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Looking for a delicious and easy weeknight meal? Try this sheet pan honey balsamic chicken and brussels sprouts recipe. Made with 8 simple ingredients and ready in 35 minutes, it’s a quick, nutritious, and seriously delicious chicken and vegetable dinner both you and your family will love!
Featured comment: Good combination of balsamic pomegranate! This is one perfect family meal – scrumptious and filling. Thanks also for the added tips in cooking chicken.” – Andre
Update: This post was originally published in February 2018. I edited the photos and updated the post below to include more information about this baked honey balsamic dinner. Plus, I added a recipe video to show you how easy these sheet pan meal is to make!
Table of Contents
- About this honey balsamic chicken
- Ingredients for balsamic chicken and veggies
- How to make chicken marinade balsamic?
- How to make sheet pan chicken and brussel sprouts
- FAQs: frequently asked questions
- How to make a sheet pan chicken dinner?
- How long should you marinade chicken in balsamic?
- Is balsamic glaze the same as balsamic vinegar?
- How long do you bake chicken with balsamic?
- How to tell when balsamic chicken is fully cooked?
- What is a good side dish for balsamic chicken?
- What foods go well with balsamic vinegar?
- Serving chicken with brussel sprouts
- Storing leftover chicken breasts and brussels sprouts
- More sheet pan chicken dinners!
- Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken and Brussels Sprouts
About this honey balsamic chicken
With just 8 key ingredients, minimal kitchen equipment, and 35 minutes, you get to make tender chicken breasts with sweet and tangy balsamic pomegranate sauce, roasted with caramelized brussels sprouts that have been tossed in honey and balsamic. What is this dish, you may ask?! It’s none other than my Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken and Brussels Sprouts!
Once baked to perfection, this easy sheet pan assortment is topped with vibrant pomegranate arils, fresh microgreens, and tart lemon wedges. The honey balsamic marinade even doubles as a silky dipping sauce!!
This fool-proof balsamic chicken and veggies sheet pan recipe is one for the keeping. It’s ideal for an easy midweek family dinner or to impress that special someone on Valentine’s Day!
If you love simple, yet delicious sheet pan dinners, check these recipes out next: Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers, Baked Gnocchi, and Sheet Pan Shrimp. And if you love balsamic glazes, you’ll love this balsamic fig chicken recipe.
Why you’ll love this chicken dinner
This balsamic sheet pan chicken ticks all the boxes for an easy meal that looks great and tastes even better! Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Super simple! Just toss the chicken and Brussels sprouts with a few simple ingredients and roast on a sheet pan.
- Stunning! This chicken breast brussels sprouts recipe isn’t complicated to prepare or cook, AND it looks elegant and worthy of dinner guests.
- It’s flavorful! The honey balsamic sauce gives the chicken and Brussels sprouts a delicious sweet and tangy flavor.
- Nutritious! Chicken is a good source of protein and Brussels sprouts are a great source of vitamins and minerals.
- Versatile! Swap out the veggies or combine the balsamic pomegranate marinade with other meats or poultry.
- One pan! This balsamic roasted chicken and vegetables dish is assembled and cooked on a single sheet pan. Say goodbye to big loads of washing up or complicated cooking processes!
Try it tonight and see for yourself why this chicken and brussels sprout recipe is a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients for balsamic chicken and veggies
This sheet pan meal is fuss-free and ready in just 35 minutes! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken breasts. or thighs.
- Substitution: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are also great, especially if you prefer darker meat.
- Brussels Sprouts – Trimmed and halved. Quarter them if you use large Brussels sprouts.
- Substitution: Broccoli, carrots, onions, asparagus, and cauliflower.
- Pomegranate Molasses – Use any brand that you prefer. It adds a deep sweet and tart flavor to the juicy chicken. It can usually be found in the ethnic aisle of your local grocery store.
- Balsamic vinegar – Provides a lovely tang to the honey balsamic marinade.
- Substitution: Red wine vinegar.
- Honey
- Garlic cloves – Minced.
- Substitution: Jarred minced garlic or garlic paste can be used instead.
- Lemon – Freshly juiced.
- Substitution: Bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch.
- Olive oil – Just your regular olive oil here; not extra virgin olive oil.
- Substitution: Canola or avocado oil.
