Creamy Dijon chicken

Succulent Dijon chicken thighs cooked in a creamy leek sauce. This fuss-free, quick and easy recipe is perfect served with steamed rice and greens.

Creamy dijon chicken

The love for creamy chicken recipes is strong my friends. But can you blame me? Who wouldn’t love succulent, juicy chicken cooked in a savoury cream sauce? And then you add soft, silky leeks, a punch of Dijon mustard and a good squeeze of lemon and you know what you have? Creamy Dijon chicken perfection.

I’ve been making this recipe for absolute ages. Kind of one of those recipes you don’t even follow anymore, you just throw everything into a pot and know what the outcome will be. It’s instinct at this point. But it’s always a winner. As is the case with Nigel Slater’s Coq au Riesling, this can be served with rice, mashed potatoes, crusty bread and even polenta but I chose rice here because I have fallen back in love with Jasmine rice and will serve it with everything I possibly can. A side of steamed green veg or salad will round this out perfectly and will result in a seriously good, really simple weeknight meal.

Creamy dijon chicken

How do you make Dijon chicken?

Brown chicken thighs in a large pot/deep pan then remove and fry leeks and garlic until soft and aromatic. Mix cream, chicken stock and Dijon mustard and pour in. Add the browned chicken thighs then allow to simmer until the sauce has reduced and thickened and the chicken is fully cooked.

What is Dijon mustard?

Dijon mustard is a French mustard named after the town of Dijon in Burgundy, France. It’s a rich and creamy with a strong mustard flavor. It’s perfect used in creamy sauces and dressing.

Can I use regular mustard instead of Dijon?

Yes, you can use any mustard to replace the Dijon mustard in this recipe but it won’t have quite the same flavor.

Can I bake this recipe in the oven instead of cooking on the stove?

Yes, you can. Follow the recipe all the way up to adding the chicken back into the sauce and then place the pan in an oven, pre-heated to 180ºC/350ºF, and bake for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

Creamy dijon chicken

What can I make for dinner with chicken thighs?

Creamy dijon chicken
Creamy dijon chicken

Creamy Dijon chicken

Succulent Dijon chicken thighs cooked in a creamy leek sauce. This fuss-free, quick and easy recipe is perfect served with steamed rice and greens.
4.49 from 31 votes
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Course: Chicken, Dinner, Easy Dinner, Stew
Cuisine: Dinner
Keyword: chicken dinner, chicken recipe, chicken thighs, creamy chicken
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Calories: 589kcal
Author: Alida Ryder
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs
  • 4 small-medium leeks washed and finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • cups cream
  • 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • chopped parsley to serve

to serve

  • steamed rice
  • steamed greens

Instructions

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large, hot frying pan and brown the chicken on both sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  • Add the chopped leeks and garlic to the pan and fry for 30 seconds – 1 minute until soft and fragrant.
  • Mix together the cream, chicken stock and mustard. Pour into the pan.
  • Allow to simmer for 2 minutes then add the browned chicken thighs back into the pan. Turn down the heat and allow to simmer for 20-25 minutes, covered, until the chicken is cooked through. If needed, add more stock to the pan.
  • When the chicken is cooked, season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
  • Sprinkle over the chopped parsley then serve with rice and steamed greens.

Notes

I often adjust the ratio of liquids to create more sauce, especially when serving this dish with rice. I use 2 cups cream to 1½ cups stock and will often add more stock during the cooking time.

Nutrition

Calories: 589kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 230mg | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 508mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1980IU | Vitamin C: 7.9mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2.4mg

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