Carlsbad Cravings

Carlsbad Cravings

Navigation
You are here: Home / / Honey Mustard Chicken

Honey Mustard Chicken

by 32 Comments

Pin
Share
Tweet

Honey mustard chicken baked with potatoes and green beans for a flavor bursting meal-in-one!

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken is a no-fuss, one-pan-meal OR you can just bake the chicken – either way, this Honey Mustard Chicken is destined to become a go-to chicken dinner favorite!  The chicken breasts emerge outrageously juicy from a quick brine and then are slathered in a spice rub and smothered in the BEST homemade honey mustard sauce – no boring, one note Honey Mustard Chicken here!  The potatoes and green beans are tossed with salt and pepper then seep up the honey mustard drippings of the succulent baked chicken.  You can prep the entire dinner ahead of time then refrigerate and bake for all those busy weeknights.  Did someone say winner, winner chicken dinner?

Honey Mustard Chicken Recipe Video

top view of baked Honey Mustard Chicken and potatoes with green beans

This Honey Mustard Chicken was an instant winner at our house.  In fact, I made it twice in one week to perfect the recipe and it was gobbled up with pleasure both times.   It joins the ranks of my other popular one pan meals such as my Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp and Asparagus, Chili Dijon Pork with Potatoes and Green Beans, and Garlic Herb Chicken and Potatoes (see more here) – you just can’t beat cooking your protein and veggies/sides in one pan!

This easy, lazy day Honey Mustard Chicken uses pantry friendly ingredients to deliver a sweet and tangy one pan feast.   That being said, if you don’t have green beans or potatoes on hand, or would rather serve your Honey Mustard Chicken with something else, you can skip the vegetables entirely and just bake the Honey Mustard Chicken.  Just promise you’ll make this Honey Mustard Chicken because I guarantee it will be love at firsts bite!

baked honey mustard chicken breasts lined in a pan with potatoes and green beans

What Mustard Is best for Honey Mustard Sauce?

Mustard is made by mixing and/or grinding the seeds of the mustard plant with liquid.  We get different types of mustard depending on what seed and liquid is used.  I like to combine the following three different mustard to create a dynamic honey mustard sauce for this Honey Mustard  Chicken:

Dijon Mustard: made from fine ground hotter brown or black mustard seeds and white wine which give it a sharp, pungent flavor with a little heat.

Stone Ground Mustard:  mustard usually made with the hotter brown or black mustard seeds like Dijon mustard but the seeds are only partially ground down, leaving some whole, to create a thick paste. Stone Ground mustard is typically robust and sharp in flavor.

Yellow Mustard:  a mild, smooth mustard made from fine ground yellow mustard seeds and turmeric for a clean mustard taste.

showing how to make Honey Mustard Chicken by adding, yellow mustard, Dijon mustard and honey mustard to a glass bowl

How do you make honey and mustard sauce?

There are many different combinations for honey mustard but my favorite is a quick whisking of:

  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons stone ground mustard
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard

Each type of mustard offers its own varied mustard flair for multi-dimensional flavor.  If you taste the Honey Mustard Sauce just on its own, it might taste a little sweet, but when it envelops the chicken bursting with spices, it becomes a mesmerizing sweet and tangy combo.

You can make the Honey Mustard Sauce up to 1 week ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

showing how to make Honey Mustard Chicken by whisking together honey mustard sauce

Can I substitute Dijon or Stone Ground Mustard?

If you don’t typically stock Dijon, Stone Ground and Yellow Mustard, then you can just use yellow mustard plus either Dijon or Stone Ground and use half of each (3 tablespoons each).  For example,  you can use half yellow mustard (3 tablespoons) and either half Dijon or half Stone Ground (3 tablespoons).

up close of bests honey mustard chicken breasts with potatoes

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN JUICY?

When we think juicy chicken, we usually think juicy thighs – BUT you can transform your chicken breasts into the JUICIEST part of the chicken with a 15 minute brine!

You are probably familiar with brining a turkey, (and I always brine all my pork tenderloin), but brining chicken breasts will change your life!  Instead of dry, tough chicken, brining produces perfectly tender, juicy chicken, every single time without having to prep and plan ahead with a marinade.

top view of two plates of honey mustard chicken with potatoes and green beans

To brine chicken, all you do is mix kosher salt with warm water and add your chicken for 15-30 minutes.  The salt increases the moisture capacity of the chicken by breaking down the proteins so they can no longer contract when cooking.  This means less water will be squeezed out and lost, resulting in juicier chicken.   Another plus of brining is the chicken sits at room temperature which makes for more even cooking. Winning!

