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Honey Mustard Chicken
If you’re looking for a dinner that delivers BIG flavor without a lot of effort, this Honey Mustard Chicken is a winner.
A sweet and tangy sauce, tender chicken, and the fresh kick of rosemary—what’s not to love?
It’s simple enough for a weeknight but delicious enough to impress anyone at your table.
Get ready to fall in love with this easy, mouthwatering recipe!
Why You’ll Keep Coming Back to This Honey Mustard Chicken
There’s something so satisfying about a dinner that comes together with a handful of simple ingredients but tastes like you put in much more effort. This honey mustard chicken is exactly that kind of recipe.
The chicken bakes in a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce with sautéed onion, garlic, and fresh rosemary, filling the kitchen with the kind of cozy, savory smell that makes everyone start asking when dinner will be ready.
I love this recipe for busy nights because there’s nothing complicated about it. You make the sauce, get the onion and garlic going, add the chicken, and let the oven take it from there. By the time dinner is ready, the sauce has thickened around the chicken and everything is tender, flavorful, and ready to serve.
And because this recipe makes plenty, it’s also one of those dinners that can make the next few days a little easier. Serve it with vegetables, rice, or mashed potatoes, and you have a comforting meal that feels just as good on a weeknight as it does around a table with family and friends.
For Honey Mustard Chicken Sauce
- Grainy Mustard – Adds texture and tang to the sauce.
- Dijon Mustard – Smooth and sharp for a balanced flavor.
- Honey – Provides sweetness and depth to the sauce.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Helps to combine the ingredients and adds richness.
For the Chicken
- Yellow Onion – Sautéed to bring out sweetness and flavor.
- Garlic – Adds fragrance and depth to the dish.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Tenderloins – Lean, tender protein choice.
- Salt and Pepper – To taste, enhances all the flavors.
- Fresh Rosemary – Provides a fragrant herbaceous kick.
How to Make Honey Mustard Chicken
This recipe is really as simple as making the sauce, layering everything into your baking dish, and letting the oven do the work.
Make the honey mustard sauce
Start by stirring together the grainy mustard, Dijon mustard, honey, and olive oil. You want the mixture to be smooth and well combined before setting it aside.
I love using both grainy mustard and Dijon here. The grainy mustard adds a little texture, while the Dijon gives the sauce that sharp, tangy flavor that keeps the honey from making it too sweet.
Sauté the onion and garlic
Next, sauté the diced onion until it becomes golden and tender. Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant.
This little step adds so much flavor to the finished dish. The onion becomes sweet and soft, while the garlic gives the chicken a savory base as everything bakes together.
Add the chicken
Place the chicken tenderloins over the cooked onion and garlic and season them with salt and pepper.
If your skillet isn’t oven-safe, simply transfer the onion and garlic mixture to an oven-safe baking dish before adding the chicken.
Pour over the sauce
Pour the honey mustard sauce over the chicken, then arrange the fresh rosemary around it.
At this point, everything is ready for the oven. The rosemary adds a wonderful fresh, woodsy flavor as it bakes, and the sauce slowly works its way around the chicken.
Bake and baste
Cover the dish and bake the chicken at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes. Then uncover the dish, baste the chicken with the sauce, and return it to the oven.
That final uncovered time is important because it gives the sauce a chance to thicken and the chicken to become beautifully golden. When it’s finished, the chicken should be fully cooked and coated in that delicious honey mustard sauce.
Honey Mustard Chicken Variations
This is one of those recipes that is easy to adapt depending on what you have in the kitchen or what your family likes.
Use chicken thighs. As mentioned in the recipe notes, boneless skinless chicken thighs are a great substitute for the tenderloins. They’re juicy and flavorful, and you can also use bone-in or skin-on thighs if that’s what you have.
Make it spicy. If you like a little heat, add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the honey mustard sauce. You could even add some chopped jalapeño for a fresh kick.
Change the mustard. Don’t have Dijon? Yellow mustard or spicy brown mustard will work, too. The flavor won’t be exactly the same, but you’ll still get that delicious sweet-and-tangy sauce.
Keep it simple. On especially busy nights, you can skip sautéing the onion and garlic and make the quicker version included in the recipe notes. Just mix the mustards, honey, and olive oil together and continue with the recipe as directed.
Expert Tips for Honey Mustard Chicken
A few simple things will help you get the best results every time you make this recipe.
Let the onion get golden. Don’t rush this step. Giving the onion a few minutes to soften and brown brings out its natural sweetness and adds another layer of flavor to the chicken.
Don’t overcook the garlic. Garlic only needs a minute or two to become fragrant. Once you can smell it, you’re ready for the next step.
Baste the chicken. When you uncover the dish, spoon some of that sauce back over the chicken before returning it to the oven. It helps keep the chicken coated in all that delicious flavor.
