Description
A healthy, juicy, and easy baked chicken breast recipe featuring a sweet and tangy honey Dijon marinade that locks in moisture and flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
- 3 tablespoons honey (60ml)
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (30ml)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (15ml)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Pound uneven breasts to even thickness if needed.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, Dijon mustard, olive oil, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and fresh thyme if using until smooth.
- Toss chicken breasts in the marinade until thoroughly coated. Optionally, cover and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes to marinate.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a baking dish.
- Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer on the baking sheet and pour any leftover marinade over the top.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through baking, until chicken is firm and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Remove from oven and let chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.
Notes
Do not skip the resting time after baking to keep chicken juicy. Pound chicken breasts to even thickness for even cooking. Use fresh garlic for best flavor. Oven temperature of 400°F is ideal to avoid burning the honey. Marinate longer for deeper flavor but no longer than 24 hours to avoid mushy texture. Fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or rosemary can be added before serving. For a spicy variation, add cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the marinade.
- Prep Time: 13 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 420
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Protein: 38
Keywords: baked chicken breast, honey Dijon chicken, healthy chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner, juicy chicken breast, weeknight dinner