Just a quick note about brining – Do NOT use table salt in your brining solution, only kosher salt.  Table salt will make your chicken too salty.

Okay, now that you know how to make the juiciest chicken are you ready to make the juiciest Honey Mustard Chicken of your life?!

front up close view of baked honey mustard chicken breasts

How do you make honey mustard chicken?

You can just bake the Honey Mustard Chicken and omit the green beans and potatoes if you prefer and go straight to step 3.

Step 1:  Potatoes

Add potatoes to a microwave safe dish with enough water to fill 1/4” up the sides. Cover, and microwave for 6 minutes. Drain water and add potatoes to a lightly greased 9×13 baking dish.  Par-boiling the potatoes ensures they will all be cooked when the chicken is done otherwise they will cook unevenly because they are stacked on top of each other.
Toss the potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper then divide them in half and push to the sides of the pan, making room for the green beans down the middle. 

Step 2:  Green Beans

While the green beans are on still on the cutting board, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Each element of a dish should be seasoned so it is independently delicious and exponentially delicious all together.

showing how to make Honey Mustard Chicken by seasoning green beans with olive oil, salt and pepper
Line the green beans down the center of the pan in between the potatoes – they will not be in a single layer but slightly overlapping.
showing how to make Honey Mustard Chicken by layering red potatoes on the sides of the pan with green beans down the middle

Step 3:  Chicken

Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and all “chicken seasonings” to a large bowl and stir together to make a wet rub. Add chicken and massage the spices into the chicken with your hands. While the chicken is still in the bowl, coat both sides of the chicken evenly in the Honey Mustard Sauce. Transfer chicken to baking dish, and spoon over any remaining sauce/spices from the bowl.

showing how to make Honey Mustard Chicken by whisking spices with olive oil in a glass bowl
showing how to make Honey Mustard Chicken by rubbing chicken in spices

Step 4:  Bake

Cover Honey Mustard Chicken, green beans and potatoes with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-20 minutes OR until chicken is cooked through (an instant read thermometer should register 165 degrees F, cooking time may be more or less depending on thickness of chicken). Brush chicken again with Honey Mustard Sauce.

showing how to make Honey Mustard Chicken by layering green beans, potatoes and honey mustard chicken in a 9x13 pan

Step 5: Rest

Let chicken rest 5-10 minutes before slicing so the juices that have been pushed to the outside of the chicken while baking can be redistributed and reabsorbed.

front view of honey mustard chicken and potatoes in a blue baking dish

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BAKE CHICKEN?

This Honey Mustard Chicken takes anywhere from 25-40 minutes to bake depending on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts.  I highly recommend investing in a meat thermometer otherwise there is no accurate way to check and see when your chicken is cooked without slicing it open and loosing valuable juices.

When checking the temperature of the chicken, make sure you insert the thermometer at the thickest part of the meat.  The safe internal temperature for cooked chicken breasts is 165 degrees F, so I usually bake it to 160 because it will continue to bake at least to 165 as it rests for 10 minutes.

up close of bests honey mustard chicken breasts on green beans

How do you make honey mustard chicken thighs?

I chose boneless, skinless chicken breasts because they are leaner but emerge unbelievably juicy with a brine, but you are welcome to use chicken thighs if you prefer.  You do not need to brine chicken thighs.

To make Honey Mustard Chicken with chicken thighs, you can use either bone in, or boneless chicken thighs, but be sure to remove the skin otherwise the chicken and potatoes will be swimming in grease.  I also recommend searing the chicken thighs before adding to the potatoes and green beans to render some of the fat and to give the chicken even more flavor.

side view of easy honey mustard chicken breasts with honey mustard sauce

Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs, Bone In: 

  1. Remove skin from chicken thighs.
  2. Rub with spices according to directions.
  3. Sear for 3-5 minutes per side until golden then coat in 1/4 cup Honey Mustard Sauce.
  4. Place Chicken thighs on top of green beans.
  5. Cover and bake at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes, remove foil.  Check for doneness then continue to bake uncovered an additional 10-15 minutes if needed or until chicken is cooked through and registers 175 degrees F.

