Description
Maple Dijon Chicken with Butternut Squash brings together sweet and tangy flavors that dance perfectly on your dinner plate. Roasting chicken and squash creates a simple, comforting meal that feels like a warm hug from your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1.5 lbs / 680 g)
Vegetables:
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and diced (about 2 lbs / 907 g)
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Sauces and Seasonings:
- ½ cup (118 ml / 4 fl oz) pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Activate your oven to 400°F (200°C) and liberally coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage.
- Carefully season 4 chicken breasts (1.5 lbs) with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper, positioning them centrally in the prepared dish.
- Transform your butternut squash (2 lbs) into uniform 1-inch cubes, making each piece roughly the same size for consistent cooking.
- Combine ½ cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 2 tablespoons soy sauce in a small bowl, whisking until the mixture becomes smooth and glossy.
- Generously drench the chicken and surrounding squash cubes with half of your maple Dijon sauce, rotating the dish to guarantee thorough coating.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and roast for 25-30 minutes, monitoring until your chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Remove from oven and drizzle the remaining sauce over the chicken and squash, creating a glistening final layer of flavor before serving.
Notes
- Check chicken thickness to ensure even cooking, using a meat mallet to pound breasts to uniform thickness if needed.
- Cut butternut squash into consistent, bite-sized cubes so they roast evenly and caramelize nicely around the chicken.
- For a gluten-free version, swap soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to maintain the savory depth of flavor.
- Swap maple syrup with honey or agave nectar if your pantry is running low, keeping the sweet-tangy balance of the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Roasted
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 329 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 362 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg