Description
A quick and easy garlic brown sugar chicken recipe with a crispy, sweet, and savory glaze ready in 30 minutes. Perfect for weeknight dinners with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (50g), light or dark
- 4 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (45ml), low-sodium preferred
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (15ml)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients by mincing garlic and measuring brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and oil. Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook without moving for about 5 minutes until the bottom is golden and crispy. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes. Chicken will not be fully cooked yet.
- Lower heat to medium. Push chicken to one side of the pan. Add minced garlic and optional red pepper flakes to the oil. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds, avoiding browning the garlic.
- Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over chicken and garlic. Pour in soy sauce and apple cider vinegar. Stir gently to mix glaze ingredients. Sugar will start to melt and bubble.
- Flip chicken a few times in the glaze, spooning sauce over the top. Let glaze thicken and caramelize, coating chicken in a sticky, crispy layer. If glaze thickens too much or burns, lower heat and add a splash of water to loosen.
- Cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) or juices run clear. Glaze should be glossy and sticky but not burnt.
- Plate chicken and spoon extra glaze from pan over the top. Serve with sides like steamed rice, roasted veggies, or salad.
Notes
Use fresh garlic and freshly ground black pepper for best flavor. Keep heat medium to avoid burning sugar. Add a splash of water if glaze thickens too much. Let chicken rest 5 minutes after cooking to keep it juicy and allow glaze to set. Can substitute chicken thighs but increase cooking time. For gluten-free, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast (ap
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 38
Keywords: garlic brown sugar chicken, crispy chicken glaze, quick chicken recipe, sweet and savory chicken, weeknight dinner, easy chicken recipe