top view of a serving spoon serving up Honey Mustard Chicken and potatotes

Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs, Boneless 

  1. Remove skin from chicken thighs.
  2. Rub with spices according to directions.
  3. Sear for 3-5 minutes per side until golden then coat in 1/4 cup Honey Mustard Sauce.
  4. Place Chicken thighs on top of green beans.
  5. Cover and bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, remove foil and check for doneness.   Continue to bake, uncovered, an additional 5-10 minutes if needed OR until cooked through.

side view of easy honey mustard chicken on a plate with potatoes and green beans

How do you make honey mustard grilled chicken?

This Honey Mustard Chicken is so tantalizing you are going to want to make it in every form!  To make Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken:

    1. Brine chicken breasts according to directions.
    2. Grease and preheat the grill to medium heat, 375-450°F.
    3. Rub chicken with spices according to directions then coat in 1/4 cup Honey Mustard Sauce.
    1. Grill chicken over direct heat undisturbed for 5-7 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through (An inserted thermometer should read 165 degrees F).
  1. Remove chicken to cutting board and baste additional Honey Mustard Sauce.  Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
up close of a plate of baked honey mustard chicken laying on potatoes and green beans

CAN I MAKE HONEY MUSTARD CHICKEN AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes!  You can completely assemble the Honey Mustard Chicken with the potatoes and green beans up to the point of baking, cover tightly and refrigerate.  Cover and refrigerate the unused Honey Mustard Sauce separately.

When ready to bake, either let the dish sit at room temperature for 30 minutes (preferable) or be prepared to add an extra 10 minutes or so to the baking time.

pouring homemade honey mustard sauce over honey mustard chicken

WHAT SIDE DISHES GO WITH HONEY MUSTARD CHICKEN?

This Honey Mustard Chicken really is a meal-in-one but that doesn’t mean we can’t add more!  I like to serve it with:

up close of a juicy honey mustard chicken breast with honey mustard sauce

Looking for more Chicken Recipes?

Want to try this Honey Mustard Chicken Recipe?

Pin it to your DINNER, CHICKEN or ONE POT WONDER BOARD to save for later!

Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes!  I am always pinning :)!

©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

a fork taking a bit of juicy honey mustard chicken and potatoes with homemade honey mustard sauce

Print Recipe
 Honey Mustard Chicken
Baked Honey Mustard Chicken with OPTIONAL potatoes and green beans is a a no-fuss, one-pan-meal! The chicken breasts emerge outrageously juicy from a quick brine and then are slathered in a spice rub and smothered in the BEST honey mustard sauce - no boring, one note honey mustard chicken here!  The potatoes and green beans are tossed with salt and pepper then seep up the honey mustard drippings of the succulent baked chicken.  You can prep the entire dinner ahead of time then refrigerate and bake.  Did someone say winner, winner chicken dinner?
up close front view of front view of honey mustard chicken and potatoes in a blue baking dish
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
Rate this recipe!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings
-6 servings
Ingredients
Chicken
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken fillets (large chicken breasts sliced through the equator)
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 4 cups warm water
  • olive oil
  • 1 tsp EACH garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried parsley, salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • Pinch-1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Honey Mustard Sauce
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons stone ground mustard
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
Vegetables (optional)*
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 lbs. red potatoes cut into 1/2” cubes
  • 1 lb. green beans ends trimmed
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings
-6 servings
Ingredients
Chicken
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken fillets (large chicken breasts sliced through the equator)
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 4 cups warm water
  • olive oil
  • 1 tsp EACH garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried parsley, salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • Pinch-1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Honey Mustard Sauce
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons stone ground mustard
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
Vegetables (optional)*
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 lbs. red potatoes cut into 1/2” cubes
  • 1 lb. green beans ends trimmed
up close front view of front view of honey mustard chicken and potatoes in a blue baking dish
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Combine warm water and kosher salt together in a glass dish. Stir until the salt dissolves. Add chicken and let sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes while you prep the rest of your ingredients. Remove chicken from the brine, rinse in cold water and pat dry.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk together honey mustard sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Remove 1/4 cup (to coat chicken before it bakes). Set aside.
  3. Add potatoes to a microwave safe dish. Add enough water to fill 1/4” up the sides. Cover, and microwave for 6 minutes. Drain water and add potatoes to a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish. Add one tablespoon olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Toss to evenly coat then divide potatoes in half and push to the sides of the pan, making room for the green beans down the middle (see photos in post).
  4. While the green beans are on the cutting board, toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Line green beans down the center of the pan in between the potatoes (they will not be in a single layer but slightly overlapping).
  5. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and all “chicken seasonings” to a large bowl; stir together to make a wet rub. Add chicken and massage spices into the chicken with hands. Using the 1/4 cup reserved Honey Mustard Sauce, coat both sides of the chicken evenly in sauce. Transfer chicken to baking dish, and spoon over any remaining sauce/spices from the bowl.
  6. Cover pan with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover and check for doneness with a meat thermometer. If needed, continue to bake, uncovered, an additional 10-20 minutes OR until chicken is cooked through (an instant read thermometer should register 165 degrees F, cooking time may be more or less depending on thickness of chicken). Let chicken rest 5-10 minutes before slicing chicken. Serve with remaining Honey Mustard Sauce.
Recipe Notes