Keep an eye on the chicken. Chicken tenderloins can vary in size, so the exact cooking time can vary, too. Make sure the chicken is fully cooked before serving.
Don’t skip the rosemary. Fresh rosemary adds a lovely savory, herbal note that balances the sweetness of the honey. It’s a small ingredient, but it makes this dish feel extra special.
Mistakes to Avoid
This is a very forgiving recipe, but there are a few things worth keeping in mind.
First, don’t let the garlic cook too long when you’re sautéing it with the onion. Burnt garlic can become bitter, and you really only need a minute or two to bring out its flavor.
It’s also worth taking the time to season the chicken with salt and pepper before adding the sauce. The honey mustard mixture brings plenty of flavor, but seasoning the chicken itself helps every bite taste balanced.
And don’t forget the uncovered portion of the baking time. Keeping the dish covered for the entire cooking process won’t give the sauce the same chance to thicken and the chicken to develop that beautiful golden finish.
Finally, don’t use the cooking time as your only test for doneness. Since chicken tenderloins aren’t always exactly the same size, check that the chicken is fully cooked before serving.
How to Store Honey Mustard Chicken
If you have leftovers, this chicken makes a great make-ahead lunch or easy dinner for another night.
Let the chicken cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. I like to store the chicken with some of the honey mustard sauce so it stays flavorful and moist when reheated.
When you’re ready to eat, warm the chicken until heated through. The sauce may thicken a little in the refrigerator, but it will loosen again as it warms.
You can also make the honey mustard sauce ahead of time. Store it in the refrigerator for up to a week, then simply pour it over the chicken when you’re ready to cook.
How to Serve Honey Mustard Chicken
This chicken is one of those recipes that makes choosing a side really easy.
For a simple weeknight dinner, serve it with roasted vegetables, steamed broccoli, or a crisp garden salad. The fresh vegetables balance the rich, sweet-and-tangy sauce perfectly.
If you’re looking for something a little more comforting, rice or mashed potatoes are both wonderful with this chicken. They give you something to soak up all that extra honey mustard sauce, which is definitely something you don’t want to waste.
You could also serve it with your favorite grain and a simple vegetable side for an easy meal that doesn’t require much planning.
However you serve it, make sure to spoon some of that sauce over the chicken before bringing it to the table. That’s the part everyone will want more of.
If you loved this rceipe, you’ll want to try these reader-favorite recipes next!
Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Cracker Barrel-Style Chicken and Dumplings
They’re just as comforting, flavorful, and easy to make for any weeknight dinner.
Honey Mustard Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
For the Honey Mustard Sauce
- 1/4 cup grainy mustard
- 1/4 cup smooth Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 tsp extra virgin olive oil
For the Chicken
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 3-4 small sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
Prepare the Honey Mustard Sauce
- In a small bowl, combine both types of mustard, honey, and 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Stir until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
Sauté the Onion and Garlic
- Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a sauté pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until golden and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Prepare the Chicken
- Place the chicken tenderloins on top of the cooked onion and garlic mixture. If your pan isn’t oven-safe, transfer the onion and garlic mixture into an oven-safe dish and add the chicken. Season the chicken with salt and pepper to your preference.
Add the Honey Mustard Sauce and Rosemary
- Pour the honey mustard sauce over the chicken and arrange the sprigs of rosemary around the chicken.
Bake the Chicken
- Cover the baking dish and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes. After this, uncover the dish, baste the chicken with the sauce, and return it to the oven. Continue baking uncovered for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened, the chicken is golden, and fully cooked through.
Notes
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs for the tenderloins if preferred. Boneless skinless thighs work great, but bone-in or skin-on thighs can also be used..
- For a quicker version, you can skip the onion and garlic steps entirely and simply mix the mustards, honey, and olive oil together. Proceed with the rest of the recipe as directed.
Nutrition
- Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken tenderloins?
Absolutely! Chicken thighs are juicier and more flavorful than tenderloins, so they make a great substitute. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time, as thighs may take a little longer to cook through. You’ll still get that delicious honey mustard flavor!
- What if I don’t have Dijon mustard?
No problem! You can substitute Dijon mustard with yellow mustard or spicy brown mustard. Each will offer a slightly different flavor profile, but they’ll still give you that tangy, savory kick in the sauce. Use whatever you have on hand!
- How can I make this recipe spicier?
If you like a bit of heat, add some cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or even a chopped jalapeño to the honey mustard sauce. Start with a small amount and adjust to your preferred spice level—it’s that easy!
- Can I prepare the sauce ahead of time?
Yes, you can! Make the honey mustard sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week. This way, you’ll save time on the day you cook and just pour it over the chicken when you’re ready to bake.
- What sides pair well with Honey Mustard Chicken?
This dish goes perfectly with roasted vegetables, steamed broccoli, or a fresh garden salad. You can even serve it with some rice or mashed potatoes to soak up that delicious sauce. The possibilities are endless!
