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Cozy Balsamic Fig Chicken Dinner: Easy 30-Minute Meal

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A quick and easy 30-minute skillet chicken dinner featuring a sweet and tangy balsamic fig glaze. Perfect for cozy weeknights, this one-pan meal is made with simple ingredients and delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ cup (160 grams) fig jam
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) balsamic vinegar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4–5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional garnish: fresh parsley or thyme leaves, flaky sea salt

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. If breasts are very thick, slice them in half horizontally for even cooking.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Once melted and sizzling, place the chicken breasts in the pan (cook in batches if needed). Sear for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer chicken to a plate (it will not be fully cooked).
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pan and stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in balsamic vinegar and chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  4. Stir in fig jam until fully dissolved. Add fresh thyme sprigs. The sauce will be thin but will thicken as it reduces.
  5. Return the chicken breasts to the skillet along with any accumulated juices. Spoon some sauce over each piece.
  6. Bring sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The sauce should thicken into a glossy glaze.
  7. Remove chicken from skillet and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. If desired, let sauce simmer another minute or two to thicken further. Discard thyme sprigs. Spoon sauce over chicken and garnish with fresh herbs or flaky salt if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip the resting step after cooking to keep chicken juicy. For a one-pan meal, add fresh spinach or arugula to the pan while chicken rests and let it wilt in the residual heat. If sauce is too sweet, add a splash more balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Watch garlic carefully as it burns quickly in the hot pan.

Nutrition

Keywords: balsamic fig chicken, easy chicken dinner, 30-minute meal, one-pan chicken, fig jam chicken, weeknight dinner, skillet chicken

Find it online: https://emacrave.com/cozy-balsamic-fig-chicken-dinner-easy-30-minute-meal/