I’m always looking for new ways to jazz up basic chicken dinners. As much as I love a classic roasted chicken, it can get boring week after week. Recently, I had a craving for something sweet and savory with warm, complex flavors.After tossing around ideas, I landed on baked chicken coated in a quick brown sugar and spice rub. The brown sugar beautifully caramelizes under the oven’s heat, forming an irresistible crispy glaze on the outside of juicy, tender chicken. One bite will have you amazed that such simple pantry ingredients can yield such incredible depth of flavor.The rub takes just minutes to throw together and lets the chicken marinate while the oven preheats. In under half an hour, I have a brand new family favorite chicken dish that feels like a special occasion meal. Even my pickiest eaters approve!Here’s my easy method for making this sweet and savory brown sugar baked chicken worthy of the highest praise.
It transforms boring chicken into a flavor bombshell. The humble ingredients yield incredible baked chicken.
The prep work is super fast and easy. A quick mix-and-marinate is all these flavors need.
It makes the house smell insanely delicious. Baking brown sugar fills your kitchen with mouth watering aromas.
The flavor profile is unique and addicting. Sweet and savory with a subtle heat and herbaceous twist.
The texture combo can’t be beat. Crispy, caramelized exterior and moist, juicy meat.
It’s budget-friendly and family-friendly. Chicken dinners don’t get easier or more crowd-pleasing.
Tips
Pat chicken dry so the rub adheres properly for maximum flavor
Use bone-in chicken pieces for even more juiciness and deeper flavor
Mix up the dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, cumin, five spice, etc.
For extra crispy skin, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end
Bake in a foil-lined pan for easy cooking and clean-up
Brush chicken with maple syrup or honey for a lacquered finish
Serve pan juices as an easy au jus or gravy
The Ingredients
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
This easy recipe calls for simple boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Avoid using bone-in to reduce cooking time. Skinless is important as the skin prevents the marinade from penetrating the meat.
Brown Sugar
You’ll need 1/3 packed cup of regular brown sugar. Dark brown sugar would also work well for deeper molasses notes. The brown sugar is key for creating that rich sweet flavor with a slight crispy texture on top.
Olive Oil
Olive oil helps the spices coat the chicken evenly. Use 2 tablespoons – a flavorful extra virgin olive oil is nice.
Garlic
Garlic adds a wonderful zing. Use 3 minced cloves – adjust to taste if you love lots of garlic flavor.
Paprika & Oregano
Smoked paprika adds warmth while dried oregano provides an aromatic, lemony kick. Use about 1 teaspoon paprika and 1/2 teaspoon oregano.
How to Make Brown Sugar Baked Chicken
Step 1 – Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Step 2 – Pat Chicken Dry
Pat the chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture allows the marinade to really stick.
Step 3 – Make the Marinade
In a bowl, mix together the brown sugar, olive oil, minced garlic, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes (optional for heat).
Step 4 – Coat the Chicken
Place chicken in the bowl and rub the marinade all over both sides, coating evenly. For best results, let marinate 30 mins – 1 hour.
Step 5 – Bake
Place chicken in a prepared baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes until fully cooked (165°F internal temperature).