Sweet and tangy maple dijon sauce smothered on crispy, grilled chicken to make one amazing Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken dinner that will have you licking your plate clean.
Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken
This tender, juicy Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken features your favorite cut of chicken cooked to perfection and smothered in a tangy-sweet sauce made from maple syrup and Dijon mustard.
The sauce reminds me of my favorite honey mustard, and it's so good when it caramelizes onto the chicken, it will have you licking your plate clean!
It's super easy to throw together for weeknight meals and summer nights.
What Cut of Chicken Should I Use?
I love using bone-in chicken thighs so that the skin can get crispy while the sauce caramelizes.
However, my kids love drumsticks, and really any cut of chicken will work with this sauce. Only the cook time will vary based on the size and cut of chicken.
What to Serve with Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken
This chicken goes well with almost any side you serve it with. Here are some of our favorites:
- Creamy Southern Coleslaw
- Pizza Pasta Salad
- Fresh Green Salad - next to or on top with some more maple-dijon sauce for dressing!
- Southern Potato Salad
- Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans
- Green Beans with Shallots
- Grilled Brussels Sprouts
- Creamed Corn
Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken Recipe Tips and Variations
Here are some quick tips and substitutions if you're looking for something a little different or don't have something on hand.
- Chicken: This recipe will work for any cut of chicken. Just be aware that cook times may be longer or shorter depending on the cut or size of chicken. Cook to an internal temperature of 160°F and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving (the internal temperature should continue rising to about 165°F).
- Maple Syrup: Use real maple syrup for this recipe, not the corn syrup pancake syrup. You can also try honey with similar results.
- Mustard: I have successfully used yellow mustard with a pinch of onion and garlic powder for this sauce, as well as whole grain mustard, depending on your taste preferences or what you have on hand.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs such as oregano, parsley, chives, or dill can be included for a touch of fresh flavor.
What to Do with Leftover Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken
Typically, I'll just store leftovers in individual servings with leftovers of whatever else we had that night. Then I'll eat these leftover individual portions for lunch.
Some more ideas are serving the chicken chopped up on a salad with more maple dijon sauce or honey mustard dressing. They would also go really well in a wrap.
More Chicken Recipes You'll Love
- Chicken Pesto Kabobs - bites of juicy chicken with fresh cherry tomatoes brushed in nutty basil pesto makes a flavorful and healthy dinner.
- Buffalo Chicken Salad - quick, fresh, and easy to make. This is a meal prep and summer lunch favorite at our house!
- Chicken Piccata - both rich and zesty, this chicken is lightly breaded and quickly pan-fried then simmered to tender perfection is a rich, lemon butter sauce with capers.
- Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken - tender marinated chicken cooked on the grill that's perfect for salads, tacos, or as the main event.
- Baked Caprese Chicken - chicken breasts topped with fresh tomato, basil, and cheese and baked in the oven.
Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken Video
Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken
Ingredients
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 8 chicken thighs (or drumsticks or breasts)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt & pepper
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, add maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and cider vinegar. Stir to combine. Separate about ⅓ of the sauce for serving and the rest for grilling (so you won't contaminate the serving sauce with raw chicken juices). Set aside.
- Start grill to medium heat.
- Brush chicken with olive oil, and season chicken with salt and pepper. Place on a plate to grill.
- Grill chicken over medium heat, skin side down. Grill until grill marks appear, about 5 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and repeat the process on the other side.
- Flip the chicken again. Brush with the maple Dijon sauce. Cook for 5 minutes and flip again. Repeat this step, flipping every 5 minutes and brushing more sauce, until chicken is cooked through. (Probably 2-4 more times, and a meat thermometer will read 160°F-165°°F)
- Place cooked chicken on a clean plate for serving, and serve with the reserved Maple Dijon sauce.
Notes
- Maple Syrup: Use real maple syrup, not the kind made from corn syrup. That won't work as well here. You can also use honey in this recipe with similar results.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days. Reheat in individual servings in the microwave.
Nutrition
UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in May 2017. It was updated with new video and tips and republished in July 2023.
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Jane says
Yum! WOW! This is one of the best chicken recipes I tried so far
i tried the recipe exactly and the results was perfect, My partner loves this too
Ned says
You weren't kidding about licking the plate! Maple and Mustard combo is a winner! Thank you for this awesomeness!
Elisa says
Love this Grilled Maple Dijon Chicken recipe, so easy to make and delicious. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Thank you so much! The flavors are perfect and I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Andrea says
This chicken looks fantastic. I love that you use the maple dijon sauce the same you would a bbq sauce. Makes the flavors really shine.
TAYLER ROSS says
I made this chicken for dinner last night and it was incredible! It was so full of flavor and I can't wait to make it again.