*You can use less potatoes and/or green beans and adjust olive oil, salt and pepper accordingly.

Can I substitute Dijon or Stone Ground Mustard?

If you don't typically stock Dijon, Stone Ground and Yellow Mustard, then you can just use yellow mustard plus either Dijon or Stone Ground and increase the measurements to 3 tablespoons each instead of 2 each.  For example,  you can use half yellow mustard (3 tablespoons) and either half Dijon or half Stone Ground (3 tablespoons)

CAN I MAKE HONEY MUSTARD CHICKEN AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes!  You can completely assemble the Honey Mustard Chicken with the potatoes and green beans up to the point of baking, cover tightly and refrigerate.  Cover and refrigerate the unused Honey Mustard Sauce separately.  When ready to bake, either let the dish sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or be prepared to add an extra 10 minutes or so to the baking time.

Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs, Bone In: 

  1. Remove skin from chicken thighs.
  2. Rub with spices according to directions.
  3. Sear for 3-5 minutes per side until golden then coat in 1/4 cup Honey Mustard Sauce.
  4. Place Chicken thighs on top of green beans.
  5. Cover and bake at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes, remove foil.  Check for doneness then continue to bake uncovered an additional 10-15 minutes if needed or until chicken is cooked through and registers 175 degrees F.

Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs, Boneless 

  1. Remove skin from chicken thighs.
  2. Rub with spices according to directions.
  3. Sear for 3-5 minutes per side until golden then coat in 1/4 cup Honey Mustard Sauce.
  4. Place Chicken thighs on top of green beans.
  5. Cover and bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, remove foil and check for doneness.   Continue to bake, uncovered, an additional 5-10 minutes if needed OR until cooked through.

Carlsbad Cravings Original

Never miss a Carlsbad Cravings Creation:

Facebook /  Google+ / Instagram /  Pinterest / Twitter

CRAVE MORE RECIPES HERE

dinner-ideas-650-final

You might also like these easy dinners:

Chicken Divan

Honey Mustard Chicken

Weeknight Spaghetti Bolognese

Quick and easy Weeknight Spaghetti Bolognese bursting with flavor on your table in under 30 minutes but tastes like its been simmering all day! We make this recipe more than ANY OTHER RECIPE!

Green Chicken Chile Enchiladas

These are the BEST Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas I have ever had!!!  They are easy to make, satisfyingly rich, cheesy, creamy and saucy - no dry chicken enchiladas here! And the homemade green chile sour cream white sauce is out of this world!

White Chicken Lasagna Soup

Easy One Pot White Chicken Lasagna Soup - my family LOVES this soup! It tastes just like creamy white chicken lasagna without all the layering or dishes! Simply saute chicken and veggies and dump in all ingredients and simmer away!

Pin
Share
Tweet

Comments

  1. Did you really mean 1/4 cup kosher salt ?

    Reply

    • Yes, it is just the amount for the brine and then it gets rinsed off.

      Reply

  2. you are an amazing cook and person! I look so forward to reading all of your posts. I learn so much from your history of foods and spices, and your photography is out of this world. Keep up the great job! p.s. your husband is one lucky guy! you must give a lot of food away to stay as thin as you are….haha

    Reply

    • Thank you so much Lori for taking the time to comment and make my day! I love hearing that you enjoy reading my posts and my photography. I never expected a food blog to encompass so many different aspects, but I love sharing every single one! I’m excited for you to try this Honey Mustard Chicken recipe!

