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Skillet Braised Chicken in cast iron pan
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5 from 2 votes

Cast Iron Skillet Chicken with Cognac Sauce Recipe

A comforting, quick and easy, one pan dinner full of fresh aromatic, delicious flavors. It's great for a busy weeknight, and impressive enough for guests.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken for family dinner, savory lemon recipes
Servings: 4
Calories: 528kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • ¾ cup thinly sliced shallots
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 (approximately 3½-pound) whole, cut-up chicken, skin-off, bone-in
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • ¼ cup cognac
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 medium-sized lemon, washed, very thinly sliced
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Sauté the shallots, garlic and thyme. Add the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter to a large cast iron skillet (approx. 12-inch). Place it over medium heat and add the shallots and garlic. Sauté until the shallots are soft, about 3 minutes. Add the thyme, stir, and let it become aromatic -- about 30 seconds.
  • Brown the chicken. Season both sides of the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Turn the heat to high and add them to the skillet. Brown both sides of the chicken and then turn the heat to low-medium. (You're not cooking the chicken through here, just browning the surface.)
  • Make the sauce and add it to the skillet with lemon slices. In a small dish, mix the chicken stock, cognac and lemon juice together and then evenly pour it over the chicken. Add the lemon slices around, on top and below the chicken.
  • Braise. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low and braise just until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. (Cooking times will vary slightly, and often larger pieces, like the breasts, will take more time than smaller pieces.)
  • Finish the sauce and serve. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and let it melt into the sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve! (Here's How to Season to Taste.)

Notes

Calorie count is only an estimate.

Nutrition

Calories: 528kcal