Description
Crispy Brown Sugar Mustard Chicken Thighs combine a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors with a crispy skin that melts in your mouth. This easy skillet-to-oven recipe features tender, bone-in chicken thighs coated with a rich brown sugar and mustard glaze, making it an irresistible main course for any dinner gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Garnish
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the chicken after searing.
- Prepare Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels, then season both sides with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor and help achieve crispy skin.
- Sear Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the skillet and sear for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Flip the thighs and cook for another 3 minutes on the other side.
- Make Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, smoked paprika, and dried thyme until smooth and well combined.
- Glaze Chicken: Brush the mustard and brown sugar sauce generously over each chicken thigh, ensuring an even coating that will caramelize nicely in the oven.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet directly to the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), ensuring it is fully cooked and tender.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven, spoon some of the pan juices over the chicken for extra flavor, and garnish with fresh parsley before serving to add a touch of color and freshness.
Notes
- This dish pairs wonderfully with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple green salad.
- You can substitute chicken drumsticks for the thighs using the same cooking method.
- For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce mixture.
- Ensure chicken skin is patted dry to maximize crispiness during searing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing, Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
