• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Pink Owl Kitchen
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Work w/Me
  • Saucy Cookbook
  • E-Book
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Work w/Me
  • Saucy Cookbook
  • E-Book
×
  • Jalapeño cheddar cornbread with spicy honey butter fresh out of the oven.
    Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread with Spicy Honey Butter
  • Photo of creamy cheesy corn casserole baked with cheddar and chives.
    Creamy Cheesy Corn Casserole
  • Buttermilk biscuit breakfast casserole serving on a plate.
    Buttermilk Biscuit Breakfast Casserole
  • Brown butter pistachio chocolate chip cookies on a baking sheet.
    Brown Butter Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • A serving of million dollar spaghetti on a white plate.
    Million Dollar Spaghetti Bake
  • A pan of shrimp and sausage jambalaya, packed with vibrant colors, bold Cajun spices, and hearty ingredients on a tabletop.
    How to Make Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya (One Pot Meal!)
  • 17 Delicious Easter Side Dishes
  • cajun shrimp boil on a large platter.
    Cajun Shrimp Boil
  • vegan southern collard greens in a white bowl sitting on a cutting board.
    Vegan Southern Collard Greens
  • Cajun oven baked sweet potato fries on a wooden cutting board.
    Cajun Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
  • buffalo catfish slider held in a hand.
    Buffalo Catfish Sliders
  • Eggnog pie in a glass baking dish on a table top.
    Eggnog Pie
Pink Owl Kitchen » Recipes » Main Courses » Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken

Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken

Published: May 19, 2022 · Modified: Oct 3, 2023 by Ashley Boyd · This post may contain affiliate links

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This is a quick and simple brown sugar glazed chicken recipe packed with a ton of flavor! Chicken thighs are cooked in a cast-iron skillet until the skin is super crispy, coated in a scrumptious sweet and tangy brown sugar glaze, and finished in the oven until they're juicy and delicious.

brown sugar glazed chicken in a cast-iron skillet.

If you're anything like my family and me, you love chicken but get so tired of serving it the same way over and over. That's where this brown sugar-glazed chicken recipe comes in! This is a quick, simple chicken dinner recipe loaded with sweet and tangy flavors, perfect for weeknights and fancy dinner parties alike.

Brown sugar glaze is something you see a lot around the holidays and is a very popular glaze for baked ham. This glaze can be used as a topping for everything from fish and vegetables to this insanely delicious chicken dish! If you love this easy dinner recipe, check out our Hot Honey Butter Chicken Thighs and Cajun Smothered Chicken!

brown sugar glazed chicken in a cast-iron skillet.
Table of Contents
  • Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe
  • How to Make This Recipe
  • Variations and Substitutions
  • How Do I Get Extra Crispy Chicken Skin?
  • What to Serve With Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken
  • Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
  • Recommended Tools For This Recipe
  • More Easy Dinner Recipes You Will Love!
  • 📖 Recipe

Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe

Brown Sugar Glaze

  • ½ cup dark brown sugar. You can also use light brown sugar if you prefer.
  • 2 tablespoons honey. I recommend using good-quality honey such as Nature Nate's Raw Unfiltered Honey.
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice. One medium orange should give you ¼ cup of juice.
  • 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard. Whole grain mustard adds a subtle tangy, peppery bite. You can also use yellow mustard if that is what you have.
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar. The acidity and tanginess of the vinegar balance out the sweetness of the brown sugar perfectly.
  • Cinnamon, ginger, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. These spices are used to add additional flavor to the sauce.

Chicken

  • Chicken thighs. Four bone-in chicken thighs with skin (about 2 pounds) are the perfect amount for the sauce. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer. Just be sure and adjust the cooking time as needed.
  • Salt and cracked black pepper. The chicken is seasoned with salt and pepper before cooking.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil. The chicken is browned in a skillet with olive oil before the sauce is added. You can also use vegetables or canola oil.

