This pan-seared garlic brown sugar chicken is our juicy go-to chicken breast recipe that’ll save your busy weeknights. Made with just 4 ingredients in 30 minutes, the whole family will be craving this sweet and savory chicken dinner!
Why You’ll Love This Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken
This brown sugar garlic chicken is juicy, tender and goes with just about any side dish! Here’s why you will love it:
- Quick: Dinner will be on the table in just 25 minutes!
- Sweet and Savory: There’s a perfect balance of flavors between the garlic’s fragrance, brown sugar, and spicy black pepper.
- Budget Friendly: You only need 4 simple ingredients and a little salt and pepper!
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Cook the chicken in advance and reheat throughout the week for an extra easy lunch or dinner!
What You’ll Need
Notice the pattern with the rule of 4’s! 4 main ingredients and you need 4 of each! Super easy to remember when you are at the grocery store or in a rush. Scroll down to the recipe card for exact amounts.
- Chicken Breasts: I used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but this recipe will also work with boneless chicken thighs.
- Butter: Unsalted is best. Reduce the salt in the rest of the recipe if you use salted butter.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is a must in this recipe to get good flavor. Instead of mincing the garlic, try slicing it to get even more garlic flavor in each bite! You can use 1 teaspoon garlic powder in a pinch.
- Brown Sugar: Use dark brown sugar for a richer flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: Go for kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper. Black pepper is more important than it seems as balances the brown sugar.
How to Make Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken
Adding another 2 teaspoons of finely chopped garlic before covering the pan will increase the recipe’s garlicky punch for those of us who can never have enough garlic! Scroll to the recipe card at bottom of the post for full detailed instructions.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to the chicken on all sides. Set it aside.
- Garlic: Melt the butter in a pan. Add the garlic and cook it until fragrant.
- Chicken: Place the chicken in the pan and let it cook on both sides until no longer pink.
- Sugar: Top chicken with brown sugar, cover the pan and cook until the sugar melts. Serve immediately!
Chef’s Tips
A few tips to ensure your chicken turns out perfect:
- Spicy: Sweet and spicy is an amazing combination! Add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or chili oil to taste for some heat.
- BBQ Sauce: Pour 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce over the chicken and let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove it from the heat and enjoy.
- Thermometer: Stick a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the brown sugar chicken breast. It should read an internal temperature of 165°F once done. This will ensure you do not over cook and dry out your chicken!
- Add Herbs: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of fresh or dried rosemary, thyme, or sage into the pan when you cook the garlic. Let it release its aroma and cook the chicken as usual for hints of herbiness.
- Marinate: Mix 1/4 cup of olive oil, 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic, and 1/4 cup honey mustard until well combined. Place the chicken inside a large plastic bag or bowl with the marinade. Shake well and refrigerate it overnight. The next day pour off the excess and prepare as usual, grill, or bake the chicken!
What Goes With Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken?
This juicy brown sugar chicken recipe is great with just about anything. I particularly love it with pasta, brown or white rice, or roasted vegetables. Here are a few suggestions:
- Roasted Mushrooms: So easy and herb-y.
- Cucumber Tomato Salad: Light and refreshing.
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges: Loaded with spices and addictive.
- Cilantro Lime Rice: Pairs perfectly with sweet and savory chicken.
- Herb Roasted Potatoes: Crispy outsides and tender insides.
- Homemade Garlic Knots: So warm, soft and tender.
- Sautéed Green Beans: My favorite green beans!
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Always let food cool completely before refrigerating or freezing to avoid spoilage.
- Fridge: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Place the chicken in a freezer bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat as usual.
- Reheat: Sprinkle chicken with 1 teaspoon water and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. You can also heat it in a covered skillet, with a little water, over medium heat for about 8 minutes. For large portions, place in a covered baking dish and bake in oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes.
Yield: 4 servings
Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken
This juicy garlic brown sugar chicken recipe is an easy sweet and savory dinner perfect with just about any side you can think of!
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, about 1.5 pounds
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, sliced
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts and set aside.
- In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Add chicken, cover pan, and cook for 12 minutes. Flip chicken breasts and continue cooking until the chicken is cooked throughly (once the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165°F on an instant read meat thermometer).
- Sprinkle the tops of each chicken breast with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Cover pan with lid once more and let the brown sugar melt, about 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately.
Notes
Store: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Place the chicken in a freezer bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat as usual.
Reheat: Sprinkle chicken with 1 teaspoon water and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. You can also heat it in a covered skillet, with a little water, over medium heat for about 8 minutes. For large portions, place in a covered baking dish and bake in oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes.
