Description
A comforting one-pot meal featuring golden chicken thighs simmered in a creamy ranch sauce with tender baby potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or avocado oil)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3–3½ pounds)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 1 ounce dry ranch seasoning mix (one packet)
- 1½ pounds baby gold potatoes, halved
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium recommended)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Warm a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until hot. Add oil and butter; heat until shimmering and butter foams.
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Place thighs skin-side down and sear without moving for about 5 minutes, until the skin is deeply golden and crisp. Flip and sear the other side for 1–2 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pot and sauté for 30–60 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the dry ranch seasoning and cook for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
- Add the halved potatoes to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to deglaze and lift browned bits.
- Nestle the seared chicken thighs skin-side up into the liquid and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cover the pot and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 35–40 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F and potatoes are fork-tender.
- Uncover and stir in the grated Parmesan. Simmer uncovered for 3–5 minutes to slightly thicken the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and red pepper flakes if using. Serve hot.
Notes
For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk and skip Parmesan. To reduce fat, use half-and-half and a cornstarch slurry.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American