French Chicken Vinaigrette

French chicken vinaigrette, or Poulet Au Vinaigrette, is a one-pot meal that is easy enough for a weeknight meal yet elegant enough to serve to company. Baby potatoes, asparagus, and peas braised with the chicken in a vinaigrette sauce complete the meal. 

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White platter with French Chicken Vinaigrette - chicken thighs. baby potatoes, and asparagus braised in a white wine and vinegar vinaigrette.

I like to serve this dish with a Classic Wedge Salad, slices of homemade Dutch Oven Irish Soda Bread, and Mousse Au Chocolat for dessert.

Poulet Au Vinaigrette

Poulet Au Vinaigrette is a classic bistro dish originating in Lyons, France. The dish is comprised of chicken thighs, potatoes, asparagus, and peas braised in white wine vinegar, shallot, and garlic vinaigrette. The pan sauce is then reduced and enriched with butter. 

The dish is savory and rich. The chicken and the vegetables become very tender. The shallots and garlic cook down and add a subtle sweetness. The honey balances the acidity of the white wine vinegar and the tarragon adds a lovely herbaceous note.

White platter with French Chicken Cinaigrette - chicken thighs, baby potatoes, asparagus, and peas braised in a white wine and vinegar vinaigrette.

Ingredients Needed

  • Olive oil
  • Butter – I used salted butter.
  • White wine vinegar – use a quality brand as this adds a lot of flavor.
  • Garlic and shallots
  • Dijon mustard
  • Honey
  • Tarragon – if you can use fresh, otherwise dried will work.
  • Salt and pepper
  • Chicken thighs – bone-in, skin-on will produce the best results.
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baby potatoes, fresh asparagus
  • Frozen peas
Side view of a white platter with French Chicken Vinaigrette - chicken thighs, baby potatoes, asparagus, and peas braised in a white wine and vinegar vinaigrette.

Steps To Make This Recipe

  1. Make the vinaigrette by whisking together all of the vinaigrette ingredients.
  2. Dredge the chicken thighs in salt, pepper, and flour.
  3. Melt the butter and olive oil together in a skillet.
  4. Add the garlic to the skillet and saute to flavor the oil. Remove to a plate before it browns.
  5. Brown the chicken on all sides.
  6. Toss in the potatoes, asparagus, pea, and vinaigrette.
  7. Bake until the chicken is done.
  8. Remove the chicken and vegetables from the pan.
  9. Reduce the pan juices until slightly thickened. Whisk in butter.
  10. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and vegetables.
Closeup of French Chicken Vinaigrette - chicken thighs, baby potatoes, asparagus, and green peas braised in a white wine and vinegar vinaigrette.

Consider A Few Of Our Other Chicken Recipes

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Closeup of French Chicken Vinaigrette - chicken thighs, baby potatoes, asparagus, and green peas braised in a white wine and vinegar vinaigrette.

French Chicken Vinaigrette


  • Author: Millie Brinkley
  • Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x

Description

French chicken vinaigrette, or Poulet Au Vinaigrette, is a one-pot meal that is easy enough for a weeknight meal yet elegant enough to serve to company. Baby potatoes, asparagus, and peas braised with the chicken in a vinaigrette sauce complete the meal.


Ingredients

Scale

For the vinaigrette:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 small shallot, very finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon dried tarragon or 1 teaspoon minced fresh tarragon
  • ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the chicken and vegetables:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced or crushed
  • 4 (6-8-ounce) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup baby potatoes, halved (I used baby Yukon Gold)
  • 1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ½ cup frozen or fresh baby peas
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cold, cut into pieces

Instructions

Make the vinaigrette.

Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, shallots, Dijon mustard, honey, tarragon, salt, and pepper until emulsified. Set aside.

Prepare the chicken.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Melt the olive oil and butter together in a large skillet with deep sides over medium heat.

Add the garlic and saute, stirring often, until the garlic is soft and very fragrant – about 5 minutes. Don’t allow the garlic to brown. When the garlic is soft, use a slotted spoon to remove the garlic to a small dish. Set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large zip-top bag, combine the flour, salt, and pepper.

Add the chicken and shake to coat the chicken well. Shake off any excess flour.

Place the chicken, skin side down, in the hot butter/oil mixture.

Cook until the skin is golden brown – about 10 minutes.

Flip the chicken and cook the other side until brown.

Add the potatoes, and the reserved cooked garlic slices, and toss to coat the potatoes in the oil.

Place the skillet in the oven and roast for 10 minutes until the potatoes are almost tender.

Remove the skillet from the oven.

Add the asparagus and peas.

Stir the vinaigrette before pouring it over the chicken and vegetables in the skillet.

Return the pan to the oven and roast until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thighs registers 165 degrees and the vegetables are tender – about 15 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the oven.

Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken and the vegetables to a serving platter. Cover loosely with foil.

Place the skillet on the stove over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Simmer, reducing the liquid, for about 5 minutes. The sauce will still be thin.

Whisk in the butter one piece at a time, stirring constantly until the sauce is shiny.

Carefully spoon the pan sauce over the chicken and vegetables.

Serve immediately.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish – Poultry
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: French

Keywords: French Chicken Vinaigrette, French recipes, Chicken recipes, easy weeknight meals, one pot meals, chicken thigh recipes

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