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Brown Sugar Skillet Chicken has only 3 ingredients and turns out delicious in 20 minutes. The brown sugar sauce is tasty and perfect over rice.
I am so excited to share this amazing recipe for brown sugar chicken. This is the best chicken and you will not believe how simple it is. It was one of those nights, when I was in the mood for something new, but had no idea what to make. Brown Sugar Chicken Recipe was born!
Our family has been eating it ever since. It is simply amazing. If you like bacon, try our brown sugar bacon wrapped chicken.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
This chicken dish is on a weekly rotation at my house. We have made it with skinless chicken thighs and chicken breast and both turned out amazing. The savory flavors combined with the juicy chicken creates the best weeknight meal.
You can add in your favorite fresh herbs such as thyme and rosemary to give it even more flavor. The sauce ingredients are simple and I always have them on hand.
Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – You can also use chicken thighs or chicken tenders
- Olive Oil – Use oil of you choice
- Brown Sugar – You can make your own brown sugar at home. Also check out The Best Brown Sugar Substitutes.
- Water – For more flavor, use chicken broth
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
How to Make Brown Sugar Chicken in a Skillet
- In a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Add in chicken.
- Brown both sides and season with salt and pepper (3-5 minutes per side).
- Stir together the brown sugar and water until well combined.
- Add the brown sugar mixture to the pan and bring to a boil.
- Then reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Flipping the chicken regularly.
- Then let the chicken and sauce sit for approximately 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Serve with your favorite sides.
Expert Tips
- Skillet – We recommend using a cast iron skillet to cook this recipe. It give the chicken amazing chicken and it cooks the chicken quick and easy.
- Preparing Chicken – Try to cook chicken that is about the same size. If the chicken is thicker, we like to filet to make thinner chicken. It helps to cook quickly.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe is delicious served with Instant pot White Rice Recipe. You can learn how to freeze rice and you can make this meal even easier. I love to grab the rice from the freezer in the morning and when we come home it is all ready to reheat and serve.
Other ideas include Quick & Easy Baked Beans and Sweet Honey Corn Bread. It is also delicious with Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Recipe and microwaved steamed broccoli.
The brown sugar sauce tastes amazing over the rice or mashed potatoes with a ton of flavor. This meal is also good with asparagus. This oven roasted asparagus is a family favorite and it is very simple and quick to make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked.
Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Yes, you can freeze this chicken cooked or uncooked in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight when ready to serve.
More Easy Skillet Recipes
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Tex-Mex Skillet Chicken Recipe
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Easy Skillet Salsa Chicken Recipe
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Skillet Chicken and Rice Burritos Recipe
We love to hear from you. If you make this Brown Sugar Skillet Chicken Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Brown Sugar Skillet Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 Boneless Skinless chicken breast Filet them or slice them to chicken tenders
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat. Add in chicken.
- Brown both sides and season with salt and pepper (3-5 minutes per side).
- Stir together the brown sugar and water until well combined.
- Add the brown sugar mixture to the pan and bring to a boil.
- Then reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Flipping the chicken regularly.
- Then let the chicken and sauce sit for approximately 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Serve with your favorite sides.
Loved it!
I’ve made it 3 times now, last was with full legs, wonderful and so easy.
OMG Carrie: All your recipes sound so scrumptious, I am going to try a lot of them, especially the chicken ones & hamburger ones. I like a recipe that is very quick & easy & not too spicey, your recipes are right up my alley. Thankyou & keep these recipes coming.
I loved this recipe. I used to dread cooking chicken, but learning all these tricks to make the chicken juicey and tender. I also loved that it wasn’t very sweet.
This is quick and easy both the basic and the bacon version. Fantastic
Delicious and very easy to make. A big hit with the whole family!
Sorry – I’m not sure what happened. Since it’s a larger serving, you would want to use a large pan or work in batches in a small pan. We simmered the chicken on low until the sauce thickened, so it’s hard know exactly why yours did not thicken. Thanks.
i just made this for a serving for 6…sauce didn’t thicken. i used 1/3 cup brown sugar & 3/4 of water like the recipe called for, very watery and no taste, probably cause it didn’t thicken and watered downed? what did i do wrong??
I want to try all of them.
Oh I am glad you loved it!
I just made this for lunch and it was so yummy. Quick and easy too. Thank-you so much for all your recipes!