How to Make This Recipe

  • To a medium saucepan, add the brown sugar, honey, orange juice, mustard, vinegar, and spices and heat over medium-high heat. Simmer the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes while stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar has dissolved. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon. Set the sauce aside.
brown sugar glaze ingredients in a glass bowl.
brown sugar glaze on a wooden spoon.
  • Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or medium oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs with salt and cracked pepper on both sides and transfer them to the skillet, skin side down.
raw chicken seasoned with salt and pepper.
chicken thighs cooking in a skillet.
  • Cook the chicken thighs for 7-8 minutes, or until the skin is browned and crispy, then flip the chicken and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes. Pour the brown sugar glaze over the chicken in the skillet, being sure to coat all of the chicken, and transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.
  • Cook the chicken in the preheated for 8-10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the chicken should read 165 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit), basting the chicken with glaze halfway through.
chicken coated in brown sugar glaze in a skillet.
  • Turn on the oven broiler and cook the chicken for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to crisp the skin and caramelize the exterior. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Variations and Substitutions

This recipe can also be made with chicken drumsticks, breasts, or wings. Be sure and adjust the cooking times as needed for different cuts of chicken. Don't stop at chicken - the brown sugar glaze is very versatile and can be used on fish, shrimp, beef, ham, and even vegetables!

Another variation for the sauce is swapping out pineapple juice for the orange juice. You can use canned pineapple juice instead of fresh.

brown sugar glazed chicken in a cast-iron skillet.

How Do I Get Extra Crispy Chicken Skin?

  • My top tip for extra-crispy chicken skin is to use a cast-iron skillet! Cast-iron holds heat exceptionally well and creates the most delicious, crispy chicken skin. My favorite skillet is this Le Creuset 10-inch Enameled Cast-Iron Skillet!
  • I also recommend turning on the oven broiler for 2 to 3 minutes before removing the chicken from the oven. This caramelizes the glaze on the chicken skin and crisps the skin even more. The result is absolutely delicious!
brown sugar glazed chicken in a cast-iron skillet.

What to Serve With Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken

This chicken can be served with a variety of side dishes. Try brown sugar glazed chicken with some of the following suggestions:

  • Steamed or roasted broccoli
  • Cajun honey butter roasted carrots
  • Sweet potato casserole
  • Sauteed green beans
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Southern baked macaroni and cheese
  • Southern cheese grits
  • Sweet potato biscuits

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

The brown sugar glaze can be made up to two days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Just heat the glaze in the microwave until pourable then coat the chicken and bake as directed.

Leftover brown sugar glazed chicken can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat chicken in the oven or microwave.

Recommended Tools For This Recipe

  • 10-inch cast-iron skillet
  • Medium saucepan
  • Silicone-tipped tongs
  • Wooden spoon
brown sugar glazed chicken in a cast-iron skillet.

More Easy Dinner Recipes You Will Love!

  • Cajun Honey Butter Shrimp
  • One Pan Apple Cider Chicken
  • Easy Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel
  • Blackened Salmon Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce
  • Southern Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sliders
  • Easy Southern Baked Spaghetti
  • One Pan Sage Butter Chicken and Orzo

📖 Recipe

brown sugar glazed chicken in a cast-iron skillet.

Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken

Ashley Boyd
Chicken thighs are cooked in a cast-iron skillet until the skin is super crispy, coated in a scrumptious sweet and tangy brown sugar glaze, and finished in the oven until they're juicy and delicious. This is a quick and simple chicken recipe packed with a ton of flavor!
4.83 from 17 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prevent your screen from going dark
Servings 4 servings
Calories 326 kcal

Equipment

  • 10-inch cast iron skillet
  • Medium saucepan

Ingredients
  

Brown Sugar Glaze

  • ½ cup dark brown sugar - or light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup orange juice - fresh squeezed
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard - or yellow mustard
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Chicken

  • 2 pounds chicken thighs - 4 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on, see note
  • Salt and cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil - extra-virgin

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Add the brown sugar, honey, orange juice, mustard, vinegar, and spices to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Simmer the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes while stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar has dissolved and the sauce thickens slightly. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon. Set the sauce aside.
  • Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or medium oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs with salt and cracked pepper on both sides and transfer them to the skillet, skin side down.
  • Cook the chicken thighs for 7-8 minutes, or until the skin is browned and crispy, then flip the chicken and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes. Pour the brown sugar glaze over the chicken in the skillet, being sure to coat all of the chicken, and transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.
  • Cook the chicken in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (an instant read thermometer inserted into the chicken should read 165 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit), basting the chicken with glaze halfway through.
  • Turn on the oven broiler and cook the chicken for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to crisp the skin and caramelize the exterior. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Notes

  • You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer. Just be sure and adjust the cooking time as needed.
  • Leftover brown sugar glazed chicken can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat chicken in the oven or microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 28.8g | Protein: 15.8g | Fat: 16.8g | Saturated Fat: 3.7g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 366mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 27.5g | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Tag @thepinkowlkitchen on Instagram! And don't forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and review!

