Description
Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken delivers a sweet and savory dinner that comes together faster than you can order takeout. Tender chicken pieces get glazed with a killer combo of brown sugar and garlic that makes your family crowd the kitchen table.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Seasonings and Sauces:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Pat your chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels. Season all surfaces generously with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Combine ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup soy sauce, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until sugar dissolves completely.
- Warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers and ripples. Place chicken thighs in the hot pan, cooking for 6 minutes until golden brown underneath.
- Flip chicken thighs carefully. Cook opposite side for another 5-6 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.
- Pour entire prepared sauce mixture over seared chicken. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 4-5 minutes, allowing sauce to thicken and coat chicken beautifully.
- Remove skillet from heat. Transfer chicken to serving plate and drizzle remaining caramelized sauce on top.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons freshly chopped green onions over chicken. Serve immediately while hot and glossy.
Notes
- Pat chicken thighs completely dry before seasoning to ensure a crisp, golden-brown exterior that seals in all the delicious flavors.
- For a deeper caramelization, let the brown sugar sauce reduce and thicken slowly, creating a rich glaze that clings perfectly to the chicken.
- Swap chicken thighs with chicken breasts if preferred, but adjust cooking time to prevent drying out the leaner meat.
- Make this dish gluten-free by using tamari instead of traditional soy sauce, maintaining the same savory depth without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-19 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 434 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 1520 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg