Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken

Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken is a sweet and savory, lick the plate clean kind of dish. Coming together in just 30 minutes and with a minimal line-up of ingredients, this simple, Asian-infused chicken is bound to be one of your family’s new go-to weeknight dinners!

For extra flavor and phenomenal texture, Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken is made with bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, pan-seared until golden and crispy, then baked underneath a sticky-sweet Brown Sugar Garlic Sauce. The results are savory-sweet, tender and juicy chicken you’ll continually obsess over with every single bite!

Serve this chicken with fluffy rice and perfectly steamed broccoli for a well-rounded dinner!

Want more easy (yet delicious) Asian chicken recipes to add to your dinnertime lineup? Try our foolproof Chicken Chow Mein (or Lo Mein) recipe!

BROWN SUGAR GARLIC CHICKEN INGREDIENTS

• Chicken Thighs – Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for this recipe. For consistent results and extra flavor, steer clear of boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
• Oil – You can use canola oil or avocado oil for this recipe. You will only need a few tablespoons so no need to splurge on avocado oil if you don’t normally buy it.
• Garlic – You can’t have Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken without the garlic! Be sure to use fresh garlic for an extra bang of flavor. This recipe calls for 4 cloves. If you are sensitive to garlic, feel free to cut it back to just 2 or 3 cloves.
• Brown Sugar – Light brown sugar is best, but if you happen to already have dark brown sugar in your pantry, it can be used here!
• Teriyaki Sauce – Don’t attempt to sub in soy sauce for Teriyaki Sauce. While Soy Sauce is in Teriyaki Sauce, Teriyaki actually has a whole lot more going on flavor-wise. It is a reduction of dark soy sauce, mirin, and sugar
• Seasoning – Use Kosher salt and black pepper to season the chicken thighs. In addition to these spices, you’ll also need dried chives and cayenne pepper for the Brown Sugar Garlic Sauce. However, you can leave out the chives completely, if needed, and black pepper can be subbed in for the cayenne if you are worried about too much spice.

HOW TO MAKE BROWN SUGAR GARLIC CHICKEN

5 MORE CHICKEN RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Chicken Lo Mein features pan-seared boneless, skinless chicken thighs, pasta, and vegetables. Plus, how to make a simple lo mein sauce!
• Baked BBQ Chicken with crisp skin and BBQ sauce that actually stays put! This easy recipe for perfect Baked BBQ Chicken Legs and Thighs is guaranteed to be the best Baked BBQ Chicken you have ever had!
• Baked Chicken Leg Quarters are juicy, flavorful, and tender, but let us not forget the best part — that beautiful, golden, crispy skin!
• Chicken Marinara has all the flavor of Chicken Parm and requires half of the prep work! Featuring marinara sauce and melty mozzarella cheese baked on top of a juicy chicken breast.
• One-Skillet Chicken Fajitas are a quick-fix dinner idea featuring taco-seasoned chicken thighs, onions, and bell peppers!

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Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

Delicious and juicy, Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken is made with chicken thighs, pan-seared until golden and crispy, then baked underneath a sticky-sweet sauce!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken

Servings: 6

Calories: 630 kcal

Author: Kelly Anthony

Ingredients

• 2 - 2 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 3 tablespoon avocado or canola oil, separated
• 3 teaspoons Kosher salt, separated
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons Teriyaki sauce
• 2 teaspoons dried chives
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375° and have ready a greased 9x13" casserole dish. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with 2 teaspoons Kosher salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Rub all over to evenly adhere.

2. Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a large pan over medium-high heat and allow to come to temperature. Add the chicken to pan skin-side down and sear for 2 1/2 - 3 minutes, or until golden. Do not overcrowd the pan, and sear in batches if necessary. Flip the chicken and sear for an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and transfer to the casserole dish.

3. Turn off the heat, and carefully using a spoon, remove all but a very thin layer of grease from the pan. Take care to wipe the sides of the pan clean if needed before returning to the heat.

4. Return the pan to medium-high heat, add the garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add the sugar, water, Teriyaki sauce, dried chives, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, cayenne pepper and stir to combine. Simmer until thick and sticky, 3-5 minutes.

5. Carefully pour or spoon the sauce evenly over the chicken and bake for 20-25 minutes (or until the chicken's internal temperature has reached 165°). Allow to cool slightly, serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 630 Calories from Fat 342

% Daily Value*

Fat 38g58%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Cholesterol 185mg62%

Sodium 1551mg67%

Potassium 506mg14%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 36g40%

Protein 32g64%

Vitamin A 1305IU26%

Vitamin C 11.5mg14%

Calcium 63mg6%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sources: Serious Eats | Pantry Essentials: All About Teriyaki