Quick & Tangy Dijon Chicken Recipe for Weeknight Magic

Succulent dijon chicken brings a delightful twist to your weeknight dinner routine.

Creamy mustard sauce adds unexpected depth to simple ingredients.

Tender chicken breasts absorb rich, tangy flavors that dance across your palate.

Home cooks appreciate how quickly this dish comes together with minimal effort.

Mustard’s sharp bite perfectly complements the mild protein, creating a balanced meal everyone will love.

Each forkful promises a burst of sophisticated yet comforting taste.

You’ll want to bookmark this recipe for future culinary adventures.

What Makes Dijon Chicken So Bold and Tasty

• Savor Gourmet Simplicity: Elevate your home cooking with a restaurant-quality dish that looks impressive but requires minimal culinary skills.
• Customize with Ease: Adapt the recipe by swapping chicken thighs with breasts or using different herbs to match your taste preferences and pantry ingredients.
• Quick Weeknight Wonder: Transform ordinary ingredients into a delectable meal in under an hour, perfect for busy families craving a satisfying dinner without complex preparation.
• One-Skillet Magic: Minimize kitchen cleanup by preparing and baking the entire dish in a single oven-safe skillet, reducing dish washing and saving precious time after meal preparation.

Dijon Chicken Must-Haves for Flavorful Results

• Chicken Thighs: A tender and flavorful cut of meat that becomes succulent when cooked with the creamy Dijon sauce.

• Olive Oil, Butter: These provide rich flavor and help create a golden sear on the chicken skin.
• Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious creaminess and helps create a smooth, velvety sauce.

• Dijon Mustard: Brings a tangy, sharp flavor that complements the chicken and creates a distinctive sauce.
• White Wine: Adds depth and helps deglaze the pan, capturing all the delicious browned bits.
• Chicken Broth: Provides additional savory flavor to the sauce.

• Onions: Adds sweetness and creates a flavorful base for the sauce.
• Bay Leaf, Thyme: Infuse the dish with aromatic herbal notes.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential for enhancing the overall flavor of the chicken and sauce.

Simple Steps for Golden, Juicy Dijon Chicken

Step 1: Fire Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350°F, getting ready for a flavor explosion.

Step 2: Sear the Chicken

• Chicken thighs
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil
• Butter

Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper.

Heat a sizzling combination of olive oil and butter in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Lay the chicken skin-side down and let it turn a gorgeous golden brown for 3-4 minutes.

Flip the chicken, generously brush with Dijon mustard, and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Gently remove the chicken and set it aside.

Step 3: Caramelize the Onions

Dial down the heat to medium. Toss sliced onions into the skillet and add the remaining Dijon mustard.

Let them dance and sauté for 4-5 minutes until they’re soft and beautifully coated.

Step 4: Create the Flavor Base

Splash white wine into the skillet, scraping up all those delicious browned bits.

Kick the heat up to medium-high and let the alcohol simmer away, reducing the sauce slightly for about 3 minutes.

Step 5: Build the Creamy Sauce

• Chicken broth
• Heavy cream
• Bay leaf
• Thyme

Stir in the chicken broth, heavy cream, bay leaf, and thyme.

Gently return the chicken thighs to the skillet, skin-side up, and cover.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Slide the skillet into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.

The chicken is ready when it hits an internal temperature of 165°F. Serve piping hot, drizzling the luscious creamy sauce over the top.

Kitchen Tips for Crispy, Creamy Dijon Chicken

• Swap chicken thighs for chicken breasts, adjusting cooking time to prevent drying out.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure perfect doneness without overcooking.
• Opt for low-fat Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream for a lighter, healthier version.
• Experiment with different herbs like rosemary or tarragon to add unique flavor profiles.
• Choose gluten-free Dijon mustard for those with dietary restrictions, maintaining the dish's rich taste.

