Winter Dish with Chicken (Print Version)
A comforting winter bake featuring tender chicken, hearty root vegetables, and a creamy herb sauce.
# What You Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large carrots, sliced
03 - 2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
04 - 1 small butternut squash, peeled and diced
05 - 1 leek, sliced
06 - 1 onion, diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 7 oz button mushrooms, sliced
→ Sauce
09 - 1 cup chicken stock (gluten-free if needed)
10 - 3/4 cup heavy cream or dairy-free cream alternative
11 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
13 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Topping
16 - 3 oz grated Gruyère or cheddar cheese, or dairy-free cheese alternative
→ Optional
17 - 2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing
# How to Make It:
01 - Set the oven to 375°F (190°C) to preheat.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned, approximately 5 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add diced onion, sliced leek, and minced garlic; sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
04 - Add sliced carrots, chopped parsnips, diced squash, and sliced mushrooms to the skillet; cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Return the chicken to the skillet; stir in chicken stock, cream, Dijon mustard, chopped parsley, dried thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Simmer the mixture gently for 5 minutes.
06 - Transfer the mixture into a large ovenproof casserole dish.
07 - Evenly sprinkle grated cheese over the top of the dish.
08 - Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and continue baking uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.
10 - Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It's the kind of dish that does most of the work for you once it hits the oven, leaving you free to set the table and breathe.
- The creamy herb sauce pulls together so elegantly that guests always ask if you've been secretly training as a chef.
- Winter vegetables become genuinely tender and sweet when they braise this way, nothing like their raw grocery store selves.
02 -
- Don't skip browning the chicken, even lightly, because that step creates layers of flavor that make the whole dish taste intentional.
- The foil matters during the first phase of baking because it keeps the vegetables tender while the cheese gets its chance to melt, then you uncover it for that golden finish.
03 -
- If your oven runs hot, check the casserole around the 40-minute mark so the cheese doesn't brown too aggressively before the vegetables are truly tender.
- Taste the sauce before you pour it into the casserole dish, because once it's in there baking, you can't adjust the seasoning the same way.