If you ask me, honey mustard chicken is one of those perfect weeknight meals.
This classic dish brings together tender chicken and crisp green beans in a sauce that’s both sweet and tangy. The honey adds just enough sweetness while the mustard gives it that nice kick that keeps you coming back for more.
I love how the chicken gets a nice golden color as it cooks in the pan, and the green beans stay fresh and snappy. The sauce is simple – just a few ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
It’s the kind of no-fuss meal that makes everyone at the table happy, perfect for those busy evenings when you want something good without too much work.
Why You’ll Love This Honey Mustard Chicken
- Simple ingredients – With just honey, two types of mustard, and chicken, you probably have most of these ingredients in your kitchen already.
- Easy preparation – The recipe requires minimal hands-on time – just mix the sauce, pour it over the chicken, and let your oven do the work.
- One-pan meal – The chicken and green beans cook together in the same pan, meaning less cleanup and dishes for you to worry about.
- Kid-friendly flavor – The sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce is a classic combination that appeals to both adults and children, making this perfect for family dinners.
- Budget-friendly – Using chicken thighs and drumsticks keeps this recipe affordable while still delivering great taste.
What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?
Dark meat chicken parts like thighs and drumsticks are perfect for this recipe since they stay juicy and tender during cooking. While you could substitute chicken breasts, the dark meat naturally has more flavor and won’t dry out as easily when baked. The skin-on, bone-in versions will give you the best results since the skin helps lock in moisture and the bones add extra flavor – but skinless pieces will still work if that’s your preference. Just look for pieces that are similar in size so they cook evenly, and make sure they’re fresh with a pink color and no strong odors. If you’re buying from the meat counter, don’t be shy about asking when the chicken was packaged.
Options for Substitutions
This simple honey mustard chicken recipe can be adapted with several easy swaps:
- Honey: If you’re out of honey, maple syrup works great as a substitute. You can also use agave nectar, though you might want to use a bit less since it’s sweeter than honey.
- Whole-grain mustard: No whole-grain mustard? Double up on the Dijon instead. You could also use regular yellow mustard, though the flavor will be slightly different.
- Chicken thighs and drumsticks: While dark meat is great for this recipe, you can use chicken breasts instead. Just keep in mind they cook faster, so reduce cooking time by about 5-7 minutes to avoid drying them out.
- Green beans: Fresh green beans can be swapped with frozen ones (no need to thaw). You could also use asparagus, broccoli florets, or sugar snap peas – just adjust cooking time depending on the vegetable you choose.
- Dijon mustard: If you’re out of Dijon, you can use regular yellow mustard mixed with a tiny splash of white wine vinegar to mimic that tangy Dijon taste.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest challenge when cooking honey mustard chicken is preventing the honey from burning – the natural sugars can quickly go from perfectly caramelized to burnt if your heat is too high, so keep your temperature at medium and watch the chicken closely. Getting crispy chicken skin requires patting the pieces completely dry with paper towels before cooking, and making sure not to overcrowd the pan, which can lead to steaming instead of browning. For perfectly cooked green beans that stay bright and crisp-tender, don’t add them too early – they only need about 8-10 minutes of cooking time, and overcooking will make them mushy and dull. A helpful tip is to test the chicken’s doneness with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part (avoiding the bone) – it should read 165°F for food safety while keeping the meat juicy.
What to Serve With Honey Mustard Chicken?
Since this dish already comes with green beans, you’ll want some tasty carbs to round out your meal. Rice is my go-to choice – whether it’s plain white rice, brown rice, or even wild rice, it’s perfect for soaking up all that delicious honey mustard sauce. For something a bit different, try roasted baby potatoes or creamy mashed potatoes, which pair really nicely with the sweet and tangy chicken. If you’re keeping things casual, warm dinner rolls or crusty French bread work great for mopping up any extra sauce on your plate. And since the flavors aren’t too complex, a simple side salad with light vinaigrette would fit right in too.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Place your leftover honey mustard chicken and green beans in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. It’ll stay good for up to 4 days. The flavors actually get even better after a day as the chicken soaks up more of that honey mustard goodness!
Freeze: This dish is perfect for freezing! Store the chicken and green beans separately in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months. Just keep in mind that the green beans might be a bit softer when thawed, but the chicken will maintain its taste and texture really well.
Reheat: To warm up your leftovers, place them in the oven at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also use the microwave for quick reheating – just cover and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring the green beans halfway through. Add a splash of water to the green beans to help them steam and stay tender.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Total Time | 130-180 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 900-1100
- Protein: 70-80 g
- Fat: 40-50 g
- Carbohydrates: 60-70 g
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup natural honey
- 3 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
- 3 tablespoons smooth dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
- 1 to 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks
- 3/4 pound fresh green beans
Step 1: Prepare the Marinade
In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the marinade.
Make sure everything is well combined to ensure the flavors are distributed evenly.
Step 2: Marinate the Chicken
Place the chicken in a large resealable plastic bag.
Pour the marinade into the bag over the chicken.
Seal the bag, then use your hands to massage the chicken, ensuring it’s well coated with the marinade.
Place the bag in the refrigerator and let it marinate for at least 4 hours, or longer if time permits, for a deeper flavor.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken
When ready to cook, preheat your outdoor grill on high.
Cook the chicken on the grill until thoroughly cooked through.
If you don’t have an outdoor grill, you can also cook the chicken in a skillet or by baking it in the oven until it’s fully cooked.
Step 4: Prepare and Cook the Green Beans
Once you’ve removed the chicken from the bag, place the green beans into the same bag with the leftover marinade and shake to coat them evenly with the sauce.
Add the green beans to the grill using a vegetable grate, or alternatively, cook them in a skillet until they are done to your liking.
Step 5: Serve the Meal
Serve the grilled chicken and green beans together on a plate.
If you desire more flavor, make extra sauce for topping or dipping.
Enjoy your delicious meal!
