chicken is an easy mix, pour, and bake kind of recipe that takes 25 minutes or less to whip up.
- Incredible flavor: No need for extra condiments or seasonings, this dish will bring you to flavor town!
- Guilt-free comfort food: Lean protein, natural sweeteners, and simple pantry staples make this dish a guilt-free indulgence.
- Minimal clean-up: One bowl and a baking dish are all you need to make this dish, meaning less cleanup and more time to relax!
- Adaptable: Adjust the sweetness, spice level, or toppings to suit your taste.
- Meal prep friendly: Make a big batch and enjoy it throughout the week – this dish tastes just as amazing the next day!
How to Make Honey Mustard Chicken
Honey mustard chicken is the upgrade to good ‘ol chicken breasts that you’ve been looking for. With 5 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking time, it’s dinner in a flash. Simply whip up the marinade, season the chicken, and leave it to bake. Once ready, just garnish and enjoy!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Dijon mustard: The tangy base that complements the sweetness of the honey. Just Dijon is fine, but if you have coarse grain mustard, the combination of the two will give the dish better flavor and texture.
- Honey: Adds a smooth, natural sweetness to the dish.
- Olive oil: Helps keep the chicken moist and tender during baking.
- Garlic cloves: Fresh garlic is best for this recipe, but you can use jarred if preferred.
- Lemon juice: Brightens the sauce and balances the sweetness of the honey. I recommend using fresh, but you can use bottled in a pinch.
- Chicken breasts: I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If unavailable, you can use either boneless, skinless or bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, but bone-in requires a longer cooking time.
- Paprika, salt, and ground black pepper: For seasoning the chicken.
- Parsley: Used as a garnish and for a nice pop of color.
Step-By-Step Instructions
My honey mustard chicken recipe follows 4 simple steps and they come out perfect every time. From here on out, you don’t have to settle for boring and bland dinners – this easy recipe brings an exciting flavor that the whole family will love. Follow the instructions below and you can’t go wrong!
Step 1: Whip up the marinade
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a baking dish and set aside.
Make the marinade in a small bowl by whisking together Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice.
Step 2: Season the chicken
Season the chicken with paprika, salt, and pepper. Arrange in the baking dish.
Step 3: Bake
Pour the sauce over evenly and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 F.
If you see the edges of the sauce browning while baking, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water. Usually, the meat releases enough juices that you don’t have to, but some chicken breasts may be more dry than others, so keep it in mind.
Step 4: Garnish and serve
Serve with parsley garnish and optional lemon wedges or slices on the side.
Substitutions
This recipe is super easy to adapt to what you have available in your kitchen, so no worries if you’re missing an ingredient or two. Here are my recommended substitutions!
- Dijon mustard: Substitute with yellow mustard or whole-grain mustard.
- Honey: No honey? Replace with maple syrup.
- Olive oil: Swap with vegetable oil, avocado oil, or even melted butter for a richer flavor.
- Garlic cloves: Garlic powder or garlic paste can be used in a pinch if fresh garlic isn’t available. Adjust the amount to your taste.
- Lemon juice: Substitute with lime juice or vinegar (apple cider or white wine vinegar) if you prefer more acidity.
- Paprika: Want to use a different spice? Try ground cumin, chipotle powder, or Italian seasoning.
- Parsley: Replace with fresh basil or cilantro.
Expert Tips
- Marinate for maximum flavor: For an extra punch of flavor, consider marinating the chicken in the honey mustard sauce for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight) before baking. This allows the flavors to penetrate the chicken more deeply.
- Adjust the flavors: Reduce the amount of honey if you prefer a tangier sauce, or add more if you like the dish on the sweeter side. Taste as you go to achieve your desired balance of sweet and tangy.
- Add veggies to the mix: Throw in some vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or broccoli to the baking dish. They will roast beautifully alongside the chicken and soak up the delicious sauce.
- Add extra crunch: Top the chicken with crushed nuts or breadcrumbs before baking for added texture. The delightful crunch complements the juicy chicken and sauce beautifully.
- Spice it up: Add a kick of heat by adding a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder.
How to Store This Recipe
Place made-ahead or leftover honey mustard chicken in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to a month. To reheat, gently warm in a skillet on the stove over medium-low heat. Thaw frozen chicken overnight in the fridge before reheating.
What to Serve with Honey Mustard Chicken
This saucy dish is best served with a side that can soak up its sauce, like roasted vegetables, a light salad, or rice. We love it with rice pilaf or cauliflower rice.
It also pairs great with some crusty bread like baguette, sourdough, ciabatta, focaccia, and other common charcuterie board breads that you know.
More Easy Chicken Recipes To Try
- Popeyes blackened chicken tenders
- Cheesy chicken and asparagus bake
- Herb-crusted chicken
- Ruth’s Chris stuffed chicken
Easy Honey Mustard Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ lemon juice
- 4 boneless chicken breasts skinless
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon parsley minced for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Lightly grease a baking dish and set aside.
- Make the marinade in a small bowl by whisking together Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice.
- Season the chicken with paprika, salt, and pepper. Arrange in the baking dish.
- Pour the sauce over evenly and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 °F.
- Serve with parsley garnish and optional lemon wedges or slices on the side.
Video
Notes
- Apply an optional step to marinate the chicken in the honey mustard sauce for at least 30 minutes (or covered in the refrigerator overnight) before baking to allow the flavors to penetrate the chicken more deeply.
- Reduce the amount of honey if you prefer a tangier sauce, or add more if you like the dish on the sweeter side. Taste as you go to achieve your desired balance of sweet and tangy.
- Throw in some vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or broccoli to the baking dish. They will roast beautifully alongside the chicken and soak up the delicious sauce.
- Top the chicken with crushed nuts or breadcrumbs before baking for added texture. The delightful crunch complements the juicy chicken and sauce beautifully.
- Add a kick of heat by adding a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder.
