Dijon Mustard Glazed Chicken Thighs
Some of my favorite recipes are the ones that make you wonder how something with so few ingredients can taste this good.
These Dijon Mustard Glazed Chicken Thighs are exactly that kind of recipe.
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are seasoned generously with adobo seasoning, coated with a thick layer of Dijon mustard and roasted until juicy and flavorful. The Dijon creates a tangy, savory coating while the adobo seasoning does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to flavor.
No complicated marinade. No long ingredient list. And no standing over the stove.
This is the kind of recipe I make when I want real food for dinner without turning dinner into a project.
Why Chicken Thighs Work So Well
Chicken thighs are one of my favorite proteins for simple oven-baked meals because they stay tender and juicy and can handle bold seasonings.
Using boneless, skinless thighs also makes this recipe incredibly convenient. There's no trimming meat off the bone after cooking, and they're easy to portion for meal prep.
Add a vegetable and your favorite carbohydrate, and dinner is basically handled.
Dijon Mustard Makes the Glaze
You don't need honey, brown sugar or a complicated homemade sauce to make flavorful glazed chicken.
A generous coating of Dijon mustard gives the chicken a tangy, savory flavor and creates a beautiful coating as it roasts.
The trick is not to be shy with it.
You want enough Dijon to completely cover the top of each chicken thigh rather than adding a tiny smear. That thicker coating is what gives you plenty of mustard flavor in every bite.
Dijon Mustard Glazed Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
2 packages boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Frontier Co-op Adobo Seasoning, enough to generously season both sides
Dijon mustard, enough to generously coat the top of each chicken thigh
Olive oil spray
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Arrange the boneless, skinless chicken thighs on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
Lightly spray the chicken thighs with olive oil spray.
Sprinkle the chicken thighs liberally with Frontier Co-op Adobo Seasoning, making sure each piece is well seasoned.
Brush a thick, even layer of Dijon mustard over the top of each chicken thigh.
Bake at 425°F for approximately 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F at the thickest part.
Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Don't Be Shy With the Seasoning
This isn't the recipe for a delicate sprinkle of seasoning.
The chicken itself is mild, so generously seasoning the thighs before adding the Dijon gives you much more flavor in the finished dish.
The combination of adobo seasoning and Dijon does all the work here, which is why you don't need a cabinet full of spices to make it taste good.
A Simple High-Protein Meal
Chicken thighs make it easy to build a protein-centered meal without much prep.
Pair these with roasted broccoli, asparagus, green beans or Brussels sprouts. For carbohydrates, try roasted sweet potatoes, jasmine rice or quinoa.
You can also slice leftover chicken and add it to salads or grain bowls the next day.
That's one reason I like making two packages at once. If I'm already turning on the oven and cooking dinner, I might as well make enough for leftovers.
Great for Meal Prep
These Dijon chicken thighs are especially useful for meal prep because the flavor works with so many different sides.
Make a batch at the beginning of the week and change what you serve with them rather than eating the exact same meal every day.
One night might be chicken with roasted vegetables and potatoes. The next day, slice it over a salad. Another day, serve it with rice and sautéed greens.
Same chicken. Completely different meal.
Dr. Stephanie's Tip: One of the easiest ways to make eating well more realistic is to keep a few minimal-ingredient protein recipes in your rotation.
Not every dinner needs 17 ingredients and three different pans.
Find a few proteins you can season, put in the oven and pair with whatever vegetables you already have. Recipes like this make it much easier to prepare food at home on the nights when you're tired and don't particularly feel like cooking.
Simple Food Can Still Have Big Flavor
Healthy cooking doesn't have to be complicated to taste good.
These Dijon Mustard Glazed Chicken Thighs need only a few ingredients, but the combination of savory adobo seasoning and tangy Dijon mustard gives you plenty of flavor.
Add your favorite vegetables and a carbohydrate if you want one, and you've got a simple dinner that's also great for leftovers.
Sometimes that's exactly what dinner needs to be.
FAQ
Can you use Dijon mustard on chicken thighs?
Yes. Dijon mustard works especially well with chicken thighs because its tangy, savory flavor complements the richer flavor of dark meat and creates a flavorful coating as the chicken bakes.
How long do boneless chicken thighs take at 425°F?
Cooking time varies depending on the size and thickness of the chicken. For this recipe, I bake the thighs for approximately 45 minutes and verify that the thickest part has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
Do I need to marinate Dijon chicken thighs?
No. One of the advantages of this recipe is that the Dijon mustard and adobo seasoning are applied immediately before baking, so there's no marinating time required.
What goes well with Dijon chicken thighs?
Try them with roasted broccoli, asparagus, green beans, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, jasmine rice or a simple salad.
Are Dijon chicken thighs good for meal prep?
Yes. Bake a larger batch and use the leftovers with vegetables, salads, rice or grain bowls throughout the week.
Looking for More Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes?
If you enjoy simple recipes that make healthy eating taste good, you'll find plenty more in my cookbook, Allergy-Free Tastes Good to Me.
It includes 93 gluten-free and dairy-free recipes designed for real life, with plenty of ideas for making healthier meals without sacrificing flavor.
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