Best Balsamic Braised Chicken Thighs Recipes

CHICKEN BRAISED IN TWO VINEGARS

Steps:

• Season chicken well on both sides with salt and pepper. In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until it starts to become fragrant and lightly golden, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Begin cooking the chicken, making sure not to crowd the pan (you may need to do this in batches). Cook until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside and begins to lightly brown in spots, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. If it's not cooked through at this point, that's O.K.
• If you've cooked the chicken in batches, add all of the meat and any residual juices back to the pan. Pour in the vinegars, add reserved garlic and bring to a simmer. Turn heat to medium-low, cover and allow the meat to continue to cook in the sauce, about 5 to 7 minutes more.
• Uncover and toss chicken well in the vinegar sauce to coat. Cook chicken about 3 to 5 minutes more or until the sauce has reduced by about half and has thickened slightly. Sprinkle with parsley and oregano, if using, and season with flaky salt, if using. Serve in bowls over polenta or with rice pilaf and spoon the remaining sauce atop.

HONEY-BALSAMIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Beat balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, thyme, and rosemary together in a bowl until smooth; pour marinade into a resealable plastic bag.
• Season chicken thighs with salt and black pepper; add to marinade in plastic bag. Squeeze bag to remove air and seal. Marinate chicken in refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Pour chicken and marinade into a baking dish.
• Bake chicken in preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 35 to 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

PAN-BRAISED CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES IN BALSAMIC-CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Spread chicken thighs on a clean work surface. Pat dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper. Sprinkle 1/2 of the Italian seasoning all over them.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and brown for 3 minutes per side. Remove chicken to a plate and keep warm.
• Add onions to the same skillet and stir up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions just start to become tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until they begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and remaining Italian seasoning. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
• Add chicken broth and return chicken thighs to the skillet. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until chicken juices run clear, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove chicken to a cutting board and cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Return chicken to the skillet and increase heat to medium. Add tomatoes and spinach. Cook and stir until tomatoes are heated through and spinach is tender, but still bright green, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and balsamic vinegar; bring to a gentle boil. Cook and stir for 3 minutes. If you prefer a creamier sauce, add more cream. Serve with shaved Parmesan cheese.

BALSAMIC BRAISED CHICKEN WITH HONEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350*. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and heat olive oil in a dutch oven over med-high heat. Sear chicken thouroughly on all sides until it is a deep, golden color, about 3-5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to plate.
• Add shallots and thyme to the pot, and saute until soft and golden. Pour wine into pan, and scrape up any bits left from the chicken. Cook 1-2 minutes, until nearly all liquid has evaporated.
• Add vinegar, broth, honey, bay leaf, and chicken to the pot, and bring to a simmer. Cover tightly and transfer to oven.
• Cook 30 minutes, turning once, until chicken is cooked through and is a deep, mahogany brown.
• Remove chicken and bay leaf from pot and skim any fat from sauce. Cook sauce uncovered until reduced by half. Add chicken back to pan, spoon sauce over top, and cook for 2 minutes to reheat.