2 Shares

Braised Chicken with Potatoes and Chive Butter Sauce is a comforting one-pot meal that’s packed with fresh flavors and simple ingredients. The juicy, tender chicken thighs are braised in a savory broth with garlic, shallots, and lemon, then finished with a rich chive butter sauce. Paired with melt-in-your-mouth baby Yukon Gold potatoes, this dish is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner that feels elegant yet effortless.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Chicken and Potatoes:

1 lb baby Yukon Gold potatoes
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 lbs), fat trimmed
2 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
2 large shallots, cut into ½-inch slices
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
⅔ cup chicken stock
1 lemon, sliced
1 ½ tsp lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

For the Chive Butter Sauce:

4 tbsp salted butter, cold
Freshly cracked black pepper, for serving
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives, for serving

Optional:

Cooked rice or couscous, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven:
Preheat the oven to 400°F with the oven rack in the center.

2. Cook the Potatoes:
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the potatoes. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until they’re just fork-tender. Drain and set aside. Once cool enough to handle, cut the potatoes in half.

3. Brown the Chicken:
Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet or braiser over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and add it, skin-side down, to the skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the skin is browned and crispy. Flip the chicken and cook for 3 more minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.

4. Brown the Potatoes:
In the same skillet, add as many potatoes as will fit, cut sides down. Cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly browned. Transfer the potatoes to the plate with the chicken. Repeat until all potatoes are browned.

5. Cook Shallots and Garlic:
Add the shallots to the skillet and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.

6. Braise the Chicken:
Return the chicken to the skillet, skin-side up. Nestle the potatoes around the chicken and top with lemon slices. Transfer the skillet to the oven and braise for about 35 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F and the potatoes are tender.

7. Make the Chive Butter Sauce:
Transfer the chicken to a plate. Stir in the lemon juice and cold butter into the pan sauce until the butter melts. Taste and season with salt if needed.

8. Serve:
Return the chicken to the pan. Garnish with freshly cracked black pepper and chives. Serve family-style over cooked rice or couscous if desired.

Nutrients

(Approximate values per serving)

Calories: 399 kcal
Protein: 23g
Carbohydrates: 10g
Fat: 31g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 299mg
Cholesterol: 132mg

The Allure of One-Pot Cooking

One of the most appealing aspects of Braised Chicken with Potatoes and Chive Butter Sauce is its simplicity. With everything cooking together in one pot, this dish offers both ease and flavor. The beauty of one-pot meals is the opportunity to layer flavors as ingredients are added. As the chicken sears and the potatoes brown, they begin to build a base of delicious flavors that form the backbone of the dish. Braising the chicken in a combination of chicken stock, garlic, and lemon, ensures that the chicken becomes tender and flavorful, while the potatoes absorb the savory broth, becoming creamy and comforting.

This method of braising allows for all the ingredients to cook together, reducing the number of pots and pans to clean while ensuring that every bite is infused with rich flavors. It’s the perfect solution for busy weeknights when you want a meal that’s not only comforting but also full of depth and complexity.

Why Chicken Thighs Are the Best Choice for This Dish

The recipe calls for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, which are ideal for braising. Unlike chicken breasts, which can easily dry out when cooked for extended periods, chicken thighs are juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. The skin, when browned and crispy, adds an extra layer of texture and richness to the dish. As the chicken braises, the fat from the skin melts into the broth, imparting additional flavor and moisture, keeping the meat juicy and tender throughout the cooking process.

Chicken thighs also absorb flavors incredibly well, which makes them the perfect candidate for this braised preparation. The combination of garlic, shallots, and lemon, along with the chicken stock, creates a savory base that infuses the chicken with a depth of flavor, making each bite more satisfying than the last.

The Magic of Potatoes in a One-Pot Meal

Baby Yukon Gold potatoes are an essential component of this dish. Their creamy texture and buttery flavor make them the perfect companion to the rich, savory chicken. When braised in the pan with the chicken, these potatoes soak up all the flavors from the chicken stock, garlic, and lemon, becoming melt-in-your-mouth tender and flavorful.

