Our Most-Saved Chicken Recipe Lives up to Its ‘Perfect’ Name

Despite the fact that chicken is by far the most-consumed meat in America (we eat about 117 pounds per person per year!), the original white meat has a bit of a reputation. It’s often billed as bland or boring; the healthier but maybe not as enjoyable choice at the barbecue, alongside burgers and hot dogs. In the past decade, though, viral recipes like Marry Me Chicken and the escalating fast food chicken sandwich wars have helped the versatile, budget-friendly protein shift to being celebrated as a star.

Of course, we know chicken as the key ingredient in soups, pot pies, Caesar salads, fettuccine Alfredo, and more. But when it’s time for the chicken itself to step into the spotlight, Allrecipes fans agree that you can’t do much better than Perfect Chicken.

What Is Perfect Chicken?

Perfect Chicken is our most-saved chicken recipe on the MyRecipes tool. (New to MyRecipes? Simply click the heart icon next to any recipe you’d like to save for later, and it will be added to your collection to refer to any time.) Besides that, it’s an easy baked chicken thigh masterpiece that rakes in rave reviews like “definitely thought it was made in a restaurant” due to its garlic- and herb-infused cream sauce. Think of this like chicken piccata with slightly less lemony pucker and made with chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.

According to Faith, who was generous enough to share her recipe with us, “chicken stock, wine, onions, garlic, mushroom, cream, butter, herbs, lemon, and capers reduce to make a perfect sauce. It is HEAVEN! Patience is key.”

That’s because the sauce alone takes about 45 minutes. But don’t click away just yet. Several Allrecipes members confirm it is “well worth the wait.” As you add the sauce ingredients to the pan in a strategic order and let it all simmer down, “the flavors will come together beautifully,” while the broth and wine reduce, Faith explains.

Once the sauce is all set, all that’s left to do is sear the chicken thighs, transfer the meat and the sauce to an oven-safe dish, and bake it until the center of the chicken is fully cooked.

How to Make Perfect Chicken

Allrecipes home cooks deem it “company-worthy,” “tangy and creamy and herby,” and “a keeper!” Faith calls it “Perfect.” No matter what you call this chicken recipe, more than 360 five-star reviewers agree you should call it dinner this week—and it’s fairly simple to do just that.

Start by adding chicken broth, chopped onion, and minced garlic to a saucepan. Bring this to a boil until it reduces by half, then pour in white wine. Bring the mixture back to a boil until it reduces by half again. Lower the heat, then stir in sliced mushrooms, dried rosemary, and dried sage. Simmer until the mushrooms are tender. Stir in cream, butter, lemon juice, and capers, and let this simmer for about 10 minutes more.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Dredge skinless, boneless chicken thighs in a dusting of cornstarch, shaking off any excess. Sear the chicken thighs about 8 minutes per side to create a golden crust.

Transfer the chicken thighs to a baking dish, top with the sauce, then bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a chicken thigh reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Tips From the Allrecipes Community

After recreating Perfect Chicken in their own kitchens, home cooks were kind enough to share these pointers in the comments:

• Choose any cut. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs cook quicker than their bone-in counterparts and are more flavorful than boneless, skinless chicken breasts. That said, thighs are far from your only option. Allrecipes members report success with chicken tenders, and another plans “to use a whole cut-up chicken” next time. Now that they mention it, you could drizzle this same sauce over rotisserie chicken, pork chops, pork tenderloin, or steak, if you prefer.
• The wine choice. A dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, or Unoaked Chardonnay works great here. For an alcohol-free option, simply use 1 cup more chicken broth.
• Multitask. No need to wait until the sauce is all simmered and reduced to turn your attention to the meat. While the sauce reduces, brown the chicken to trim down on the overall prep time.
• Go wild with the mushrooms. UniqueSquid9789 recommends doubling the quantity of the mushrooms in the sauce to amplify the umami flavor.
• Pair wisely. The golden-brown chicken is juicy, tender, flavorful, and worth celebrating on its own, but you don’t want to surrender a drop of the sauce. Try serving Perfect Chicken over rice, cauliflower rice, or mashed potatoes, add a side of a green vegetable (such as Easy Roasted Broccoli or Pan-Fried Asparagus), and pour a glass of the extra white wine for any of the 21+ crowd who are interested in imbibing.