Description
This Easy Maple Glazed Chicken Breasts recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts seared to perfection and coated in a luscious, sticky maple glaze with hints of garlic, Dijon mustard, and lemon. Perfect for a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner that balances sweet, savory, and tangy elements.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4–5 small chicken breasts)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Olive oil, enough to cover skillet bottom
Maple Glaze Sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp minced garlic, heaping
To Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Generously season the boneless, skinless chicken breasts with salt and black pepper on both sides to enhance flavor.
- Prepare the sauce mixture: In a medium bowl, combine chicken broth, pure maple syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic. Mix well and set aside.
- Sear the chicken: Heat a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat and coat the bottom with olive oil. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken breasts, searing for 3-4 minutes on each side until nicely browned. Work in batches if necessary. Remove chicken and lower the heat to low or off to let the skillet cool.
- Simmer the sauce: After the skillet has cooled, pour in the maple glaze mixture and warm it up until it simmers, using a spatula or spoon to scrape up all the flavorful browned bits stuck to the bottom.
- Cook the chicken in glaze: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet with the simmering sauce. Cook gently for 5-8 minutes, depending on thickness, basting occasionally by spooning the sauce over the chicken to keep it moist and flavorful until fully cooked through.
- Reduce the glaze: Remove the cooked chicken and place on a serving plate. Increase the heat to bring the remaining sauce in the skillet to a high simmer. Let it reduce for 1-2 minutes until thick and sticky, but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Drizzle or spread the thickened maple glaze over the chicken breasts. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and lemon wedges for a fresh finish. Serve immediately and enjoy your sweet and savory meal!
Notes
- Ensure the skillet is sufficiently hot before searing chicken to achieve a nice crust.
- If chicken breasts are thick, consider pounding them to an even thickness for more uniform cooking.
- Use real pure maple syrup for the best flavor; avoid maple-flavored syrups.
- Basting the chicken during cooking helps keep it juicy and enhances the glaze absorption.
- Watch the glaze carefully when reducing to prevent burning and bitterness.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently to preserve flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: maple glazed chicken, easy chicken recipe, stovetop chicken, sweet savory chicken, quick dinner
