Description
This Baked Honey Mustard Chicken Breast recipe is a simple and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts coated in a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce. Perfectly baked to juicy perfection and garnished with fresh thyme, it’s an easy weeknight meal that requires minimal prep and delivers maximum taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 trimmed chicken breasts)
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Garnish
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400º F (204º C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the chicken breasts evenly and thoroughly.
- Prepare the honey mustard sauce: In a bowl, combine olive oil, honey, whole grain mustard, Dijon mustard, salt, and minced garlic. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated to create a flavorful sauce.
- Pound the chicken breasts: Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap on a cutting board. Using a meat tenderizer, rolling pin, or heavy pan, gently pound the chicken until it is about 1 inch thick. This helps the chicken cook evenly and tenderizes the meat.
- Arrange chicken and apply sauce: Remove the chicken breasts from the plastic wrap and place them in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Evenly spoon the honey mustard sauce over each chicken breast, ensuring full coverage. Optionally scatter the fresh thyme sprigs around the chicken for added aroma and flavor.
- Bake covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. This step helps to keep the chicken moist as it begins cooking.
- Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes uncovered, allowing the chicken to brown slightly and the sauce to thicken. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165º F (74º C).
- Rest before serving: Once cooked, cover the chicken again and let it rest for 5 minutes. This resting period lets the juices redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a juicy and tender chicken breast ready to serve.
Notes
- For even cooking, ensure chicken breasts are pounded to a uniform thickness of about 1 inch.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165º F to ensure safe consumption.
- Fresh thyme is optional but adds a wonderful herbal note; you can substitute with rosemary if preferred.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- This dish pairs well with steamed vegetables, rice, or a fresh salad for a balanced meal.
