Brown Sugar Chicken

Quick and easy Brown Sugar Chicken that's ready in under 10 minutes and is a meal that the entire family will absolutely devour. I promise. Serve it with some Crispy Baked Broccoli or Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes.

Today it rained. Again. I promise I will stop talking about the rain soon — as soon as the rain stops, anyway. Which will be soon, right? I feel like it could be on its way out, especially since yesterday the sun came out mid-afternoon and it was gorgeous. So I'll take that as a sign that the sun really wants to be out more often. Fingers crossed.

But when it is raining, I'm all about drinking hot cocoa and curling up with a good book from my new favorite genre: books about cooks or cooking. Not to be confused with cookbooks, but these are books about food and chefs and cooking.

There are plenty of amazing books in this genre that span both fiction and non-fiction and I can definitely recommend many (Blood, Bones & Butter, In Defense of Food, Hoosh, The Kitchen Daughter) as well as this gem by Jenna Weber from which this recipe was inspired: White Jacket Required. It is a beautiful story of her culinary coming of age that is also full of yummy recipes. When I made this chicken I served it with some simple homemade cranberry sauce and roasted asparagus, but it lends itself to lots of different side combinations.

There's just something though about that sweet crust atop a moist, juicy chicken breast. Plus, the sear really gives the bites of chicken...well, bite. It's no ordinary boneless, skinless chicken breast, I'll tell ya.

Side Dishes to Serve with Brown Sugar Chicken

Chicken is pretty versatile, and this version is no different.

• Try serving the chicken with a side of One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice.
• Lightly buttered or oiled high-fiber, wide egg noodles go great with this chicken and then just add a veggie.
• Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans... well you get the picture. Basically, any roasted veggie goes great with this chicken.
• Make a big salad that can be shared by everyone at the table.
• Rolls, bread, or biscuits are great with chicken.
• Whole grain or alternative pasta varieties add a little "hidden" nutrition to your meal.

Ways to Serve Brown Sugar Chicken

• Serve this chicken right on top of noodles or rice with spoonfuls of sauce ladled right on top — yum!
• Make a chicken sandwich by putting the chicken breasts between two layers of whole wheat bread, sourdough bread, a biscuit, or a bagel thin.
• Make lettuce wraps with romaine or bibb lettuce. Top with a bit of sweet barbecue sauce, banana peppers, caramelized onions, or even bread and butter pickle slices.
• Try using diced chicken inside a quesadilla. Add a little Monterey jack or queso fresco to "glue" the tortillas together. Dip in barbecue sauce.
• Did someone say chicken and waffles?
• Add this chicken inside a sweet potato for some delicious, sweet, stuffing.
• Top your favorite salad with slices of this Brown Sugar Chicken.

How Can I Use Leftover Brown Sugar Chicken?

• I love making chicken salad with leftover, cooked chicken breasts.
• Cold chicken sandwiches with all the fixings are soooo good with leftover chicken.
• Reheat the chicken and fold inside leftover pasta or even macaroni and cheese.
• This chicken is great diced and put inside a spring roll or egg roll.
• Try making your own burrito bowl with chicken, rice, pickled cabbage or onions, diced tomatoes, and black beans.
• Add this chicken hot or cold to a quick tossed salad.
• Toss it in a taco, then add your favorite toppings. You can "taco" just about anything, I'll tell ya.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs in This Recipe?

Absolutely, you can substitute chicken thighs. Keep in mind, the thigh has darker meat and isn't as lean, but it's still considered leaner than most beef cuts. You won't have to pound out the chicken thighs before baking. Though you might want to trim off any extra fat first before dredging in the flour mixture.

Can I Make Brown Sugar Chicken in the Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook this off in the slow cooker, but first, go ahead and follow steps 1-5. When you take the chicken out of the pan, put it into the slow cooker. Then, make the sauce by using lemon juice to deglaze the pan. Pour this sauce on top of the chicken in the slow cooker and add the brown sugar. Cook on low for 3-4 hours. It will be juicier than if you baked it for less time. But it will still be just as delicious!