Spicy: Sweet and spicy is an amazing combination! Add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or chili oil to taste for some heat.
BBQ Sauce: Pour 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce over the chicken and let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove it from the heat and enjoy.
Add Herbs: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of fresh or dried rosemary, thyme, or sage into the pan when you cook the garlic. Let it release its aroma and cook the chicken as usual for hints of herbiness.
Marinate: Mix 1/4 cup of olive oil, 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic, and 1/4 cup honey mustard until well combined. Place the chicken inside a large plastic bag or bowl with the marinade. Shake well and refrigerate it overnight. The next day pour off the excess and prepare as usual, grill, or bake the chicken!
Nutrition
Serving: 1chicken breast, Calories: 344kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 139mg, Sodium: 291mg, Potassium: 661mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 401IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 1mg
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I added just a little paprika to one side (because I ran out), but otherwise followed the recipe ingredients and it was delicious! Like absolutely fantastic.
I make chicken my main meat for a lot of recipes and I seriously can’t wait to make it again. I paired it with some garlic butter instant potatoes, and both my fiancé and I agree, had we not both been stuffed, I’d have gone to the store to get more chicken! Thank you!
Okay, I’ve made this twice now, and I am NOT a novice cook, and both times have failed. You can’t cook butter, or garlic, at “medium high” for 24 minutes. They burn. Even 2 minutes at that heat will burn them. (Even with the flame turned down to medium low, they burned after about 8 minutes.) So, there’s something unusual about your setup that you’re having success. Either that or you have a typo in your recipe.
Hi Paula, I think you may just have read wrong, it says:
“Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes”
Not, 24 minutes.
Hope this helps!
Looks yummy! Are the chicken breasts boneless/skinless? Skin on? Thanks!!
Thanks for the reminder about this recipe! It was on our weekly rotation for a while but then my husband was in the hospital and I lost track of my recipes.
My whole family loves this recipe and I can’t wait to surprise them with it again! Thanks!!
I made this tonight- Have to say, it’s amazing!!
This looks delicious! About how long does it take for the chicken to cook all the way through after the covered 12 minutes? Sorry for the dumb question – i always overcook things in fear of poisoning my family with uncooked beef/poultry ;)
It depends on the thickness of your chicken breasts. If you are not comfortable cooking chicken, I suggest buying a meat thermometer! They are not expensive and you will never overcook (or undercook) chicken again! :-)
I just made this tonight and it was great! I really loved the simplicity of it and the delicious taste of the chicken. I am a self proclaimed dipper (always into something: bbq sauce, honey mustard) but I didn’t have to put anything on this delicious chicken!
I made this a few weeks ago and it was delicious! We loved the garlic ‘n sugar mix – and I loved the simplicity even more! My photos are awful compared to yours but I did share it on my blog today :) Thanks for passing it on – it’s definitely a keeper!
I tried this and did not like the combination of flavors. I should have gone with my instinct that I didn’t think brown sugar and garlic went well together.
I made this tonight and it was good but will be better the next time around as I will know more about what I’m doing!
I seasoned my chicken with some special seasoning we like and lots of pepper. Next time I’ll use just plain salt and pepper but regardless, my husband went back for seconds so I would say it was a success! Thanks for sharing!
This looks yummy and is great for a quick meal!
As far as the LFO comment goes…That song brings back so many memories, but I never would have equated it to being old! Eeeek! I guess it’s time to come to terms with that awful fact!
Gotta love a simple and yummy dinners!!! Never thought of putting brown sugar in anything savory like this :)
This looks like a wonderful recipe and I can’t wait to try it. In fact, it’s on the menu for this weekend with friends. It’s easy, quick and surely delish. Elegance with ease–just my style. Thanks for sharing.
LOVE IT
I just made this tonight and it was great! I really loved the simplicity of it and the delicious taste of the chicken. I am a self proclaimed dipper (always into something: bbq sauce, honey mustard) but I didn’t have to put anything on this delicious chicken!
Making this for dinner tonight! I have been trying to make more simple recipes lately due to the lack of time, expense of ingredients, amongst other reasons. This recipe totally fits the bill! Thanks for sharing can’t wait to see how it turns out!
I love simple recipes for weeknight meals. This sounds delicious.
I just made this tonight and it was delicious! I have a hard time cooking chicken, but this was awesome. Thank you!! :)
So glad to hear it! Gotta love when a simple meal is also delicious! :-D
Cooked this the other night, but my chicken breasts were too thick and I ended up overcooking them. The sauce was deliciously addicting so I’ll be cooking these again tonight and adding mushrooms to absorb some of the flavors!
