Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken
   Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If the chicken breasts are very thick, consider butterflying them or pounding them to an even thickness (about 3/4 inch) for more even cooking.
2. Make the honey mustard sauce
   In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, dried thyme, paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) until well combined.
3. Prepare for baking
   Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish. Pour about 2/3 of the honey mustard mixture over the chicken, reserving the rest for basting. Turn the chicken to coat all sides. For extra flavor, you can marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours before baking.
4. Bake the chicken
   Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, baste with the reserved honey mustard sauce, and return to the oven. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the top is nicely browned.
5. Rest and serve
   Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. Serve hot, drizzled with the pan juices and any remaining sauce.