Honey Mustard Chicken: Easy Bake Recipe

Most of us have a jar of honey sitting on the shelf for months, sometimes even years, and we don't find heart-stealing recipes to empty the jar and put it to good use. Yet there are still some world-recognized uses of honey in different recipes that have given it a lot of credit around the globe and all you need to do is find and try them.

One of the easiest ways to bring that forgotten jar back into the spotlight is trying sweet and savory recipes. The best example can be Honey Mustard Chicken you've probably heard of or seen fans rave about. Once you start to prepare it, there is no going back. What makes this recipe a perfect preparation is that the sweetness of honey is kept in check by the sharpness of mustard, turning a simple chicken dinner into a simply satisfying meal.

The Sauce- Heart of All Flavors

The effort you put into sauce-making decides the taste of the dish. So, patiently preparing it becomes important. Too much honey in the preparation, the extreme sweetness gets in every bite and too little then you lose the mellow sweetness that gives it its signature character. The balance is what keeps the sweet and tangy flavors alive in each bite without one overshadowing the other.

A good starting point is 1 part honey to 1 part mustard, a small splash of lemon juice or vinegar- this is how you get the perfect balance of the flavors. Once the initial blend gets right, you can now adjust the ingredients gradually, this will make the recipe work perfectly rather than making large additions all at once.

Last but not least, warm the sauce for some minutes on low heat so the honey softens the mustard's sharpness. A proper blend of the whole mix and you get smooth and silky sauce just as expected.

Steps to Follow

• Prepare the Sauce

• Season the Chicken

• Sear the Chicken

• Honey Mustard Sauce is added.

• Bake the Chicken

• Serve

Ingredients You Need

Honey, Dijon mustard, mustard seeds, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil(or any other oil you like), paprika, salt and dried thyme or rosemary are added to the sauce.

You can get salt and pepper, for seasoning; and you need some olive oil for searing.

Cooking Part – Every Step Counts

Season with salt and pepper and sear until brownish golden, for cooking. It's not necessary to cook the inside part of the whole piece in this step since we will bake later on.

In the next step, it's time to add the nicely colored chicken to the prepared sauce and let it simmer! After about 5 minutes, remove the chicken from the pan and place it in the oven to bake. Reserve some of the sauce to put on top.

While you wait, properly let the chicken cook. The cooking times may vary with the chicken cut you choose, size and thickness. Finally, with the remaining sauce over the chicken, your Honey Mustard Chicken is ready to eat.

It's now time for the shiny, and very palatable honey mustard chicken to be served. Eat it with a bowl of steamed rice or mashed potatoes to enjoy it the most.

What To Do

1. So, get the proportions of honey: mustard right. The best way to get this is to begin with equal parts then only increase the content.
2. Added to the ratio, there is another important factor regarding the sauce. Test it out prior to putting it on the chicken, and make adjustments if necessary, before pouring it on the chicken.
3. Use medium or low heat when cooking so that the honey does not scorch.
4. Red chili flakes, Cayenne pepper or a hint of hot sauce may be added (for the spicy version).

What Not To Do

1. Don't pour in all the honey in one go as it may sweeten the sauce too much.
2. Do NOT overcook the chicken. The chicken is also as important to the dish as the sauce, and is best particularly when it is tender and juicy.

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