Description
Succulent chicken breasts dance with creamy dijon sauce in this irresistible French-inspired comfort meal. Elegant yet simple, this dish promises restaurant-quality flavors you’ll crave on busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Fats and Cooking Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup white wine (or chicken broth if avoiding alcohol)
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme)
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for color and flavor)
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard (optional, for added texture and flavor)
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard (you can use whole grain Dijon for texture)
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional, for sweetness)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Generously coat chicken breasts with salt and pepper, ensuring even seasoning on all surfaces.
- Warm a blend of olive oil and butter in a spacious skillet over medium heat until the butter melts and starts to sizzle.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken breasts into the hot skillet, cooking for 5-6 minutes on each side until a rich golden crust forms and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer perfectly seared chicken to a separate plate, keeping it warm.
- In the same skillet with remaining pan drippings, introduce finely chopped garlic and sauté for 60 seconds until aromatic.
- Pour chicken broth into the skillet, whisking in Dijon mustard and freshly chopped thyme leaves, creating a fragrant liquid base.
- Allow the mixture to simmer and reduce for 2-3 minutes, concentrating the flavors.
- Gently stream heavy cream into the skillet, stirring continuously until the sauce transforms into a velvety, smooth consistency, approximately 5 minutes.
- Reintroduce the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, delicately coating each piece with the luxurious Dijon cream sauce.
- Finish the dish by sprinkling freshly chopped parsley over the top and serve immediately alongside your preferred accompaniments.
Notes
- Ensure chicken breasts are evenly thick by pounding them to uniform thickness before cooking for consistent doneness.
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 165°F, preventing overcooking and maintaining juicy texture.
- Substitute heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk for lighter, dairy-free alternatives that still provide creamy richness.
- Fresh thyme can be replaced with dried herbs or other complementary seasonings like rosemary or tarragon for varied flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 442 kcal
- Sugar: 1.3 g
- Sodium: 223 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.5 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg