Apricot

Braised Balsamic Mustard Chicken

January 31, 2018
4
12 Ratings
Photo by Leith Devine
  • Prep time 30 minutes
  • Cook time 30 minutes
  • Serves 6
Author Notes

This is one of my favorite chicken recipes because it's so adaptable. It's a favorite of my family and friends. I've used apricots and figs (fresh-frozen from Trader Joe's), or mushrooms. Both versions are extremely tasty. —Leith Devine

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Ingredients
  • 8 bone-in chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or 1 1/2 tsp dried
  • 1 onion, halved and sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen apricot pieces
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen figs, halved
  • 8-16 ounces sliced mushrooms (if not using fruit!)
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. In an oven-safe pan like a Le Creuset, brown chicken in olive oil, skin side down, until skin is crispy. Turn chicken, brown slightly and remove from the pan. Set aside.
  2. Make the sauce while the chicken cooks. Combine the balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, and thyme. Whisk until combined and set aside.
  3. Add sliced onion to the pan and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. If using mushrooms, add and saute until cooked.
  4. Nestle the chicken amongst the vegetables in the pan, skin side up.
  5. If using the fruit, add the apricots and figs, tucking them around the thighs. Ignore this step if you're using the mushrooms :)
  6. Spoon the glaze over the chicken. Bake for 20-30 minutes until chicken reaches 160-165 degrees. Remove the chicken from the sauce and serve the sauce separately.
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4 Reviews

luise M. October 14, 2018
The balance of vinegar and other ingredients seems off. The sauce was way too "vinegary". I followed recipe exactly. Wouldn't make it again.
Leith D. October 14, 2018
You're right, it should have been a 1/2 cup instead of 3/4 (don't know why I wrote that)! Sorry it didn't come out right, my apologies. I've corrected the recipe.
luise M. October 18, 2018
Thanks for the correction! Actually I think I will make it again:)
Leith D. October 19, 2018
Great, let me know how it turns out!