Description
Garlic brown sugar chicken is a quick and flavorful skillet dish featuring tender, juicy chicken coated in a sticky, savory-sweet glaze made from garlic, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy recipe pairs beautifully with rice, veggies, or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup chicken broth or water
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (optional for balance)
Garnish (optional)
- Chopped green onions or parsley
Instructions
- Season and Sear Chicken: Season the chicken breasts or thighs with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4–5 minutes on each side, until golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Remove Chicken: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside to rest while you prepare the sauce.
- Sauté Garlic: Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, making sure not to burn it.
- Prepare Sauce: Stir in the brown sugar, chicken broth (or water), soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar if using. Simmer the mixture for 2–3 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Glaze the Chicken: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the top and cook for another 2–3 minutes to allow the glaze to coat the chicken well.
- Serve: Serve the glazed chicken hot, garnished with chopped green onions or parsley if desired, alongside your choice of rice, vegetables, or noodles.
Notes
- For extra depth of flavor, use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce if you want a mild hint of heat.
- Chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts for juicier results and richer flavor.
