Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts (Air Fry or Oven Roast)

Our super tasty honey mustard chicken recipe is both simple and incredibly versatile. The chicken can be roasted in a traditional oven or cooked in an air fryer if you prefer. While the lovely white meat of a chicken breast is usually always very enjoyable it can be a little bland and dry if you aren't careful. Marinating the chicken ensures your chicken is flavourful and will stay delightfully moist while cooking.

The ingredients and preparation are exactly the same regardless of how you cook the chicken, just follow the appropriate cooking method below. The recipe allows for a whole chicken breast each for four people, if you are cooking for two, just use 2 chicken breasts and halve the other ingredients.

To make our Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts you will need:

• 4 whole chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp Just Bee honey
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp whole grain mustard
• 1 tsp garlic puree
• ½ tsp mixed dried herbs
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp chilli flakes

Marinating the chicken.

Step One: Mix the marinade ingredients.

To a medium sized bowl add the honey, olive oil, mustard and garlic then mix together with a fork. Next stir through the salt, pepper, herbs and chilli flakes.

Step Two: Add the chicken.

Many chicken breasts are sold trimmed and ready to go but if you need to remove any cartilage or fatty bits from the chicken breasts then do that now.

Then add the chicken breasts to the bowl and mix around until they fully covered in the marinade, if you don't mind getting a bit messy then getting your hands in is probably the quickest and easiest way to ensure all the meat is well covered.

Step Three: Cover and refrigerate.

Cover the bowl (you can use cling film, foil or a small plate) and leave in the fridge for 2-3 hours to let the chicken fully marinate.

Roasting in a traditional oven

Preheat oven to Gas Mark 6, 200c (180c for a fan assisted oven) then place the chicken breasts on a foil lined baking tray, leaving space between them. If there is marinade left in the bowl you can spoon that over the top of the chicken too.

Roast in the centre of the oven for 25 minutes, after 15 minutes turn the tray around for a nice even bake.

Rest for around 5 minutes before serving, I usually just leave them on top of the oven while I plate up the rest of the dinner and that seems to work out just fine!

Air fryer cooking method.

Place chicken breasts in the air fryer basket and air-fry for 9 minutes at 195c then flip them over and air fry for another 6 minutes.

Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer, it should reach 75c if not return and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Air fryers (like all ovens) can vary in effectiveness, especially with the less expensive ones, so when cooking chicken it's especially important to check the chicken is cooked to a safe temperature.

Remove the chicken from the air fryer and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Tips and serving suggestions.

You can serve this chicken in so many different and exciting ways, with chips and peas, new potatoes and roasted vegetables, as a chicken pasta dish or in a brioche bun with salad 'burger style'. You don't even have to serve the chicken breasts whole, you can slice them up and add them to a salad or sandwiches if you like!

I prefer whole grain mustard because I just love the look and texture, but feel free to use your favourite mustard or any mustard you have in your kitchen already!

You can use Just Bee's Valencia Orange or Lemon & Ginger honey as an alternative to plain honey, both work fantastic with this recipe.

Bonus honey mustard gravy recipe!

If you'd like some extra complimentary gravy to pour over the chicken at the table or over the rest of the meal then try this quick and easy gravy recipe (makes ½ pint). This is really delicious on roast potatoes and a great way to transform some boring gravy granules!

• 10g Vegetable gravy granules
• 10g Chicken gravy granules
• 2 tsp Wholegrain mustard
• 2 tsp Just Bee honey

Add the gravy granules to a measuring jug then pour in freshly boiled water from the kettle up to the ½ pint line (280ml) and stir vigorously with a fork until all the granules are dissolved. Then stir in two teaspoons of mustard and two teaspoons of honey. This gravy is great with this chicken recipe and will really bring the whole meal together.