Switch It Up: Dijon Chicken Flavors to Try

• Rustic Herb Chicken: Replace Dijon mustard with a blend of fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme, creating an earthy Mediterranean-style chicken dish with robust herbal notes.
• Spicy Cajun Version: Swap Dijon mustard for Cajun seasoning, adding paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder to deliver a bold, peppery kick with southern flair.
• Apple Cider Chicken: Substitute white wine with apple cider and use whole grain mustard instead of Dijon, introducing a sweet and tangy profile that complements the chicken's richness.
• Coconut Curry Adaptation: Incorporate coconut milk instead of heavy cream and add yellow curry powder with ginger, transforming the recipe into a creamy, aromatic Asian-inspired entrée.

What Goes Great with Dijon Chicken Tonight

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Choose a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to complement the tangy Dijon mustard and cut through the rich, creamy sauce.
• Serve with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Create a smooth, velvety side that absorbs the delicious mustard cream sauce and provides a comforting base for the tender chicken.
• Match with Lightly Dressed Arugula Salad: Add a peppery, fresh green element that balances the richness of the dish and provides a crisp contrast to the creamy chicken.
• Recommend Crusty Sourdough Bread: Use to soak up the remaining sauce, adding a delightful textural element and allowing diners to enjoy every last drop of the flavorful mustard cream.

Storing Dijon Chicken Without Losing Flavor

• Refrigerate: Store leftover Dijon chicken in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cool the dish completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Freeze: Wrap individual portions in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Separate the sauce from the chicken to maintain better texture when thawing.
• Reheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken in a baking dish, add a splash of chicken broth to prevent drying, cover with foil, and warm for 15-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Dijon Chicken FAQs to Make Cooking Easier

• Why use both olive oil and butter in this recipe?

The combination adds rich flavor and helps prevent the butter from burning, creating a perfect golden sear on the chicken.

• Can I substitute white wine if I don't have any?

You can replace white wine with chicken broth or apple cider vinegar to maintain the sauce’s depth and acidity.

• How do I know the chicken is properly cooked?

Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), ensuring the chicken is safe and juicy.

• What type of Dijon mustard works best?

Choose a smooth, high-quality Dijon mustard for the most robust flavor and creamy sauce texture.

Dijon Chicken Recipe

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4.8 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 35–40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent Dijon chicken elevates weeknight dinners with its tangy, creamy sauce and simple, elegant preparation. Crispy golden chicken breasts bathed in a rich mustard cream will become your new go-to comfort meal that impresses without complicated techniques.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1.5 pounds (680 grams) skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs

Seasonings and Spices:

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 large bay leaf
• 5 sprigs fresh thyme

Liquids and Additional Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
• 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) white wine
• 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) chicken broth
• 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) heavy cream

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Instructions

1. Prepare ingredients and preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), ensuring all components are ready for cooking.
2. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper thoroughly, creating a flavor foundation.
3. Heat olive oil and butter in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until butter melts and pan is hot.
4. Place chicken thighs skin-side down, searing for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
5. Flip chicken, brush with Dijon mustard, and cook opposite side for another 3-4 minutes to develop deep flavor.
6. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside temporarily.
7. Reduce skillet heat to medium, add sliced onions and remaining Dijon mustard, sautéing for 4-5 minutes until onions soften and become translucent.
8. Deglaze skillet with white wine, scraping accumulated browned bits from bottom to enhance sauce complexity.
9. Increase heat to medium-high, allowing wine to simmer and reduce for approximately 3 minutes.
10. Incorporate chicken broth, heavy cream, bay leaf, and thyme into the skillet, creating a rich, aromatic sauce.
11. Return chicken thighs to skillet, positioning skin-side up, and cover with lid.
12. Transfer skillet to preheated oven, baking for 15-20 minutes until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
13. Remove from oven, let rest briefly, then serve hot with creamy sauce generously spooned over chicken.

Notes

• Ensure chicken skin is thoroughly dry before searing to achieve a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture and flavor.
• Opt for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for maximum juiciness and richer taste compared to boneless alternatives.
• Swap heavy cream with coconut milk or Greek yogurt for a lighter, dairy-free version that maintains the creamy texture and tang.
• Use fresh herbs like tarragon or rosemary instead of thyme to create subtle flavor variations while keeping the dish’s signature Dijon profile.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 500
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 750 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 13 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 6 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 36 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg