My sister would always request honey mustard to pair with her chicken tenders when we were kids. Occasionally, at a nicer restaurant, they would decline her request and tell her they could only offer honey Dijon. It felt fancy, and she enjoyed it just as much as her usual sauce.
This sheet pan honey Dijon chicken recipe is my way of elevating weeknight meals without overcomplicating dinner time.
When I was creating this baked chicken dish, I knew I wanted a savory-sweet sauce, and I immediately thought about the fancy (but quite simple) honey Dijon from childhood.
The sweet, nutrient-packed honey is a direct contrast to the sharp taste of Dijon mustard, balancing each other out beautifully. Instead of the usual mayonnaise base, I used extra-virgin olive oil, full of heart-healthy fats, and a bit of coconut aminos to enhance the sweet-savory sauce flavor.
I paired the chicken thighs with carrots for a boost of vitamin A, Brussels sprouts, which have a high fiber content, and bone broth rice to make this a protein-rich and satisfying meal.
For the Brussels sprouts, you’re definitely going to want to have them shredded or finely sliced to roast them well and get rid of that bitter flavor profile. Throw them in a food processor or blender, buy them pre-shredded, or finely shred them with a knife yourself. It doesn’t matter which route you go, as long as they can get evenly crispy on all sides in the oven.
Bone broth rice is one of those secrets I keep up my sleeve anytime I want to increase the protein (and flavor profile of a meal) without doing too much extra work.
We’re primarily relying on a sheet pan to do the heavy lifting of this dinner. The first time I made the dish, I pan-seared the chicken and air-fried Brussels, but it was far too much hands-on time. This time, we’re simplifying — 1 pot of rice and 1 sheet pan for the chicken and veggies — all cooked and ready in less than 45 minutes.
Servings: 4 | Prep time: 10 minutes | Total time: 45 minutes | Dairy-free, gluten-free, high-protein
Appliances & Utensils
Knife & cutting board, large sheet pan & parchment paper, Measuring cups & spoons, Small pot & lid, Mixing bowls