- Kosher salt and black pepper – Popular savory dish staples!
- Substitution: Flaky sea salt works great too!
- Garnish – Sprinkle the top of your honey balsamic chicken breasts with fresh parsley, pomegranate arils, and lemon wedges. The pomegranate arils add a lovely burst of color and flavor to the dish – perfect for a special occasion, such as Valentine’s Day!
Recipe variations
- Chicken. Boneless skinless chicken thighs are a great alternative to chicken breasts, especially if you prefer darker meat.
- Marinade. While I recommend marinating the chicken for a minimum of 4 hours, you can do so for 15-20 minutes if you are in a rush.
- Veggies. If you hate Brussels sprouts and that’s the only thing putting you off from trying this chicken veggie bake, ditch them and bake asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, or onions alongside the sheet pan chicken.
- Garnish. I love to garnish this balsamic chicken and veggies with fresh micro greens, pomegranate arils, and lemon wedges. This garnish is totally optional and can be changed to suit your tastes.
How to make chicken marinade balsamic?
To make a honey balsamic marinade, mix together high quality balsamic vinegar, honey, pomegranate molasses, minced garlic and lemon juice. Season the marinade to taste with salt and pepper.
Honey balsamic marinade can be used on any cut of chicken – thighs, breasts, drumsticks or wings.
To use honey balsamic marinade, simply add chicken to a large zip-closure bag and pour on the marinade. Seal the bag, transfer to the refrigerator and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight for the most flavorful, moist chicken.
If you want the honey balsamic marinade to double as a sauce for serving, reserve some of the marinade before adding it to the chicken, making sure to avoid cross-contamination.
How to make sheet pan chicken and brussel sprouts
Mix together the ingredients for the honey balsamic chicken (listed above) and allow the chicken to marinate in the fridge at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight for the most flavor. Place the marinated chicken on a large, rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake the chicken in an oven preheated to 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Tips for the best chicken breast and brussel sprouts
- You can substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer dark meat.
- While I recommend marinating the chicken for at least 4 hours or up to overnight for the most flavor, if you are in a hurry you can let the chicken marinate on the counter for 15-20 minutes while the oven preheats.
- If the reserved pomegranate molasses sauce is not thick enough for your liking, place the sauce in a small sauce pot and simmer over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes.
- When brushing the chicken breasts with half of the reserved marinade in step 5, make sure you do NOT cross contaminate. Pour the reserved marinade into two separate bowls. Use one for brushing the chicken and the other for serving as a dipping sauce.
FAQs: frequently asked questions
How to make a sheet pan chicken dinner?
Sheet pan dinners are great option for busy weeknight dinners. With a solid sheet pan, a few chicken breasts (or thighs), a generous serving of vegetables, a few pantry staples and minimal clean-up, you can have a delicious dinner on your table in no time!
The first step is to make sure you are actually using a sheet pan. A sheet pan is made from stainless steel, or aluminum, and has a deep rim around the edge. Make sure you avoid using a flimsy, non-rimmed baking sheet.
If you are halving the recipe, you can substitute a jelly roll pan, which is simply a smaller version of a rimmed baking sheet. However, avoid using a jelly roll pan if you are making the recipe in its entirety, as over filling the pan with ingredients will cause the chicken and vegetables to steam, instead of roast.
Pro tip – if you are using skin-on chicken thighs, instead of breasts, place the sheet pan in the oven while it preheats. When ready to roast, place the chicken thighs, skin side down, on the hot pan and proceed with the recipe. Using a hot sheet pan to roast the thighs will result in crispy skinned thighs.
How long should you marinade chicken in balsamic?
This chicken should be marinated in balsamic honey chicken marinade for at least 4 hours, although I recommend marinating the chicken overnight.
If you don’t have 4 hours or more, marinate the chicken for 15-20 minutes while you preheat the oven for this honey balsamic chicken dinner.
Is balsamic glaze the same as balsamic vinegar?
No. Balsamic vinegar and balsamic glaze differ in consistency and sweetness. Essentially, balsamic glaze is a reduction of balsamic vinegar and is, therefore, thicker and sweeter.
How long do you bake chicken with balsamic?
When your oven is preheated to 425 degrees, it should take approximately 20-25 minutes to bake chicken breasts. The actual amount of time to bake chicken to the proper internal temperature will depend on the thickness of your chicken and the strength of your oven.
To ensure even baking (and avoid dry, rubbery chicken), use a meat mallet to gently pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness.
How to tell when balsamic chicken is fully cooked?
According to the USDA, you need to cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts to an internal temperature of 165-degrees F.
For the most accurate results, insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest section of the chicken breasts to check if chicken is at 165 degrees.
If you have a little more mastery in the kitchen, you can also tell chicken is done cooking by touch. The meat will feel firm to the touch, rather than soft and rubbery.
What is a good side dish for balsamic chicken?
Some of the best side dishes for balsamic chicken include roasted vegetables, rice, and garlic bread. Of course, there are so many more options available to you, and it’s always up to personal preference.
What foods go well with balsamic vinegar?
Balsamic vinegar is great for making marinades and sauces, combining with olive oil for dipping artisan bread into or drizzling over meat, vegetables, fruit, pizza, salad, or appetizers.
Serving chicken with brussel sprouts
This honey balsamic chicken is roasted right alongside brussels sprouts, making it a complete meal. However, you can nix the sprouts and use a different veggie if you prefer.
If you’re needing a more substantial meal, below are some side dish options that will pair well with this chicken dinner:
- Potatoes: herb roasted potatoes, rustic style mashed potatoes, or whipped sweet potatoes with sage
- Rice: jasmine, white, or brown rice; wild rice salad, or zucchini with rice
- Asparagus: roasted asparagus wrapped with proscuitto
- Broccoli: broccoli rice, steamed or roasted broccoli florets
- Cauliflower: cauliflower rice, roasted cauliflower salad, steamed or roasted cauliflower florets
- Green Beans: however you like them!
- Green Salad: I’d keep things simple here with your favorite house salad, but a BLT with avocado salad or chopped italian salad works too if you’re wanting something with a little more oomph.
Storing leftover chicken breasts and brussels sprouts
How to store and how long does it keep?
- Store leftover balsamic chicken and vegetables in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Discard leftover honey balsamic chicken marinade that has come into contact with raw chicken for food safety reasons. You can make the honey balsamic marinade for chicken a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge, separate from other foods and ingredients.
Can you freeze it?
Absolutely! Store this chicken and vegetable bake in an airtight container in the freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw the chicken breasts and brussel sprouts overnight in the fridge, and reheat them in the oven.
Reheating instructions
Reheat leftover sheet pan chicken breast and brussel sprouts in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350-degrees Fahrenheit, or until warm throughout. Cover the chicken breasts with aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out.
Sheet pan meals can be flavorful and eye-catching too – this one pan balsamic chicken and veggies recipe proves that! Why not give it a try?You’ll only need 35 minutes from start to finish!
Until next week, cheers, friends! To easy eats!
Cheyanne
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More sheet pan chicken dinners!
Are you looking for more easy one pan meals? Try these delicious family favorites next!
- Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Onions and Potatoes
- Thai Chicken with Peanuts
- Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken Breasts
- Spaghetti Squash with Chicken Breasts Curried
Video: Watch how to make Honey Balsamic Chicken recipe👇
Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken and Brussels Sprouts
Equipment
- 2 Mixing Bowls (for making the marinade and sauce)
- 1 Large Rimmed Baking Sheet (for baking the chicken and brussel sprouts)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (substitution: boneless, skinless chicken thighs)
- 1 Pound Brussels Sprouts – trimmed and halved, or quartered if large
- ¼ Cup Pomegranate Molasses
- ¼ Cup + 1 ½ TBS Balsamic Vinegar - DIVIDED
- ¼ Cup + 1 1/2 tsp Honey - DIVIDED
- 1 Clove Garlic – minced
- 1 whole Lemon – Juiced (about 2 TBS)
- 2 TBS Olive Oil
- to taste Kosher Salt & Pepper
- Optional Garnishes: Lemon Wedges, Pomegranate Arils, Micro Greens or Fresh Parsley
- Serving Suggestion: Lemon Rice or Jasmine Rice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Arrange oven rack to the middle position and then preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment for easy clean up.
- Make the Marinade and Sauce: For the chicken marinade: In a medium bowl, combine molasses with ¼ cup vinegar, ¼ cup honey, garlic, and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper and whisk to combine before setting aside.For the serving sauce: In a small bowl, combine the remaining vinegar and remaining honey. Whisk to combine and then set aside.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken in a large, zip-closure bag and add HALF of the molasses mixture (about heaping 1/3 cup), reserving the remaining mixture for brushing and serving (SEE NOTES). Seal the bag and transfer to the refrigerator (up to overnight) to marinate.
- Season Brussels: Place the brussels sprouts on the sheet pan or add them to a medium size bowl. Drizzle with all the olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Prep Chicken and Brussels for Baking: Place the marinated chicken on half the prepared baking sheet and season generously with salt and pepper. Then, arrange the brussels sprouts on the empty side of the pan.
- Bake: Transfer the sheet pan to the oven and bake for 12 minutes.
- Brush with reserved marinade and bake again: Remove the chicken and brussels from the oven. Brush the chicken with the reserved marinade. Rotate the pan before returning it to the oven. Continue to bake for 8-13 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sprouts are caramelized.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the chicken and brussels sprouts from the oven. Use a spatula to transfer the chicken and brussels sprouts to serving plates. Then, drizzle the honey balsamic serving sauce over the brussels sprouts and chicken. Garnish the chicken breasts with pomegranate arils and fresh herbs, if using. Serve with lemon and any remaining sauce on the side. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Chicken: You can substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer dark meat.
- Marinating Time: While I recommend marinating the chicken for at least 4 hours or up to overnight for the most flavor, if you are in a hurry you can let the chicken marinate on the counter for 15-20 minutes while the oven preheats.
- Sauce: If the reserved pomegranate molasses sauce is not thick enough for your liking, place the sauce in a small sauce pot and simmer over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes.
- Brushing Chicken with Sauce: When brushing the chicken breasts with half of the reserved marinade in step 5, make sure you do NOT cross contaminate. Meaning, if you would like to use that sauce for serving, do not dip a brush into the sauce, let the brush touch the raw chicken, and then dip the brush again. If you do that, you contaminating the sauce and it will need to be discarded. Pour the reserved marinade into two separate bowls. Use one for brushing the chicken and the other for serving as a dipping sauce.
Nutrition
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Andre I Bestreviewofproduct
Hi Cheyanne,
Good combination of balsamic pomegranate! This is one perfect family meal – scrumptious and filling. Thanks also for the added tips in cooking chicken 🙂
Kevin O’Neary
Absolutely beautiful! All of my favorites on one pan. Great dinner for busy weeknights. 🙂
Leanne
Great tips on cooking chicken! This chicken was super juicy and I loved the addition of pomegranates. Definitely festive for Valentine’s Day!
Marisa
I’m all about the sheetpan dinner on weeknights and we’ve kind of been in a rut, so finding this recipe was perfect! Very delicious and easy. Checking out your other yummy recipes too. Thanks!
Danielle
I love the flavors in this! especially the pomegranate seeds! And I needed no celebration to try this – just celebrate the weekend. Very good!!
marcie
I’m not thrilled about who’s in the Super Bowl either. I’m pulling for the Eagles even though they’re more than likely going to lose! I do love sheet pan dinners and these flavors sound amazing and perfect for Valentine’s Day or any busy weeknight! This looks delicious Cheyanne!
Angie
Such a wonderful meal! I love that marinade…what can I use instead of pomegranate molasses? How about balsamic syrup?
Cheyanne Bany
Hi Angie! You should be able to find pomegranate molasses in the ethnic isle of most major grocery stores. There isn’t really any great substitute, so I would recommend making some yourself (there are tons of great recipes out there), or if you absolutely need a substitute, I would recommend cranberry juice concentrate as a last resort. Using balsamic syrup would just add more balsamic flavor to the dish, and since there is already a ton of that flavor happening here, I wouldn’t recommend going that route. 😉 Cheers, girlie!
annie
Now that’s a pretty pan of food! The combination of sweet and sour is a delicious one! Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer
Put this one on the menu, it was such a perfect dinner! I love sheet pan dinners and honey balsamic chicken is so absolutely delicious 🙂
Gayle
This is the most beautiful chicken that I’ve seen! I love the balsamic pomegranate combo. Delicious and perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day!