3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Italian Chicken – this easy Italian chicken recipe is sure to earn a spot in your dinner rotations! Only three basic ingredients – brown sugar, Italian dressing mix, and chicken. So easy and packed full of amazing flavor! Ready to eat in under 30 minutes! Serve this tender chicken with roasted veggies and garlic bread. The whole family loved this easy dinner!
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Pin This RecipeEasy Italian Chicken Recipe
This 3-ingredient Brown Sugar Italian Chicken is absolutely delicious. The combination of the sweetness from the brown sugar, the tanginess of the Italian dressing, and the juicy tenderness of the chicken creates a mouth-watering taste that is hard to resist. The brown sugar caramelizes on the chicken, creating a rich and flavorful glaze that enhances the taste of the dish even further. The whole family gobbled it up and asked for seconds! Add this to your menu ASAP!
How to Make 3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Italian Chicken
This baked chicken recipe is effortless to make with only three simple ingredients. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray or drizzle a little olive oil over the bottom of the pan. In a small bowl, stir together a packet of Italian dressing mix and brown sugar. Spread sugar mixture onto a plate or shallow dish. Coat both sides of the chicken with the brown sugar mixture. Place the chicken in a baking dish that has been lined with aluminum foil. Top chicken with any remaining brown sugar mixture. Bake in a preheated oven until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Turn the oven broiler on and broil chicken until brown sugar caramelizes. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- I use a packet of Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix.
- Do NOT make the dressing. You are only going to use the contents of the packet in the recipe.
- You can use this recipe with any cut of chicken that you prefer.
- Chicken breasts, chicken tenderloins, chicken cutlets, chicken thighs, chicken wings, or chicken drumsticks/legs.
- You can use boneless or bone-in chicken. Adjust the cooking time to ensure an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- I highly suggest lining your pan with foil. The brown sugar mixture gets sticky as it bakes. After dinner, throw away the foil, and the dishes are done! Easy prep and easy cleanup. It just doesn’t get any better!
- Feel free to add more herbs to the dish. Our favorite variations/additions are:
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- oregano
- parsley
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Italian Chicken
This juicy chicken has been on repeat at our house. Our go-to side dish is roasted vegetables, such as zucchini, carrots, eggplant, potatoes, and bell peppers. Another popular option is pasta, either served with a simple tomato sauce or a creamy Alfredo sauce. Our favorite Creamy Italiano Salad can also be a great choice. Don’t forget the garlic bread! Whether you opt for veggies, pasta, salad, or bread, there are plenty of options to choose from when serving Italian chicken.
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3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Italian Chicken
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 4 to 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 (0.7-oz) packet Italian Dressing Mix
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425ºF. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil.
- Combine the brown sugar and Italian dressing mix. Coat both sides of the chicken with the brown sugar mixture. Place in prepared pan. Top chicken with any remaining brown sugar mixture.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Turn broiler on HIGH. Broil chicken until brown sugar caramelizes, about 1 to 2 minutes. Watch it carefully so it doesn’t burn!
Notes:
I used a packet of Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix.
Do NOT make the dressing. You are only going to use the contents of the packet in the recipe.Steph
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I do this with pork chops, as well! Just as delicious! I also use the dark brown sugar and zesty dried Italian. The regular is fine but the zesty just takes it to the next level.
We love the pork chop version too! 3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Italian Pork Chops
I made this the other night and it was a hit, but we wished there was more sauce. Do I just double the brown sugar and Italian dressing and put on the chicken as stated?
I made this last night. My husband said it was the best chicken I have ever made!
You can’t much easier than this recipe. I did add a pad of butter to top of each chicken breast.
Delicious!
Can I use this for chicken wings?
sure
It doesn’t get any easier or delicious than this! The sauce is WONDERFUL over buttered rice! I keep this coating on hand in the fridge for anytime I don’t feel like cooking or am pressed for time for a terrific easy peezy dinner. Plain Chicken does it again!
This was DELICIOUS! I never comment on recipes, but I had to for this one! I’m starting a diet in next week, what is the nutritional info on this chicken? I wasn’t able to locate it!
Here is a website you can use to estimate calories: https://whisk.com/recipe-nutrition-calculator
Can any of you recipies be cooked in an air fryer?
Thanks
You can cook almost anything in an air fryer. An air fryer is just a convection toaster oven.
Here is our post on air fryer tips and how to convert recipes: https://www.plainchicken.com/our-favorite-air-fryer-recipes-tips/
Can you use regular Italian dressing if that is all you have
NO. This recipe is for the dry seasoning packet.
I swear, you have the best recipes! This is definitely another keeper!! It was so tender and flavorful that I was licking my fork. I followed your preparation directions exactly. I used skinless boneless chicken thighs. I left the little bits of fat on for extra flavor. I baked them at 425 for 12 minutes and flipped them over and baked an additional 8 minutes…perfect! I’m embarrassed to say that I missed the broiling step, but it was still delicious. Served with buttery mashed potatoes, corn and spinach.
I forgot to add that I marinated them in Walmart brand garlic and herb marinade overnight. Rinsed off the marinade and followed your preparation directions exactly.
I have chicken breast tenderloins on hand. Could I use these instead of the chicken breasts? If so, how would you recommend adjusting the cooking time? (The pack contains almost a pound and a half.)
Thank you!!
Could this be made using pork ?
here is the version with pork chops: 3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Italian Pork Chops
Just finished in the oven! Great flavor, lots of juices and amazing crispness under the broiler. I didn’t have dressing mix so looked up one and it turned out fine, even without the dried basil which I didn’t have. Served with little potatoes and it was a hit!
Can you make this in a slow cooker
I haven’t made this in the slow cooker but I am sure you can. It probably won’t get the color that you see in the photos. The color comes from broiling the chicken in the oven.
Can you use this for shrimp too? Same temp but shorter cooking time?
You can try it
Could you use boneless skinless chicken thighs along with breast?
I only like breast meat but my people only eat thighs. Just wondering if anyone has done both.
Thanks!
You can. Just make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
Excellent!!! Can’t wait to have it again! I agree with the comments that said add a pat of butter on top of the chicken! And the lady who said they make extra brown sugar mix to put on top!
Wow!
I followed the recipe except I added a pat of butter on top of each breast and then baked 350/30 minutes. Turned out amazing, the butter made a great sticky sauce that I drizzled on top of the chicken for serving. Highly recommend!
We don’t have any Italian dressing mix of packets, I have Italian dressing though for like salads I was told that would be fine to. That will work fine won’t it
This recipe is for dried Italian dressing mix, not bottled dressing.
I would love to make this for my three children that are extremely picky eaters! So, I don’t add any liquid at all to this recipe? Just the italian dressing packet and brown sugar? Thank you for your help!
yes
Has anyone ever tried this in the air fryer?? I make this in the oven all the time. I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.