Ingredients
Scale
- 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
- 1 tablespoon butter (optional, for extra richness)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season with salt and black pepper.
- Create the Flavor Base: Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic with cayenne pepper for about one minute, until fragrant but not browned.
- Make the Glaze: Remove skillet from heat and stir in the dark brown sugar until well combined. If using butter, add it now to create an even richer sauce.
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the skillet, ensuring each piece is well-coated with the sugar mixture.
- Add Final Touches: Sprinkle dried parsley evenly over the chicken breasts. Add onion powder if desired for extra depth of flavor.
- Bake to Perfection: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Rest and Serve: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving, then spoon the caramelized sauce over each piece.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes