Description
Balsamic fig glazed chicken brings sweet and tangy magic to your dinner table, creating a perfect balance of flavors that will have everyone asking for seconds. Tender chicken breasts get a flavor boost from a rich glaze that combines the deep sweetness of figs with the sharp complexity of balsamic vinegar.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 (12 ounces) jar fig preserves
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 shallot
- 2 tablespoons honey
Garnish (Optional):
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup crumbled Gorgonzola
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 425°F and lightly coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a saucepan. Sauté 1 finely diced shallot with a pinch of salt for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in 12 ounces fig preserves, 2 tablespoons honey, and 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar. Drop in 1 thyme sprig.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the glaze thickens. Remove the thyme sprig.
- Pat 6 chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Arrange chicken in the prepared baking dish. Brush each piece with the prepared glaze.
- Scatter 4 fresh thyme sprigs around the chicken.
- Roast for 35-40 minutes, basting the chicken with additional glaze halfway through cooking.
- For extra crispy edges, broil for 3-4 minutes during the final stage of cooking.
- Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven.
- Sprinkle with ¼ cup chopped walnuts and ¼ cup crumbled Gorgonzola before serving.
Notes
- Use ripe, high-quality fig preserves for the richest flavor and smooth glaze consistency.
- Fresh thyme makes a big difference, so grab sprigs from the garden or a fresh bunch at the market.
- Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to ensure a beautiful golden-brown exterior that seals in moisture.
- For a lower-carb version, swap honey with monk fruit sweetener and reduce the fig preserves slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-56 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg