Description
Succulent brown sugar glazed chicken delivers sweet-savory comfort straight to your dinner table, making weeknight meals feel like a special treat. Tender chicken pieces shine with a caramelized glaze that brings delightful flavor to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680 g)
Glaze/Sauce:
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Thickener:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Grab 4 chicken breasts (1.5 lbs) and thoroughly dry them using clean paper towels. Sprinkle both surfaces generously with salt and pepper.
- Combine ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup soy sauce, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground ginger, and 2 tsp sesame oil in a medium bowl. Whisk until the mixture transforms into a smooth, glossy glaze.
- Warm a large skillet over medium-high heat and introduce 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil. Carefully place chicken breasts into the hot pan, allowing them to sear for 5-6 minutes until a golden-brown crust develops.
- Flip the chicken and continue cooking the opposite side for an additional 5-6 minutes. Verify the internal temperature reaches precisely 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Pour the prepared glaze over the chicken during the final 2 minutes of cooking. Gently rotate the breasts to ensure complete coverage and let the sauce caramelize and thicken around the meat.
- Remove the skillet from heat and allow the chicken to rest for 3-4 minutes. This helps redistribute internal juices and maintains tender texture.
- Slice the chicken against the grain and transfer to serving plates. Drizzle remaining glaze over the top and garnish with 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds or chopped green onions.
Notes
- Pat the chicken completely dry to ensure a perfect golden sear and help the glaze stick better.
- Make sure your skillet is hot before adding the chicken to create a beautiful caramelized exterior that locks in moisture.
- Let the glaze reduce and thicken for maximum flavor intensity, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- For a low-carb version, swap brown sugar with a sugar substitute like monk fruit sweetener or use less glaze.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg