Fall is the time of year for easy chicken dinners, and this one, made with juicy bone-in chicken thighs, comes with extra crisp skin and its own built-in side dish of roasted squash and carrots, making for a simple all-in-one supper.
Note: I will admit that prepping butternut squash can be a bit of a pain, so, if you're short on time, or just don't feel like making the effort, purchase the pre-cut and peeled squash available in most grocery stores.
Why this recipe works:
- Browning the chicken skin first gives it an extra-crisp texture.
- Broth gently braises the chicken and vegetables, adding flavor to both.
Recipe Details
Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs With Butternut Squash and Carrots Recipe
Ingredients
6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds total)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large carrot, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
1 cup diced butternut squash
1 small shallot, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock
1 tablespoon fresh juice from 1 lemon
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 450°F. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat until lightly smoking. Add chicken pieces skin side-down and cook, moving chicken as little as possible, until chicken skin is rendered and deep golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes, reducing heat if smoking excessively. Flip pieces as they finish and lightly brown second side, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer browned chicken pieces to a plate and set aside.
Add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet and add carrots and squash. Cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add shallots and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add cinnamon and broth. Nestle chicken pieces into pan skin side up and transfer to oven. Roast until chicken registers 165°F on an instant read thermometer, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Transfer chicken to a plate. Stir lemon juice and cilantro into vegetables and season to taste with salt and pepper. Return chicken to skillet and serve.
This Recipe Appears In
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
397 | Calories |
20g | Fat |
14g | Carbs |
43g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 3 to 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 397 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 20g | 26% |
Saturated Fat 5g | 25% |
Cholesterol 208mg | 69% |
Sodium 914mg | 40% |
Total Carbohydrate 14g | 5% |
Dietary Fiber 4g | 15% |
Total Sugars 4g | |
Protein 43g | |
Vitamin C 14mg | 72% |
Calcium 72mg | 6% |
Iron 3mg | 14% |
Potassium 855mg | 18% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |