Our Favourite Baked Honey Dijon Chicken Recipe for a Flavour-Packed Dinner

Are you finding yourself in a bit of a mid-week meal slump? We know the feeling of craving something that is both wonderfully delicious and refreshingly simple to put together. We’ve all been there, peering into the fridge and hoping for a spark of inspiration. Well, your culinary quest ends here. Our Baked Honey Dijon Chicken Recipe is the perfect answer to those weeknight dinner dilemmas. It’s a dish that artfully combines sweet, tangy, and savoury elements into a meal that feels special enough for company, yet is straightforward enough for any given Tuesday. We’re certain this one-pan marvel will earn its place as a regular in your meal plan, offering up tender, juicy chicken enveloped in a delectable glaze that will have the whole family asking for more.

Why You’ll Adore This Recipe

• Wonderfully Straightforward: With only a few core ingredients and very little preparation, this recipe epitomises effortless cooking. It’s a lifesaver for busy parents, young professionals, and anyone who fancies a fantastic meal without the fuss.
• A Symphony of Flavours: The blend of sweet, runny honey and the piquant tang of Dijon mustard results in a sauce that is simply divine. It’s a timeless flavour combination that consistently delivers.
• Minimal Washing Up: Being a one-pan creation, everything roasts together beautifully in a single baking dish. This translates to less time spent over the sink and more time to relax and savour your evening.
• Versatile and Family-Friendly: Its delightful flavour profile is a sure-fire winner with both grown-ups and youngsters alike. It’s sophisticated but also approachable, making it an excellent choice for a family supper.
• Wholesome and Adaptable: This protein-rich meal is naturally light and can be customised with ease. You can serve it alongside a crisp salad, steamed vegetables, or your preferred grains for a balanced and nourishing dinner.

The Magic Ingredients for Your Honey Dijon Chicken

The true charm of this recipe is rooted in its simplicity. We call upon a handful of excellent-quality ingredients to craft a sauce that is genuinely unforgettable. It’s likely you already have most of them waiting in your cupboard! Here is what we’ll need:

• Chicken Breasts: We find that four medium, boneless, skinless chicken breasts work perfectly. Aim for pieces of a similar thickness so they cook at the same rate. If they are much thicker at one end, you can gently flatten them to create a more even size.
• Runny Honey: This ingredient provides the “sweet” in our sweet and savory chicken. A high-quality runny honey offers just the right level of sweetness to counteract the sharpness of the mustard.
• Dijon Mustard: The true star of our dish! Dijon mustard brings a zesty, tangy character with a subtle spice that is much less assertive than English mustard. Its creamy texture helps to form a silky, luxurious sauce.
• Wholegrain Mustard: We enjoy adding a spoonful of wholegrain mustard to introduce some texture and a more rustic, complex flavour. The tiny mustard seeds provide a pleasant pop, adding an extra dimension to the dish.
• Olive Oil: A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil helps to bring the sauce together, ensures the chicken remains moist, and promotes a lovely golden-brown finish as it bakes.
• Garlic: We are firm believers in using freshly minced garlic. It imparts a fragrant, aromatic foundation that you simply can’t achieve with the pre-minced variety from a jar. Two or three cloves will be ample.
• Dried Thyme: This woody herb is a fantastic partner for both honey and mustard. Its subtle, earthy notes beautifully unify all the flavours. Fresh rosemary would also be a lovely alternative.
• Salt and Black Pepper: These are absolutely crucial for amplifying all the other flavours in the dish. Be sure to season according to your own preference.

Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Honey Mustard Chicken Bake

Are you ready to work a little magic in the kitchen? This recipe is wonderfully direct. We have outlined it in five easy-to-follow steps, guiding you towards a flawless result on every occasion. Just follow along, and a sensational dinner will be on your table before you know it.