More Main Courses

  • Chili cheese tater tot casserole in a baking dish.
    Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole
  • turkey and cheese sliders stacked on a plate.
    Turkey and Cheese Sliders
  • Crawfish cornbread dressing in a baking dish.
    Crawfish Cornbread Dressing
  • Cajun potato soup in a bowl sitting on top of a cutting board.
    Creamy Cajun Potato Soup

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer B

    January 27, 2023 at 1:56 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was amazing and very easy to make. My family even my 5 year old loved it! Thank you very much!!

    Reply
    • Ashley Boyd

      January 30, 2023 at 11:32 pm

      I'm so happy to hear the whole family loved the recipe! Thank you for trying it out, Jennifer!

      Reply
  2. Brandon J.

    July 15, 2022 at 5:18 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is amazing!!! Every bite was packed with flavor. I would highly recommend it for a candlelight date night at home if you’re trying to impress your spouse. I definitely give it a 10/10.

    Reply
    • Ashley Boyd

      July 17, 2022 at 8:26 pm

      Thank you for trying the recipe, Brandon! I'm so happy you enjoyed it, and I agree it is a great date night recipe!

      Reply
      • Steve

        February 06, 2023 at 1:09 am

        5 stars
        Delicious! Quick, easy, and so flavorful. My entire family loved it, even the young picky eater of the family. Will definitely be making again soon!

        Reply
        • Ashley Boyd

          February 07, 2023 at 4:10 am

          I am so happy to hear the whole family loved the recipe, Steve! Thank you for giving it a try!

          Reply
4.83 from 17 votes (14 ratings without comment)

Share Your Thoughts! Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Ashley boyd leaning over counter in the kitchen.

HEY Y'ALL!

I’m Ashley, the wife, mama, and heart behind Pink Owl Kitchen. Cooking brings me so much joy, and I love sharing the comforting Southern flavors that shaped my childhood. My hope is that each recipe fills your home with warmth, love, and the sweet presence of Jesus.

More about me →

Featured In

Summer Side Dishes

  • A serving of creamy southern baked mac & cheese on a serving spoon.
    Creamy Southern Baked Mac and Cheese (Soul Food Recipe!)
  • Photo of a serving of southern squash casserole on a serving spoon.
    Southern Squash Casserole
  • Southern baked beans in a cast iron skillet with a wooden spoon.
    Southern Baked Beans
  • Southern hush puppies in a metal baking pan with a blue linen underneath on top of a white surface.
    Southern Hush Puppies Recipe
  • Southern deviled eggs arranged on a serving platter.
    Southern Deviled Eggs
  • Cajun potato salad in a white bowl sitting on top of a wooden surface.
    Cajun Potato Salad

Trending Recipes

  • Southern candied yams in a white baking dish with a wooden serving spoon.
    The Best Southern Soul Food Candied Yams (w/ Video!)
  • Chocolate Cream Cold Brew (Starbucks Copycat)
  • Cajun dirty rice with smoked sausage in a white bowl.
    Cajun Dirty Rice with Smoked Sausage
  • brown sugar glazed chicken in a cast-iron skillet.
    Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken
  • southern oven fried catfish on a wooden cutting board.
    Oven Fried Catfish
  • Hot honey chicken thighs on a black plate sitting on top of a white wooden surface.
    Hot Honey Chicken Thighs

Get your copy of my first cookbook, Saucy, now!

cover of the cookbook, Saucy, by Ashley Boyd.

Footer

↑ back to top

  • Privacy Policy and Disclaimers
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Sign Up! for emails and updates
  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Pink Owl Kitchen LLC, all rights reserved

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.