‘No recipe’ baked honey mustard chicken

14 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

You barely need a recipe for this honey mustard chicken. It’s made with only 3 main ingredients, plus a handful of (optional) added extras.

A closeup of \'No recipe\' baked honey mustard chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli in a white bowl.

‘No recipe’ chicken

This is one of those recipes that’s hardly even a recipe.

After making it for the first time – second time at the most – you’ve got the ingredients and amounts memorized. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really care for scrutinizing a recipe on a week night – I just want that food on the table as easily and as fast as I can!

This is one of those recipes that easily makes it to your list of week night fail safes. Because it’s just so easy. And yet something that the whole family will love.

A closeup of baked honey mustard chicken in a baking dish from above.

Ingredients

You’re very likely to have the main ingredients already – chicken thighs, honey, and mustard.

I also add garlic cloves (unpeeled, so you squeeze out the roasted deliciousness into the dish when it’s on your plate!), rosemary sprigs and a bit of apple cider vinegar to the dish.

The apple cider vinegar is just to balance out the sweetness of the honey a bit.  You could use lemon juice for this purpose if you prefer or.

But you can skip any or all of the additions if you don’t have them or want to keep things super simple.

I wouldn’t skip the herbs (add any you happen to have – rosemary, oregano, basil… ). Dried will work fine if you don’t have fresh.

Ingredients for baked honey mustard chicken in a red baking dish before going in the oven.
This is what your dish will look like before you throw it into the oven

How to make it

  1. Arrange the chicken in a baking dish. Tuck garlic cloves around it.
  2. Whisk together the simple honey mustard sauce ingredients.
  3. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
  4. Bake!

If you’ve never tried honey mustard chicken before, you won’t believe what a match made in heaven these ingredients are.

After just over half an hour’s oven time, you end up with tender, browned chicken drenched in an incredible tasting sauce. It’s one of those recipes that ends up seeming quite fancy. In fact, I even think I’d serve it to guests.

How to serve it

I serve my ‘no-recipe’ honey mustard chicken with creamy mashed potatoes and broccoli, but serve it with any carb and veggies of your choice. Rice works really well, as does tagliatelle or crusty bread.

More ‘no recipe’ recipes!

  • Slice chicken breasts in half, lay in a baking dish and sprinkle feta cheese, dried oregano, lemon juice and olive oil over the top and you get these quick Greek baked lemon chicken breasts!

IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, LET ME KNOW HOW YOU GET ON BY LEAVING A COMMENT AND RATING BELOW… AND DON’T FORGET TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE ALL MY NEW RECIPES BY EMAIL!

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST AND YOUTUBE.

Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
A closeup of baked honey mustard chicken and potatoes in a white bowl.
4 from 1 vote

‘No recipe’ baked honey mustard chicken

A recipe for delicious baked chicken in a honey mustard sauce that’s so easy that you won’t even need a recipe after you’ve made it a couple of times. A perfect week night meal served with creamy mashed potatoes and vegetables that the whole family will enjoy.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients  

  • 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • salt and pepper
  • 8 garlic cloves, skin still on (optional)
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup wholegrain mustard
  • 1/2 cup runny honey
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, optional
  • a few sprigs of fresh herbs e.g. rosemary, thyme, oregano (or ½ teaspoon dried)

Instructions 

  • Pre-heat the oven to 180C / 355F. Arrange the chicken thighs in a baking dish and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Tuck the garlic cloves (if using) in between the chicken thighs.
  • Whisk the mustards, honey and vinegar / lemon juice (if using) together in a jug or bowl, then pour all over the chicken. Scatter the herb sprigs / dried herbs over the dish.
  • Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the chicken is golden and cooked through.
  • Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, pasta or bread, and a vegetable / vegetables of your choice.

Notes

This recipe is quite flexible in that you don’t have to bother with some of the ingredients if you don’t want to. Skip the garlic and vinegar / lemon juice if you like! Use any herbs you happen to have! The essential components of this are the chicken, honey and mustard. Delicious!
If you’d like to use chicken breasts instead of thighs, go ahead! Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the breasts, but check after about 30 minutes (20-25 for smaller breasts). You might also like to spoon some of the sauce over the chicken about half way through cooking to stop it drying out (as chicken breasts can tend to do!).

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 45g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 214mg, Sodium: 557mg, Potassium: 642mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 35g, Vitamin A: 55IU, Vitamin C: 2.6mg, Calcium: 52mg, Iron: 2.6mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Helen Schofield

Don't expect to find anything fussy or complicated here. Just QUICK, EASY & (mostly!) HEALTHY recipes from the Mediterranean and beyond. ENJOY!

You May Also Like:

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

14 Comments

  1. This is the perfect way to have a lazy day and still eat like royalty. I’m so excited to make this for my father-in-law – he LOVES anything honey mustard. He’ll think I worked my fingers to the bone.

    1. Awww, so pleased you’re keen to give this a go for dad-in-law. Really hope it lives up to expectations!

  2. I was-also having one of these lazy Sundays and we need quick and easy chicken dishes like yours that uses easy pantry supplies. Look so delicious and juicy! Pinning!

  3. Mmm…. Helen, this sounds wonderful! I love honey mustard chicken and this recipe is so perfect for a lazy Sunday or weeknight meal. Quick, easy, and totally delicious! And you’re right, I already have everything on hand – winner, winner, chicken dinner!

  4. Helen, je crois que je suis dans un ce ces jours que tu décrit bien. Un de ces jours, que je n’est pas très envie de cuisiner et surtout de réfléchir! la bonne nouvelle ce que je viens de voir ta recette et que juste aujourd’hui j’avais acheté des blancs de poulet. Le reste des ingrédients, je les ai déjà! Merci pour cette super recette! Belle semaine.

    1. Je suis ravie que tu vas faire cette recette aujourd’hui, Eva! J’espere que tu l’aimes! 🙂

  5. I have one of these days very often and I love when a good dish comes out of it. I’m loving the idea of the whole cooked garlic cloves to squeeze onto the finished dish. Great ‘no recipe’ 🙂

    1. Thanks, Janette. I love that little roasted garlic trick – works so well when there’s a yummy sauce to squeeze it into. 🙂

  6. My family (my teenage kids specifically)
    Are weird about thighs. Will breasts work here?

    1. Hi Jen! Breasts will work just fine (I should amend the recipe!). The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the breasts, of course, but I’d say check after about 30 minutes (20-25 if they’re smaller breasts). You could also baste with the sauce about half way through cooking just to make sure they don’t dry out (as breasts sometimes can). Hope you enjoy it!