Description
Brown Sugar Dijon Chicken Thighs delivers a creamy, savory-sweet weeknight dinner. Tender chicken thighs brown in olive oil, then simmer in a rich sauce of Dijon, brown sugar, paprika, and thyme. Finished with heavy cream for a silky texture, this dish pairs beautifully with rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables. Quick to make, deeply comforting, and naturally juicy, it is a crowd-pleasing skillet dinner you will want on repeat. Perfect for busy evenings yet elegant enough for entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: chopped fresh parsley for topping
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken thighs for 3–4 minutes per side until lightly golden, then set aside.
- In the same pan, add onion and sauté until soft. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add brown sugar, Dijon mustard, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined.
- Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Return the chicken thighs to the pan, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
- Stir in the heavy cream and simmer uncovered for 5 more minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, then garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, and/or skin-on thighs for extra flavor (but this recipe uses skinless).
- Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables for a comforting weeknight meal.
- Leftovers refrigerate well for up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stove.
- To keep dairy-free, substitute with coconut milk and a dairy-free Dijon alternative (note: flavor will differ).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 chicken thigh and sauce)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
Keywords: Brown Sugar Dijon Chicken Thighs, Creamy Dijon chicken, skillet chicken, weeknight dinner, easy chicken recipe, comfort food, one-pan dinner, chicken thighs