The process of browning the potatoes before braising helps to develop a deeper flavor and adds a slight crispy texture to the cut sides of the potatoes. This contrast between the crispy exterior and the soft interior creates a balance of textures that enhances the overall dish. The potatoes, having absorbed the chicken’s savory juices, act as a perfect vehicle for soaking up the sauce, making them a highlight of the meal.

The Role of Chive Butter Sauce

While the chicken and potatoes are the stars of the dish, the chive butter sauce adds a touch of indulgence and elegance that elevates the entire meal. The richness of the butter perfectly complements the savory chicken and potatoes, adding a silky smooth finish to the braising liquid. Chives, with their mild onion-like flavor, add a fresh, vibrant note that brightens up the dish and contrasts with the richness of the butter and chicken.

The chive butter sauce is easy to make and comes together quickly once the chicken is removed from the pan. By stirring in the cold butter and lemon juice, you create a luxurious sauce that ties the entire dish together, making it feel indulgent without being overly heavy. The sauce, with its balance of rich butter and tangy lemon, provides the perfect finishing touch to this one-pot meal.

The Impact of Lemon in the Dish

Lemon plays a pivotal role in Braised Chicken with Potatoes and Chive Butter Sauce by providing a refreshing, bright contrast to the richness of the chicken and the butter sauce. The lemon slices, which are added to the pan during braising, infuse the broth with a subtle citrusy flavor that cuts through the heaviness of the dish and balances out the savory notes. The lemon juice, added at the end, further enhances this bright, tangy note, helping to lighten the sauce and add a layer of complexity.

Lemon also works wonderfully with the chicken, garlic, and shallots, enhancing the flavors and adding a burst of freshness that prevents the dish from feeling too rich. This balance of savory and acidic flavors is one of the reasons this dish feels so satisfying and well-rounded.

A Complete Meal in One Pot

One of the reasons Braised Chicken with Potatoes and Chive Butter Sauce is so appealing is that it’s a complete meal all in one pot. The chicken provides protein, the potatoes offer a hearty, starchy element, and the chive butter sauce ties everything together. By serving this dish over rice or couscous, you can further round out the meal, creating a comforting, filling dinner that doesn’t require multiple components or a lengthy prep time.

The simplicity of this dish makes it ideal for a weeknight dinner, but the richness of the flavors and the elegant presentation make it suitable for more special occasions as well. Whether you’re cooking for a busy family or preparing a cozy dinner for two, this recipe is versatile and accommodating, making it a perfect addition to your culinary repertoire.

Customizing the Dish

While the recipe is delicious as is, it can also be easily customized to suit your preferences. For example, if you prefer a different type of potato, you can swap out the baby Yukon Golds for red potatoes or fingerlings, both of which will work well in this braised preparation. Additionally, you can experiment with different herbs, such as thyme or rosemary, to add another layer of flavor to the dish.

For those who prefer a more pronounced vegetable presence, you could also add carrots or parsnips to the braise, allowing them to cook alongside the chicken and potatoes. These vegetables would absorb the flavors of the broth and add additional texture and color to the dish.

Health Considerations

Braised Chicken with Potatoes and Chive Butter Sauce is a relatively balanced meal, offering a good amount of protein from the chicken and healthy fats from the olive oil and butter. The dish also includes potatoes, which provide a source of carbohydrates, and the chive butter sauce adds a small amount of richness without overwhelming the meal. The use of fresh garlic, shallots, and lemon adds antioxidants and essential vitamins, making the dish flavorful and nourishing.

While the recipe is indulgent due to the butter and olive oil, you can always adjust the amount of fat used to suit your preferences or dietary needs. You could use a lighter oil or reduce the butter in the sauce to create a healthier version while still maintaining the overall flavor of the dish.

Conclusion

Braised Chicken with Potatoes and Chive Butter Sauce is a satisfying and flavorful one-pot meal that is perfect for any occasion. The combination of tender chicken, melt-in-your-mouth potatoes, and a rich chive butter sauce makes this dish both comforting and elegant. Its simplicity and versatility make it ideal for busy weeknights, while the depth of flavor makes it suitable for special occasions as well. Whether served with rice or couscous, this dish provides a complete, balanced meal that is sure to become a favorite in your cooking rotation.

Pin2