Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Prepare to fall madly in love with this Creamy, dreamy Mustard Chicken Recipe. Classic French dish that tastes outstanding.
Friends, this is going to be a long post, but I get lots of questions so I try to add plenty of information to help you make the best creamy Mustard Chicken ever!

Also, try my 30-minute Honey Mustard Chicken and Mustard Chicken Meatballs

Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (1)

I don't mean to brag, but this is it.

Forget everything you knew about creamy chicken dishes and listen up. I'll be honest with you, I've tried many chicken recipes before, way too many.

I sure can tell you the characteristics of a deliciously cooked chicken.

Jump to:
  • Equipment
  • Ingredients
  • Seasoning
  • Instructions
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Also, try these chicken recipes
  • Side dishes
  • Wine pairings
  • Similar Recipes
  • Recipe

Never Miss A Recipe!

Get HEALTHY Vegan Recipes straight to your inbox weekly!

Now, imagine a perfectly braisedfalls-off-the-bonechicken swimming in a creamy and flavourful mustard sauce.

It's too irresistible, and words cannot even describe the deliciousness of this recipe.

Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (2)

I said this before and I'll say it again.

French folks sure know good food. I was lucky enough to experience delicious food galore when I visited this beautiful countryin the mid of 2000s.

Frenchrecipes are unique, often verysimple, and absolutely mouthwatering.

Funny though, back then, I didn't try Dijon Mustard Chicken.

I was too obsessed with their French Onion Soup, cheese, andseafood. Can you blame me?

But ever since I started a food blog, I've been dreaming to make recipes from all over Europe.

Being in love with French cuisine, I just couldn't leave creamy Mustard Chicken thighs recipe without proper attention.

French call it Poulet à la Moutarde. Feeling fancy? Call it that way too.

You'll spend most of the 15 minutes browning the chicken and onions. The oven will do the rest while your mouth waters from a great depth of flavor coming from the oven.

Equipment

This is definitely one of the best one-pot recipes.

To make it, I recommend using a Dutch oven. This is the Dutch Oven that I use these days and I'm absolutely in love with this pot.

An alternative version is a good oven-proof cast iron skillet, like this one.

Be prepared to get your hands dirty. Because the mustard sauce for chicken comes out so good, you can't help, but finish the last bits of itbefore you leave the table.

Ingredients

  • chicken thighs, skin-on, and bone-in - you can use chicken breasts, read my Frequently Asked Questions section for substitution tips
  • mustards - I used Dijon mustard and whole grain Dijon mustard
  • butter
  • Creme Fraiche - if you don't have it, read my Frequently Asked Questions section for substitution tips
  • chicken broth
  • herbs - bay leaf, fresh thyme, parsley
  • yellow onion, shallot - the combination of the two contributes to the flavor. That being said, if you only have a yellow onion, you can use it and still have a delicious dish
  • salt, pepper

Seasoning

What does mustard do to a chicken? The combination of mustards that go into a marinade tenderizes the chicken and adds great flavor.

In addition, Creme Fraichethat's also used in the recipe makes the sauce extra creamy, rich, and literally irresistible.

Instructions

1.Season the chicken with salt, and pepper and rub with both mustards.

Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (4)

2. In a Dutch oven or big oven-proof skillet, melt butter on medium-high heat. Add chicken and brown on both sides, about 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.

Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (5)

3. To the same pan, add the shallot and onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, until translucent. Add chicken stock, scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the pan.

Add thyme and bay leaves and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir in the Crème Fraîche and return the chicken back to the pan.

Cook uncovered in the oven at 350 F for 50-60 minutes until chicken is completely cooked through and no longer pink in the middle.

Garnish with parsley and serve immediately!

Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (6)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Substitute Chicken Breasts for Chicken Thighs?

You can use chicken breasts instead of thighs. There is one thing to keep in mind.

Boneless, skinless chicken breast cooks faster than bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs.

To make sure chicken breasts remain juicy, cook them in the oven for no more than 25–30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

That's where an instant meat thermometer comes in handy.

Can I Make creamy French Mustard Chicken Ahead Of Time?

Parts of the creamy Mustard Chicken thighs recipe can be prepared ahead of time.

I recommend sautéing the onions and preparing the sauce 1 day in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

On the day when you're ready to serve the dish, brown the dijon chicken, add it to a sauce, and finish everything in the oven.

How Can I Make This Mustard Chicken For A Large Group Of People/Party?

I've been making this recipe for years, but I never actually thought about how to make a batch of it.

