Creamy Mushroom Chicken: A Quick Weeknight Meal (Print Version)

Creamy Mushroom Chicken is a comforting skillet dinner. Learn how to make this rich, flavorful dish with my personal tips and kitchen anecdotes.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Contains Dairy

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
02 - 8 oz (225g) cremini mushrooms, sliced thick

→ Flavor & Base

03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup (240ml) chicken broth, low sodium
06 - 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Aromatic Herbs

08 - 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped

→ Finishing Touch

09 - 1/4 cup (25g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get your skillet nice and hot. I like to use a cast iron, it gets that perfect crispy skin. Pat your chicken thighs super dry – this is critical for that golden-brown crust. Season them generously with salt and pepper. Place them skin-side down in the hot oil. You'll hear that satisfying sizzle! Let them cook for about 6-8 minutes without moving them, until the skin is beautifully browned and crispy. Flip them and cook for another 5 minutes. The smell of the browning chicken is just incredible, signaling good things to come for our mushroom chicken.
02 - Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside. Don't clean the pan! Those browned bits are pure flavor. Add a little more oil if needed, then toss in your sliced cremini mushrooms. Spread them out in a single layer and resist the urge to stir them immediately. Let them get some color, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. They'll release their liquid, then start to brown. This step is key for developing that deep, earthy mushroom flavor that makes this mushroom chicken so good. I used to rush this, and my mushrooms ended up soggy, oops!
03 - Once the mushrooms are beautifully browned, add your minced garlic to the pan. Stir it around for about 30 seconds until it's fragrant – don't let it burn, that's a sad mistake I've made before! Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. This is called deglazing, and it adds so much depth to our mushroom chicken sauce. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes to reduce slightly.
04 - Reduce the heat to low, then slowly pour in the heavy cream. Stir constantly as you add it to prevent it from seizing. Add your fresh thyme leaves. Let the sauce gently simmer for another 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it starts to thicken slightly. You want it to coat the back of a spoon. Taste it, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. This creamy base is what makes this mushroom chicken truly comforting.
05 - Nestle the seared chicken thighs back into the skillet, skin-side up, submerging them partly in the creamy mushroom sauce. Make sure some of that delicious sauce gets over the skin, but try to keep the crispy skin mostly exposed. Cover the skillet and let it simmer gently for another 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F / 74°C). This allows the chicken to finish cooking and really absorb all those incredible flavors. My kitchen always smells amazing at this point!
06 - Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Give it a good stir until it's melted into the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a splash more broth or water. Garnish with a little extra fresh thyme or some chopped parsley, if you're feeling fancy. The finished mushroom chicken should have tender, juicy chicken enveloped in a rich, velvety, earthy sauce. Serve it immediately and watch it disappear!

# Notes:

01 - Always pat your chicken dry before searing; it's the secret to crispy skin, I learned this the hard way!
02 - Reheat creamy mushroom chicken gently on the stovetop, never microwave it unless you want separated sauce!
03 - Try adding a splash of dry white wine after the garlic for extra depth, it works surprisingly well.
04 - Serve this creamy mushroom chicken over mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort meal, it's extra special.

# Tools You'll Need:

01 - Large skillet (cast iron preferred)
02 - wooden spoon
03 - tongs
04 - meat thermometer

# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):

Calories: 450
Total Fat: 30g
Total Carbohydrate: 10g
Protein: 35g

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