Description
This Brown Sugar Chicken Bake recipe features juicy boneless skinless chicken breasts coated in a sweet and savory blend of light brown sugar, Italian seasoning, and paprika, then baked to perfection and finished with a caramelized broil. It’s an easy and flavorful dish perfect for quick weeknight dinners or meal prep.
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.
- Mix Seasoning: In a small bowl, combine the light brown sugar, dry Italian dressing mix contents, and sweet paprika. Stir thoroughly to blend the dry ingredients evenly.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil to facilitate easy cleanup after baking.
- Coat Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Using a pastry brush, apply olive oil to both sides of each chicken piece, then sprinkle the brown sugar seasoning mix evenly over both sides and gently rub it in to coat completely.
- Bake Chicken: Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until fully cooked and no longer pink inside, ensuring safe internal temperature.
- Broil for Finish: Switch your oven to broil and broil the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes, watching carefully, until the tops become lightly golden and bubbly for a caramelized finish.
Notes
- Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Great for meal prep; use leftovers in salads, sandwiches, or omelettes.
- Do not freeze cooked chicken that was previously frozen as it may affect texture and safety.
- Using foil in the baking dish simplifies cleanup.
- Adjust olive oil quantity as needed to coat the chicken thoroughly.
Keywords: brown sugar chicken, baked chicken breasts, sweet chicken bake, easy dinner recipe, Italian seasoning chicken, baked chicken