Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

This skillet Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken is sweet, savory, and full of flavor, with just a hint of Asian-inspired flair. Serve it over a fluffy bed of rice with a side of steamed veggies, and you’ve got yourself an easy weeknight supper that’s downright delicious.

Easy Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken Recipe

My kitchen is much like yours, chicken makes its way onto the supper table in just about every form imaginable. This Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken is one of those recipes I turn to when the day has been long and there’s not much time to fuss over dinner. It comes together in minutes, making it just right for busy weeknights, last-minute suppers, or those evenings when you need something hearty and homemade without a lot of work.

Serve it with rice and a simple vegetable, and you’ve got a comforting meal filled with sweet and savory flavors that the whole family will gladly gather around the table for. That’s a weekday win!

Key ingredients you’ll need to make Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card and quantities.)

• Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken breasts.
• Sugar – Light brown sugar for sweetening the brown sugar sauce.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic for an earthy flavor.
• Olive Oil and Butter – Olive oil for browning the chicken and butter adds richness to the sauce.
• Flour – All purpose flour gives the chicken a light coating for browning.
• Spices – Salt, black pepper, ground ginger and crushed red pepper flakes for heat.
• Cornstarch – Cornstarch thickens the sauce.
• Flavorings – Honey and teriyaki sauce add dimension to the sauce.
• Citrus – Lime juice or lemon juice balances the taste.

How to Make Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken Recipe

• Sift Dry Ingredients – Whisk together flour, salt and pepper. Dust chicken on all sides. 
• Brown Chicken Breasts – Brown chicken pieces in olive oil, cooking just until golden brown and juices run clear. Adjust depending on thickness. Remove from pan to a platter, keep warm.
• Make Brown Sugar Garlic Sauce – Add butter and garlic to pan. Cook over medium-high heat scraping any brown bits from bottom of skillet.
• Thicken Sauce with Cornstarch – Dissolve cornstarch in chicken broth. Lower heat to medium. Whisk into pan with brown sugar, honey, teriyaki, lime juice, red pepper flakes and ginger. Stir constantly until brown sugar is melted and a sauce forms. 
• Combine – Add chicken back to pan and spoon sauce over chicken. Simmer 1 minute.
• Serve immediately over cooked rice garnished with green onion.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Brown Sugar Chicken

• Large skillet. You can use a cast iron skillet or a nonstick skillet.
• Sharp knife and cutting board.
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
• Balloon whisk.
• Shallow bowl or plate.
• Small bowl.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Chicken – You can adapt this recipe using boneless skinless chicken thighs. Cook until the chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees f to be certain they’re cooked through.
• Brown Sugar – You can use dark brown sugar for a stronger molasses flavor.
• Teriyaki Sauce – The sauce for this chicken has Asian flair thanks to the addition of teriyaki sauce. You can use lower sodium teriyaki sauce or soy sauce, and adjust the amount using more or less to your personal taste. Likewise, if you’re family enjoys sauce, the ingredient amounts easily double.
• Spice – You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your taste using more for extra heat or less for a milder flavor. You could also use a dash or cayenne or replace with smoked paprika.
• Garlic – While fresh garlic works the best for this dish, some days we all need to improvise. You could use 1 teaspoon garlic powder or granulated garlic whisking it into the sauce. Taste and adjust the amount to your personal preference.
• Breading – The chicken breasts in this recipe aren’t heavily breaded. The light dusting of flour gives it just enough of a coating for crunch, and it adds flavor to the dish overall. It also helps soak up the sauce and coat the chicken pieces beautifully.
• Fresh Herbs – You can garnish with chives, thyme or parsley.
• Serving Options – This Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken is especially tasty with rice, but is also works well alongside a baked potato and mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles or sliced and served on a salad. You can also pile it on toasted kaiser rolls and enjoy as a sandwich.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store cooked Brown Sugar Chicken in an airtight container or wrapped in foil chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can slice and serve cold on salads or sandwich wraps.
• Reheating – Reheat gently in the microwave in single servings or in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Freezer – You could also freeze leftovers in freezer bags or freezer safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

More Easy Chicken Recipes to Make

• Skillet made Smothered Asiago Chicken is covered with spinach, mushrooms and cheese.
• Nutty Pistachio Crusted Chicken.
• Easy Chicken Cakes with a spicy remoulade sauce make an easy weeknight meal.
• Crispy Oven Fried Parmesan Chicken can be drizzled with warm marinara sauce and served with pasta.
• Southern Style Chicken Salad can be used for snacking, turned into lettuce wraps, sandwiches and more.
• Chicken Roasted with Lemon and Rosemary is Sunday supper for any day of the week.
• Slice and layered in this Chicken Bacon Ranch Layer Salad.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Cast Iron Skillet
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Set
• Kitchen Utensils