Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken makes dinner simple and good. Four things from your kitchen turn into something that smells and tastes amazing. Takes just 30 minutes - perfect for busy nights or when friends come over.
Why Make This Chicken
Four things make chicken taste special. Brown sugar makes it sweet, garlic adds flavor. Chicken stays juicy, costs little, and works any night of the week. Make extra for tomorrow's lunch. Easy enough for everyday, good enough for company.
What You Need
- Chicken: No skin, no bones - breasts work best
- Garlic: Fresh cut small - powder works too
- Brown Sugar: Makes sweet sauce
- Oil: For cooking
- Salt: Just a pinch
- Pepper: To taste
Steps to Make It
- Get Ready:
- 1. Turn oven to 350° 2. Get out a baking pan 3. Get out a small cooking pan for garlic
- Make Garlic Mix:
- 1. Cut 6 garlic cloves very small 2. Put 2 spoons oil in pan 3. Turn heat to medium 4. Cook garlic 2-3 minutes until soft 5. Turn off heat 6. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar 7. Stir until sugar starts melting 8. Add pinch of salt and pepper
- Prepare Pan:
- 1. Take baking pan 2. Coat bottom with oil 3. Spread oil up sides too 4. Make sure whole pan is coated
- Fix Chicken:
- 1. Pat 4 chicken breasts dry 2. Lay them in pan 3. Leave space between each piece 4. Spoon garlic-sugar mix on each 5. Spread mix to cover all chicken 6. Get tops and sides coated
- Cooking Time:
- 1. Put pan in middle of oven 2. Set timer for 30 minutes 3. No need to cover pan 4. Check at 25 minutes 5. Cut into thick part to see if done 6. Meat should be white, not pink 7. Cook 5 more minutes if needed
- Finish Up:
- 1. Take pan out carefully 2. Let sit 5 minutes 3. Spoon pan sauce over each piece 4. Put extra sauce in bowl for table 5. Serve while still hot
Makes Your Kitchen Smell Good
When this chicken cooks, your whole house smells sweet and garlicky. The sugar starts to bubble, the garlic gets soft, and everyone asks what's for dinner. Makes the kitchen feel warm and cozy.
Quick Dinner Fix
Need dinner fast? This chicken's got you covered. Four things from your kitchen, 30 minutes, done. No fancy stuff, no hard work. Just good food that leaves you time to enjoy your night.
Sweet Meets Savory
This chicken tastes special because brown sugar and garlic work together. Sweet sugar melts into a sauce while garlic adds rich flavor. Chicken soaks it all up and stays juicy. Simple things make the best dinner sometimes.
Goes With Anything
Serve this chicken with whatever you like. Put it on rice to soak up the sauce. Add some veggies on the side. Save extras for lunch tomorrow - it heats up nice. Mix it with noodles or put it in a sandwich. Works any way you serve it.
Make It Better
Use fresh garlic if you can - tastes better than the jar kind. Oil your pan good so nothing sticks. Save the sauce from the bottom of the pan - it's the best part. Pour it over your chicken right before eating. These little things make good chicken even better.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use different chicken parts?
Thighs work great - they stay juicier and might even taste better. Legs need about 10 minutes more cooking. Just make sure they hit 165° inside. Bone-in pieces work too but need extra time. Some folks like using tenders - they cook faster than full breasts.
- How do I save leftovers?
Let chicken cool then put in tight container. Good 3 days in fridge. The sauce stays nice and sticky! Heat slow in microwave or covered in oven. Add a splash of water if sauce gets too thick. Makes great lunch next day sliced over salad.
- No olive oil - what else works?
Any cooking oil's fine! Avocado oil's great for high heat. Regular vegetable oil works perfect. Even coconut oil works - adds nice flavor. Just don't use butter - it might burn. Whatever you pick, make sure it can handle oven heat.
- What goes good with it?
Rice is perfect - soaks up all that good sauce. Steam broccoli or green beans on the side. Quick salad works great too. Some folks like it over noodles. Want extra fancy? Roast some sweet potatoes - matches the sweet chicken perfect. Any veggie that you can dip in sauce works!
- Can I make it spicy?
Add red pepper flakes when you cook the garlic - they bloom in the oil. Cayenne pepper works too. Want Asian kick? Try sriracha in the sauce. Some folks add black pepper or hot sauce at the table. Start with little bit - can always add more heat!
Some More Ideas
Love simple chicken? Try honey garlic chicken next time. Or make garlic butter chicken with lemon. Even brown sugar balsamic chicken uses these easy ingredients!