      Reply

  3. Fellow Carlsbad resident here 🙂 just wanted to say thank you for all your phenomenal recipes. You have helped get me out of my cooking rut, and my family thanks you too! I have learned so many tips and tricks from you and appreciate all the research and info you provide along with your amazing recipes!

    Reply

    • Hi neighbor, what a small world! Thank you so much for taking the time to say HI! I am so happy my recipes have helped you get out of your cooking rut and you’re learning some tips along the way! I hope you continue to find many new favorites here!

      Reply

  4. Had all the ingredients so made this for the family over the weekend, it was absolutely delicious and perfect for a winter evening. I really haven’t jumped onboard with the sheet pan dinner trend but this is a game changer and a do-over. Thank you!

    Reply

    • You are so welcome Stephanie! I’m so pleased this Honey Mustard Chicken was a winner and changed your opinion of one pan meals!

      Reply

  5. mmm this sounds soo good! I love me some chicken things!

    “4. Place Chicken things on top of green beans.”

    I love funny typos 🙂 You have so many good yummy recipes! Thanks again for sharing with all of us!

    Reply

    • LOL! Thanks for pointing that out Sandy, all fixed :)! I hope you love the Honey Mustard Chicken!

      Reply

  6. Keep up the good work Jen! Your site is my “go to” for new and interesting recipes.
    The honey mustard recipe was wonderful and the chicken so amazingly tender
    with brining! The green beans were special also soaking up all those tasty juices.
    I will definately make again!

    Reply

    • I am so honored to be your “go to” site Beth, thanks so much! I’m so pleased you loved this Honey Mustard Chicken recipe and that it will be a repeat! I’m so glad you discovered the magic of brining your chicken!

      Reply

  7. This is a delicious, easy weeknight dinner! It’s also very forgiving – I just cut the potatoes into bite-size pieces and skip the microwave step. I also don’t cover the pan while it bakes, and it’s done in 35 minutes. We’ve had it twice now, once with broccoli and once with green beans.

    Reply

    • Hi Sandy, I’m so pleased this is a new weeknight go-to dinner! That is awesome you’ve made this Honey Mustard Chicken twice already and customized it with broccoli as well! yum!

      Reply

  8. Strange question … if I bake this at 350, how long do you recommend? I’m waiting on a replacement part for my oven control panel so I can’t turn the temperature up above 350.

    Reply

    • Hi Misty, I would add an extra 15 minutes or so but in the end it will come down to the size of the chicken breasts. Enjoy!

      Reply

  9. If I’m using the frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts that aren’t too thick, can I just pound them to flatten them a little, instead of cutting? Also, if using thighs, how many to use? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Hi Janet, yes you can definitely use those and just check to see if they’re done earlier. As far as thighs, I would use the equal amount of weight. enjoy!

      Reply

  10. I made this tonight and it was so delicious! I loved how the sauce and juices dripped onto the green beans and potatoes underneath. Definitely will make this again.

    Reply

    • Thank you so much Aimee! The dripping juices are my favorite part too! I’m so happy its a repeat!

      Reply

  11. I only have frozen chicken tenderloins. How would I alter the recipe to use these?

    Reply

    • Hi Grace, you can use defrosted chicken tenderloins and (depending on their size) add them 12-18 minutes before the veggies are done. Enjoy!

      Reply

  12. We don’t get Kosher salt where I live. How do I brine it without kosher salt?

    Reply

    • Hi Kaydee, you may use 1/3 the amount of table salt. Enjoy!

      Reply

  13. Made it, really enjoyed it. It’s a keeper. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

  14. Tried this recipe tonight-it was amazing. I cant believe it was this good. We are still talking about it. We skipped the spuds and cooked more green beans. Thanks for the recipe 5 Stars!

    Reply

    • WAHOO! Thanks for our awesome comment Katie, I’m thrilled it was such a hit!

      Reply

  15. I loved the flavor of this chicken, it was amazing!

    Reply

  16. Hi,

    Can you marinate the chicken in the sauce overnight beforehand?

    Thank you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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