Description
This French Mustard Chicken is a classic comfort dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a creamy Dijon mustard sauce infused with fresh thyme and garlic. It strikes a perfect balance of elegance and simplicity, making it ideal for both guests and weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Cooking fats and aromatics
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce
- ⅓ cup Dijon mustard
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper to build the base flavor.
- Heat fats: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil and butter until melted and hot, ready for searing.
- Sear the chicken: Place chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for 5–6 minutes on each side until they develop a golden brown crust and are partially cooked through. Then remove the chicken and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Add finely chopped shallots to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to release its fragrance.
- Create the sauce: Whisk Dijon mustard and chicken broth into the skillet, stirring to combine with the aromatics. Then add heavy cream and fresh thyme leaves, stirring gently to incorporate the sauce.
- Simmer the chicken: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10–15 minutes, allowing the chicken to cook through and the sauce to thicken and develop rich flavor.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the chicken and sauce before serving warm. This dish pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce.
Notes
- Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread to complement the creamy mustard sauce.
- For a bit of extra texture and tang, substitute part of the Dijon mustard with whole-grain mustard.
- Ensure not to overcook the chicken during searing to keep it tender when simmered in the sauce.
- Fresh thyme can be substituted with dried thyme (use about ⅓ tsp dried) if fresh is unavailable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
