Description
This Brown Sugar Chicken Bake is a simple, flavorful recipe featuring boneless skinless chicken breasts coated in a sweet and savory blend of light brown sugar, Italian seasoning, and paprika, then baked to juicy perfection with a caramelized finish under the broiler. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or meal prep, this dish offers a delicious balance of sweetness and spice with minimal effort and cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 20 ounces (4 pieces, 5-ounce each) boneless skinless chicken breasts, thawed
Seasoning Mix
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 0.7 ounce packet dry Italian dressing mix (contents only, no liquid)
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Other
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) to prepare for baking the chicken, ensuring it cooks evenly at a high temperature.
- Make Seasoning Mix: In a small bowl, combine the light brown sugar, dry Italian dressing mix, and sweet paprika. Stir thoroughly to blend the ingredients evenly for a balanced flavor.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil to make cleanup easier and prevent sticking.
- Coat Chicken: Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in the baking dish. Use a pastry brush to apply olive oil to both sides of each piece. Then sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over both sides, rubbing gently with your hands to coat thoroughly.
- Bake Chicken: Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and no longer pink in the center.
- Broil for Finish: Switch the oven to broil and broil the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes, carefully watching until the tops become lightly golden and bubbly to achieve a caramelized, appealing finish.
Notes
- Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; great for meal prep, using leftovers in salads, sandwiches, or omelettes.
- Do not refreeze cooked chicken that was previously frozen to maintain texture and safety.
- Using foil in the baking dish simplifies cleanup significantly.
- Adjust olive oil quantity as needed to ensure the chicken is well coated and moist during baking.
Keywords: brown sugar chicken, baked chicken breasts, easy chicken recipes, sweet and savory chicken, Italian seasoning chicken, weeknight dinner chicken