But then Thanksgiving 2018 happened and we hosted a party for a large group of family/friends.

Mustard Chicken was the main dish, and there was no way I could fit 16 pieces of chicken thighs into my Dutch Oven pan.

So here's what I did:

1. Working in batches I seared all chicken. To speed up the process I actually used two pans but this is optional.

2. Next, in the same pan I sautéed the onions and prepared the sauce.

3. Finally, I put all the dijon chicken in a large rectangular baking dish, poured over the sauce, and baked it according to the recipe instructions.

So if you ever have to make this recipe for a party, now you know how to make it work:)

Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (7)

How can I substitute Creme Fraiche?

My quickest and easiest solution is to use the combination of heavy cream and sour cream in equal proportions.

So if the recipe calls for 5 tablespoons of Creme Fraiche, you would use 2.5 tablespoons of heavy cream and 2.5 tablespoons of sour cream.

Also, try these chicken recipes

  • Honey Mustard Chicken (One-Pan Dish Ready in 30 Minutes!)
  • Baked Mustard Chicken Meatballs
  • Hungarian Chicken Paprikash Recipe
  • Classic Chicken Mushroom Stroganoff (Simple and Easy!)

Side dishes

  • French Style Mashed Potatoes - full head of roasted garlic, a bit of Crème Fraîche and you have the best-mashed potato recipe ever
  • White Basmati Rice - simple and quick side dish that goes really well with saucy and creamy Dijon Mustard Chicken
  • Cauliflower and Cucumber Salad - a healthy and easy salad that goes really well with chicken in mustard sauce

Wine pairings

This chicken with mustard sauce pairs really well with medium to full-bodied red wines such as:

Similar Recipes

  • Hungarian Chicken Paprikash- authentic and easy one-pan dinner recipe made with pantry staple ingredients
  • Chicken With Parmesan-Mustard Sauce -a 30-minute recipe that is perfect for a quick weeknight meal
  • Chicken Contadina - traditional Italian recipe with juicy, vegetable-braised chicken
  • Honey Mustard Chicken - another easy one-skillet meal your family will love
  • Chicken Mushroom Stroganoff - you only need 30 minutes to make this yummy and luxurious chicken dish

Recipe

Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (12)

Mustard Chicken Recipe

Recipe Video Above. There's a reason why this Mustard Chicken Recipe has been my READER'S FAVORITE for years. Creamy, flavorful and that mustard sauce is super addictive! The whole recipe is prepared in one pan. You're gonna ask for seconds!

4.39 from 245 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Calories: 965kcal

Author: Iryna Bychkiv

Ingredients

Click on the underlined text below to buy ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on you can use chicken breast, see the tips in the post above
  • 6 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 5 tablespoon Crème fraîche see my substitution tips in the post above
  • 1 c chicken broth
  • 10-15 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 small onion sliced
  • 1 small shallot sliced
  • 2 tablespoon parsley chopped
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F.

  • Season chicken with salt, pepper and rub with both mustards.

  • In a Dutch oven or big oven-proof skillet melt butter on a medium high heat. Add chicken and brown from both sides, about 4-5 minutes per side.Transfer chicken to a plate.

  • To the same pan add shallot and onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until translucent.

  • Add chicken stock, scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the pan.

  • Add thyme and bay leaves and bring a mixture to a boil.

  • Stir in Crème Fraîche and return chicken back to the pan.

  • Cook uncovered in the oven for 50-60 minutes until chicken is completely cooked through and no longer pink in the middle.

  • Garnish with parsley and serve immediately!

Video

Notes

Recipe is adapted from No Recipes.

Nutrition

Serving: 2chicken thighs | Calories: 965kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 60.5g | Fat: 78g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Cholesterol: 366.7mg | Sodium: 1271.5mg | Potassium: 847mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 1.4g | Calcium: 849mg | Iron: 5.6mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Lavender.And.Macarons or tag #lavenderandmacarons!

If you make this Mustard Chicken Recipe, don't forget to snap a picture and post it on Instagram with the hashtag #lavenderandmacarons. I'd love to see your creations.

Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (13)
Iryna Bychkiv

Website

Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.

Mustard Chicken Recipe (Wait Until You Try The Sauce) - Lavender & Macarons (2024)

FAQs

What does putting mustard on chicken do? ›

Mustard is a binder, just like egg, and it will help to hold the breading in place. It also adds a bit of flavor to the meat.

