Description
This Chicken Chasseur is a rustic French classic featuring tender chicken simmered in a rich mushroom and tomato sauce infused with garlic, onions, and tarragon. It’s a hearty yet elegant dish that’s perfect for cozy dinners and special occasions alike.
Ingredients
4 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin on (~250 g each)
4 chicken drumsticks
¾ tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
3 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp vegetable oil
30 g unsalted butter
For the sauce:
400 g white mushrooms, sliced
2 onions, halved and sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
3 tbsp tomato paste
2½ cups low-sodium beef stock
¾ tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
30 g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1 tbsp fresh tarragon, finely chopped
To serve: Creamy mashed potatoes, rice, or small pasta
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Lightly coat in flour, shaking off excess.
- Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken thighs skin-side down for 5 minutes, then flip and cook 1 minute. Remove and repeat with drumsticks.
- In the same pan, add mushrooms and onions. Cook for 5 minutes until softened and golden. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, then pour in beef stock, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
- Return chicken to the skillet, skin-side up. Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes, then uncover and cook another 20 minutes to reduce the sauce.
- Remove the chicken and simmer the sauce for 3 minutes to thicken slightly. Turn off the heat and whisk in the cold butter cubes until glossy.
- Stir in tarragon, return chicken to the pan, and spoon the sauce over the top. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.
Notes
Use all thighs or drumsticks if preferred — both cuts work beautifully.
For a creamy variation, stir in 1 tbsp crème fraîche at the end.
Try mixed wild mushrooms for deeper flavor.
Omit tarragon or use thyme or parsley if unavailable.
This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors develop further.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmered
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 46 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
