Chicken with a marinade like this one looks more complicated than it is. Balsamic, soy, Worcestershire, ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, and two kinds of rosemary go into a bowl, the chicken goes in, and twenty minutes later it’s in the oven on top of carrots and red onion. The marinade is assertive, which is exactly what chicken breast needs. Plain roasted breast is usually dry and forgettable. This isn’t. The sugars caramelize on the top of each piece, the carrots go soft and sweet underneath, and the whole baking dish collects a sauce you’ll want to spoon over rice. Under an hour from fridge to table, including prep.
How to Make Rosemary and Baby Carrot Chicken
Don’t rush the marinate
Five minutes is the stated minimum but 20 to 30 minutes in the marinade improves the flavor considerably. If you’re prepping ahead, refrigerate the chicken in the marinade for up to a few hours. Bring it back to room temperature before it goes into the oven so it cooks evenly.
The carrots and onion base
Drizzle the vegetables with olive oil, salt, and pepper before the chicken goes on top. They need their own seasoning; the marinade dripping down from the chicken isn’t enough on its own. Spread them in a single layer so they roast rather than steam. 
Same-size chicken pieces matter
Halve the chicken breasts and try to keep the pieces roughly even in thickness. Uneven pieces mean one end overcooks while the thicker end finishes, and chicken breast has very little margin for error on the dry side. A meat thermometer at 165°F is the only reliable way to know.
Rosemary and Baby Carrot Chicken
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Juicy chicken breasts roast alongside tender carrots and red onion in a flavorful herb marinade. Ready in under an hour!
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breasts, halved
- 2 cups (473 ml) baby carrots
- 1 red onion sliced into thin strips
- 1 stalk fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 tsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the rosemary, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, and olive oil.
- Add the chicken breast pieces, mix well, and let sit for 5 minutes.
- In an oven dish, spread the carrots and onion slices; drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Place the marinated chicken pieces on top of the vegetables, adding the remaining marinade.
- Bake at 392°F (200°C) for 30 minutes.
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, use chicken breasts of similar size. If using larger breasts, increase cooking time by 5-10 minutes.
- For a richer flavor, use fresh rosemary instead of dried. If substituting, use about 1 tbsp of fresh rosemary for 1 tsp of dried.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave or oven. They also make great additions to salads.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast + vegetables
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 150
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes, bone-in thighs work well and stay juicier. Add about 10 extra minutes of cook time since thighs are thicker. Check that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
What does the brown sugar do in the marinade?
It balances the acidity from the balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, and it helps the marinade caramelize in the oven. That glaze on the chicken and vegetables comes from the sugar browning at high heat.
Can I prep this ahead of time?
Yes. Combine the marinade and chicken in a container the night before and refrigerate. Spread the vegetables in the oven dish and add the chicken when you are ready to bake. It saves time on busy evenings.
Tried this. Both the chicken and carrots were raw. Are you sure about the oven temperature?
It is 200 degrees Celsius or about 390 Fahrenheit.