1. Prepare the Oven and Chicken: To begin, preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6). As it warms up, lightly oil a baking dish or tray that can comfortably hold the chicken breasts in a single layer. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel; this is a vital step that helps the sauce adhere to the meat and encourages a better colour.
2. Mix the Magical Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk the runny honey, Dijon mustard, wholegrain mustard, olive oil, minced garlic, and dried thyme together. Season with a generous pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir everything thoroughly until the sauce is smooth and fully combined. Feel free to have a small taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
3. Coat the Chicken Thoroughly: Neatly arrange the dry chicken breasts in your prepared baking dish. Now for the fun bit! Pour the honey Dijon sauce evenly over the chicken pieces. We recommend using a spoon or a pastry brush to ensure every inch of the chicken is coated in that glorious glaze.
4. Bake to Golden Perfection: Transfer the baking dish to your preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The precise cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken. The chicken is ready when it has turned a beautiful golden-brown and the juices run clear when pierced. For guaranteed accuracy, we suggest using a meat thermometer, which should register 74°C (165°F) at the thickest point.
5. Rest, Slice, and Serve: Once it’s cooked, take the chicken out of the oven. Allow it to rest in the dish for a minimum of 5 minutes. This important pause lets the juices settle back into the meat, yielding a more tender and flavourful result. You can spoon some of the wonderful pan juices over the chicken just before serving. Slice and enjoy straight away!

Tips for the Juiciest Dijon Chicken Breast

Dry chicken is a culinary disappointment we can all do without. We are passionate about helping you achieve succulent, perfectly cooked results time and time again. The secret to a tender Dijon chicken breast is all in a few straightforward techniques. For a more comprehensive look at perfecting your poultry, do have a look at our guide to making the ultimate Juicy Chicken Recipe.

• Don’t Overcook It: This is the most common reason for dry chicken. A digital meat thermometer truly is your best friend in the kitchen. By removing the chicken from the oven the moment it reaches that 74°C (165°F) mark, you will ensure a moist and delicious outcome.
• Let It Rest: We’ve already mentioned this in the steps, but it’s worth highlighting again. Resting the meat is simply not optional! This brief 5-minute interval allows the muscle fibres to relax and reabsorb all those flavourful juices.
• Even Thickness is Key: If your chicken breasts have one end that is significantly thicker than the other, the thin end will cook too quickly. Place the breast between two sheets of baking parchment and gently use a rolling pin or meat mallet to pound the thicker section until it is more uniform.

What to Serve With Your Sweet and Savoury Chicken

This Baked Honey Dijon Chicken is incredibly versatile and pairs wonderfully with a whole host of side dishes. You can keep things simple for a weekday meal or elevate it for a dinner party. We are huge fans of serving chicken with tasty vegetables, as we do in our Garlic Butter Chicken And Veggies recipe.

Here are a few of our preferred serving accompaniments:

• Hearty Grains: Present the chicken and its scrumptious pan sauce atop a bed of fluffy quinoa, couscous, or wholesome brown rice.
• Creamy Mash: You simply cannot go wrong with a classic, creamy mashed potato. It’s the perfect vehicle for soaking up every last bit of the honey Dijon glaze.
• Roasted Vegetables: For a true one-pan meal, toss some asparagus spears, tenderstem broccoli, or sliced peppers in a little olive oil and roast them in the dish alongside the chicken.
• Simple Salad: A crisp green salad dressed in a light vinaigrette offers a refreshing, crunchy contrast to the rich, savoury chicken.

FAQ

Conclusion: Your New Go-To Easy Baked Chicken Dinner

We are truly confident that this Baked Honey Dijon Chicken will secure a special place in your heart and on your weekly menu. It stands as proof that you don’t require complex procedures or a vast array of ingredients to produce a meal that is both deeply satisfying and bursting with incredible flavour. This is a genuinely easy baked chicken recipe that yields impressive results with very little effort.

The sublime marriage of sweet honey and tangy mustard creates a glaze that elevates a simple chicken breast into something quite remarkable. We are so excited for you to experience this wonderful recipe for yourselves. We encourage you to give it a try this week and share your thoughts in the comments below! Please don’t forget to tag us in your pictures on social media—we always love to see what you’ve been cooking!

Easy Baked Honey Dijon Chicken

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A simple yet elegant one-pan meal, this chicken is coated in a sublime sweet and tangy glaze, making it a perfect weeknight dinner that the whole family will adore.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

• 4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3 tbsp runny honey
• 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C Fan). Lightly grease a baking dish. Pat the chicken breasts dry and arrange them in the dish in a single layer.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the runny honey, both mustards, olive oil, minced garlic, dried thyme, salt, and pepper until well combined.
3. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken, using a spoon or brush to ensure all pieces are thoroughly coated.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through (the internal temperature should reach 74°C/165°F).
5. Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest in the dish for 5 minutes before slicing and serving with the delicious pan juices.

Nutrition (per serving):
Calories: 380 kcal
Protein: 45g
Carbs: 15g
Fat: 15g