Mmm looks so good! And now I have that song stuck in my head thanks lol ;-)
This looks really good!! And I’m one of those few who still remembers the words and I still have my TAPE of the album lol.
I saw this on Friday and went home and made it after work. It was easy and delicious! My kids loved it too! It’s definitely going into my recipe box! By the way, the sauce was very yummy over rice.
This sounds like the perfect chicken! Pinning :)
Ha, I loved Buffy too, I actually own all seven seasons.
This chicken looks simple and delicious, two of my favorite words! :D
This was soo good! My boyfriend and I loved it. Very easy to make. I used half the amount of butter called for and it still turned out great. Thank you
Any excuse to add sugar to dinner is kind of a win for me:-)
I’m making this next week!
I Pinned the picture from your original recipe and it got 141 repins! Needless to say, people know a good recipe when they see one :)
This chicken looks soooo good! And no worries, I know all the words to that song too! Rich Cronin (the lead singer) went to my high school and his sister was in my class for a while! He sadly passed away a year or so ago from cancer, so I love that people still listen to and remember him through his cheesy music!
(a) LOVE LFO. Still. Always. And forever. I wonder what happened to those boys…they were kind of a two hit wonder.
(b) Mmm garlic brown sugar. That sounds swoonworthy.
This looks like an awesome weeknight meal, or a meal to “assign” Nathan on his night to cook! As you know, I’ve been reading your blog a long time, but I don’t remember this one. Thanks for pulling it out of the archives!
i consider a garlic a food group all of it’s own so i’m totally down for this chicken.
talk to me when you can recite all the words to Butterfly by Crazytown. And if you can, we should be friends.
This looks so good!! I’ll have to make this one a night when I’m lazy (that shouldn’t take too long) and when I have to make myself something separate from the hubs. Bookmarked!
No joke, I totally can! Seriously!
What beautiful pictures! I need to literally trash my blog, take photography classes and START OVER. My first post will be this chicken. I must make it soon, it looks and sounds amazing!!!
Aw Mandy, I love your blog! Miss ya girl!
Bahahaha! Thanks a lot now you got that dumb LFO song in my head! I’m definitely going to make this! I have all the ingredients and am super intrigued by the flavor combos!
1) Your shirt is dang cute.
2) I love old posts! They make me giggle. Totes.
3) Seriously if I can’t eat this garlic brown sugar chicken in the next 30 seconds….
4) SOMEONE WILL PAY.
you are definitely not the only one who remembers the words to Summer Girls ;)
I’ve been needing a good, easy & quick chicken recipe! Thanks! :)
I love looking at people’s old photos! And I could totally sing every single word to that LFO song, it’s fine, we’re not old or anything. ;)
When I regain my sense of smell, I want this is mah belly!!!
By the way, Maculay Culkin was home alone. Fell deep in love but now we ain’t speakin’, Michael J. Fox was Alex P. Keaton. ;-)
I knew I liked you for a reason! :)
I saw a similar recipe recently in a magazine and loved the sweet/salty combo. This sounds amazing!
I love how simple this recipe is–to make *and* remember. And you’re right, I do have all that stuff in my kitchen right now! This is definitely going to be added to my weeknight rotation…and I’ll just have to play LFO while I make it. ;)
I’m always looking for new chicken recipes, thanks for digging this one up for us!
Sounds delicious! I love that you brought back some old recipes that some of us haven’t seen yet!
Dude I am STILL obsessed with LFO. Have both CDs on my computer and often work out to them. Sick.
I love you.
I eat so much chicken that I am always looking for ways to change it up- this looks like a tasty way to do so!
OMG I loved that LFO song. I haven’t heard it for years and years. Proper blast from the past!
I love how you’re revisiting old recipes, it’s so fun to see what’s in the archive and see what some of your favourites are! This sounds so delicious, I can imagine it entering our dinner rotation pretty quickly!
I love this rule of 4’s. More recipes should abide by this. It would make life much easier.
And your pictures are beautiful. You’ve seriously come such a long way since 2009. Well done!
That sounds wonderful and easy—nothing better than an easy dish on a weeknight! I’m glad you reblogged it, otherwise I probably never would have seen it!
I know all the words too. Got to love the early pictures. We all have them. Least I know I do. Mine still need work. Will have to give this chicken a shot. Never can have too many ways to cook chicken.
I gotta say – the recipe sounds FAB and your new pictures are terrific! Thank you SO much for showing us the old ones….I feel much better!
Off to see if I can pull up the original “Electric Avenue” from iTunes!