Description
French Mustard Chicken is a creamy one-skillet dinner featuring tender boneless chicken breasts cooked in a rich Dijon and whole grain mustard sauce with a touch of fresh thyme. This easy-to-make dish combines savory flavors with a smooth, velvety sauce, perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Sauce
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the flavor of the meat before cooking.
- Brown Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to rest.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze Pan: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the skillet’s bottom to incorporate deep flavors. Reduce the heat to low and allow the broth to simmer for approximately 3 minutes.
- Prepare Mustard Cream Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, and fresh thyme leaves. Mix thoroughly and let the sauce gently simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken and develop flavor.
- Simmer Chicken in Sauce: Return the browned chicken breasts to the skillet, turning them to coat evenly with the mustard sauce. Allow the chicken to simmer in the sauce for an additional 5 minutes to soak up the flavors and heat through completely.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving. Serve the creamy French mustard chicken with your favorite side dishes such as steamed vegetables, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Chicken breasts can be pounded to an even thickness for more uniform cooking.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels.
- Heavy cream can be substituted with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, though it will be less rich.
- For extra flavor, deglaze the pan with white wine instead of chicken broth.
- This dish pairs well with roasted potatoes, green beans, or a simple salad.
