Easy Chicken Dijon

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Juicy pan-seared chicken thighs come alive in this classic Chicken Dijon recipe. With a rich, creamy sauce, this one-pan meal comes together in less than 30 minutes. Serve with your favorite cauliflower rice or mashed cauliflower for an easy keto dinner recipe.

Top down image of a plate of Chicken Dijon with cauliflower rice and green beans.

I’ve been making this flavorful Chicken Dijon for going on 25 years now. Back when my husband and I were in our twenties, we found a really great recipe for this classic French dish and we made it frequently. We adored it!

But somewhere along the way, in all the life that happened in between, we stopped making it as often. Kids came along, jobs changed, houses were bought and sold, and we lost the original recipe. I can’t even remember where it was from.

So when I got craving Chicken Dijon recently, I had to recreate it as best I could from memory. I called upon my vastly improved cooking skills, made a few changes to suit our tastes and voila! It was just as delicious as I remember.

Chicken Dijon in a blue enamelled skillet with a spoon pouring the sauce over.

It’s an easy weeknight meal

Dijon Chicken sounds all fancy but it’s actually remarkably easy to make. So easy, in fact, that it makes a perfect meal for busy weeknights. You can get it on the table in less than 30 minutes.

And the flavor is out of this world! Silky and rich, but with that unmistakeable dijon kick. Many recipes call for a wimpy two tablespoons. But as far as I am concerned, that just doesn’t cut the mustard! So I used ¼ cup to give it more oomph.

I also prefer chicken thighs over breasts. They are more succulent and less likely to dry out during the cooking process. And they cook faster as well.

This Chicken Dijon recipe is naturally quite low in carbs. And served over some cauliflower rice, with some sautéed green beans or asparagus, it’s a spectacular keto meal.

Ingredients

Chicken thighs: I like to use boneless, skinless thighs for this recipe because they cook through easily in the pan. You can also use bone-in thighs, but be aware that they will take longer to cook. Chicken breasts can dry out too easily, in my opinion.
Shallots: Shallots are milder than garlic or onion, so they add flavor without overpowering the Dijon.
White wine: A little wine helps to deglaze the pan and adds depth to the sauce, but you can also use chicken broth.
Dijon mustard: Choose a mustard that has a bit of kick to it, so that it stands out in the sauce.
Thyme: I like fresh thyme for this recipe, but you can also use ½ teaspoon dried thyme. Or try tarragon.
Heavy cream: This makes the sauce creamy and helps it thicken properly. You can use coconut cream for dairy-free.
Pantry staples: Butter or oil, salt, and pepper.

Step by step directions

A collage of 4 images showing the steps for making Easy Chicken Dijon.

1. Heat the butter or oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat and cook the thighs on 5 to 6 minutes per side, until nicely browned and fully cooked through. Transfer to a plate, tent with foil, and remove all but 2 tablespoons of fat in pan.

2. Add the shallots to the pan and sauté until tender, 1 minutes. Add the wine, bring to a simmer, and cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.

3. Whisk in the Dijon and thyme leaves, then whisk in the heavy cream and cook until thickened to your liking, 2 to 3 more minutes.

4. Return the chicken to the pan to warm through before serving.

Chicken Thighs with Dijon Cream Sauce on a dark grey plate with cauliflower rice and green beans.

Expert Tips

I like Dijon mustard with more kick, and many American brands are too mild. Maille is a French brand that has a little more punch, so I often grab that. But if you enjoy milder flavors, feel free to use the brand you like most.

Boneless thighs are usually folded up when they come out of the package. If you unfold them and spread them out, they will cook through much faster. Use a meat thermometer and make sure the thighs reach 165ºF.

Is Dijon mustard okay on keto?

In general, mustard is a great condiment for keto recipes. Most mustard, including Dijon, has 0g of carbs per teaspoon so you can use as much as you like. But do be sure to check your labels as some flavored mustards may contain sugar or honey.

Is Dijon mustard spicy?

Dijon mustard is made with brown mustard seeds, which give it a stronger, spicier flavor than yellow mustard. However, the cream in this Chicken Dijon recipe tones down the spice and makes it more mellow.

How many carbs does Chicken Dijon have?

This Keto Chicken Dijon recipe has 3g of carbs and 0.9g of fiber. That means that it has only 2.1g net carbs per serving.

A plate with Chicken Dijon, cauliflower rice, and green beans on a white marble table.

More one-pan chicken recipes

Chicken Dijon Recipe

4.88 from 8 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: French

Keyword: Chicken Dijon

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 25

Servings: servings

Calories: 362kcal

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter or oil
1 ¼ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs 4 to 5
Salt and pepper
1 medium shallot minced
½ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
¼ cup Dijon mustard
2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
⅓ cup heavy whipping cream

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Pat the chicken thighs dry and sprinkle both sides generously with salt and pepper.
Heat the butter or oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat and cook the thighs on 5 to 7 minutes per side, until nicely browned and fully cooked through. Transfer to a plate, tent with foil, and remove all but 2 tablespoons of fat in pan.
Add the shallots to the pan and sauté until tender, 1 minutes. Add the wine, bring to a simmer, and cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
Whisk in the Dijon and thyme leaves, then whisk in the heavy cream and cook until thickened to your liking, 2 to 3 more minutes.
Add the chicken back to the pan to warm through before serving.

Notes

Storage Information: Store the leftovers in the fridge in a covered container for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Dijon Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 thigh)

Calories 362 Calories from Fat 190

% Daily Value*

Fat 21.1g32%

Carbohydrates 3g1%

Fiber 0.9g4%

Protein 35.5g71%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Easy Chicken Dijon

It’s an easy weeknight meal

Ingredients

Step by step directions

Expert Tips

More one-pan chicken recipes