Why do people marinate chicken in mustard? ›

Mustard is an acidic condiment with a pH of roughly 3.7, making it an ideal addition to any meat marinade. Acid is key to marination because it denatures the proteins in meat which allows seasonings to penetrate and tenderization to occur.

Why put mustard on chicken before grilling? ›

I was looking for something simple when I saw an idea from French's mustard: Smear plain ol' yellow, ballpark mustard on chicken before you grill it. The mustard keeps the chicken moist and adds plenty of flavor.

Is mustard a good binder for baked chicken? ›

It acts as a glue for spices

In this case, mustard is the perfect binder for spices to adhere to chicken or any meat for that matter. The tanginess tends to dilute during the cooking process, allowing the condiment to do its job without overpowering.

Do you put olive oil on chicken before seasoning? ›

Seasoning skinless chicken is as straightforward as with any other cut of meat. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the chicken to act as a binder, sprinkle your seasoning on top, then gently press it in and let your chicken dry-marinate for about 45 minutes.

What does adding vinegar to chicken do? ›

The vinegar removes all the gooey, fatty residue from chicken skin so that chicken parts hold coating better. Rinse off vinegar water and pat chicken pieces dry. You will be amazed to notice the difference in how the chicken feels!

What happens if you don't marinate chicken? ›

Most of the chicken's flavor will come from the marinade. Choosing to not marinade the chicken won't be ruinous but you're giving up a good bit of flavor. I would at least substitute a spice rub if a marinade is not an option.

Is it better to marinate or season chicken? ›

The marinade is to make the chicken juicy. Seasoning is to add flavor to the chicken. I always season chicken after marinating, same as pork chops, and anything else I marinate.

What does marinating meat in mustard do? ›

I've found that the vinegar component in Dijon mustard is intense enough to work as an excellent marinade for steaks—it tenderizes the proteins, which is great for tougher cuts, and imbues the meat with a nice tanginess.

Do you put mustard before or after seasoning? ›

Mustard is a common ingredient in barbecue cooking, and it's commonly “slathered” onto pork butt or ribs before the application of rub. Most people report that they cannot taste the mustard after cooking, so why use it in the first place? One reason is that mustard acts like glue to hold the rub on the meat.

Why do you put oil on chicken before seasoning? ›

3. Pat the chicken dry. If using a dry rub, pat the chicken dry with paper towels before seasoning to ensure the dry rub properly sticks to the meat. Rubbing olive oil or butter onto the dry chicken first can also help seasonings stick.

What is the best binder for chicken? ›

Olive oil is great as a binder, particularly on vegetables, chips, chicken, and lamb. Mayonnaise – Mayo is an easy way to add a little extra moisture to the meat, and it will keep the integrity of your spice rub.

Can I use mayo instead of mustard for binder? ›

For that reason, I've been interested in discovering different binders that can give us extra flavor and color. Takeaway #1: Mustard and mayo looked and tasted virtually identical. This was really surprising, but shows that most of the flavor from binders is cooked out.

Why do people put yellow mustard on chicken? ›

Yellow mustard plays a versatile role in fried chicken: It tenderizes, it flavors, and it clings onto flour. And while not everyone might be a fan of this classic hot dog condiment, there are other mustards that can fill its role.

Can I use mayo as binder? ›

Mayo helps seasonings stick to your meat and seals in juices. Tailgate with Twang!

Why do you cover chicken with mustard? ›

Mustard is an ideal ingredient for fried chicken because it has just enough acid to help tenderize the meat and it adds a ton of zip to the flavor! I prefer Griffin or French's, but any brand will work.

What does covering meat in mustard do? ›

The mustard actually works to tenderize the meat and you will notice little more than a thin crust of it over the surface of the meat. In fact, mustard can help to produce the crust that is so sought after in traditional barbecue.

What does mustard do in cooking? ›

One of the easiest ways to start playing with mustards in your cooking is to add them to sauces and vinaigrettes. Mustard adds to a vinaigrette in two ways: It adds heat, flavor and dimension, and it helps emulsify or thicken the dressing.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nathanial Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6365

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanial Hackett

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: Apt. 935 264 Abshire Canyon, South Nerissachester, NM 01800

Phone: +9752624861224

Job: Forward Technology Assistant

Hobby: Listening to music, Shopping, Vacation, Baton twirling, Flower arranging, Blacksmithing, Do it yourself

Introduction: My name is Nathanial Hackett, I am a lovely, curious, smiling, lively, thoughtful, courageous, lively person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.