Description
Comfort-Style Chicken the whole family loves! Tender, saucy, and easy to make, this dinner will become your new go-to. Perfect for any night.
Ingredients
Scale
- Main Players:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- Flavor Foundations:
- 4–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, or to taste
- Sauce Essentials:
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- Finishing Touches:
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Step 1: Get That Golden Sear!: Okay, first things first, pat those chicken thighs dry, really dry, with paper towels. This is where the magic happens, folks! Season them generously with salt and pepper. Heat a splash of olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s shimmering, carefully place the chicken thighs skin-side down. Let them sear, undisturbed, for about 6-8 minutes until that skin is deeply golden and crispy. You’ll smell that incredible browning happening, it’s just fantastic. This is where I always want to peek too early, but resist! That crust is everything.
- Step 2: Build the Flavor Foundation.: Flip the chicken over and sear on the other side for another 2-3 minutes, just to get a little color. Then, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside. Don’t clean the pan, we want all those delicious browned bits! Reduce the heat to medium, then toss in your chopped onion. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until it’s softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. This is where the kitchen starts to smell amazing, honestly. I’ve definitely burned the onions here once or twice by walking away, so stay close!
- Step 3: Aromatic Bliss & Thickening.: Add your minced garlic and cook for just a minute more until fragrant. You’ll smell it, that sweet, pungent aroma. Sprinkle in the flour and stir it well, cooking for another minute or two to get rid of that raw flour taste. It’ll look a bit clumpy, but that’s okay! This little step is crucial for getting that beautiful, velvety sauce for our homestyle family chicken dinner.
- Step 4: The Glorious Sauce.: Gradually pour in the chicken broth, whisking constantly to scrape up all those flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan and prevent lumps. Bring it to a gentle simmer, then stir in the fresh thyme and rosemary sprigs. Let it bubble for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce starts to thicken slightly. Oh, the smell at this point! It’s just divine. I usually sneak a little taste here to adjust the salt and pepper, sometimes I’m heavy-handed, oops.
- Step 5: Simmer & Tenderize.: Return the seared chicken thighs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Make sure the skin side is up, we want that crispiness to hold! Transfer the skillet to your preheated oven (around 375°F or 190°C). Let it bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and super tender. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). This is where the chicken just melts in your mouth, honestly.
- Step 6: Finishing Touches & Creaminess.: Once the chicken is done, carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the heavy cream until it’s fully incorporated and the sauce is wonderfully rich and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings one last time – maybe a little more salt, a crack of fresh pepper? Garnish with some fresh parsley, if you’re feeling fancy. The final result should be a beautiful, tender homestyle family chicken dinner with a luscious sauce that’s just begging for a spoonful over everything!