Incredibly easy to prepare, this baked tarragon chicken has a light, delicate and delicious flavor from the tarragon, lemon and mustard sauce. Perfect over rice.
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Chicken is definitely one of our go-tos on busy nights. I love that you can easily dress it up with different flavors, especially if you take just a little bit of time in advance. In summer, we regularly have chicken satay and chicken souvlaki on the grill, while in winter we turn to roasting.
While plain roast chicken is tasty, there's still plenty room to add in different flavors.
Tarragon chicken is a traditional French dish that has a few variations but is generally made with some tarragon (funnily enough), Dijon mustard and either lemon juice or white wine. The sauce is typically made separately and becomes rich with cream, butter, or both.
I've lightened things up and made it simpler in this baked tarragon chicken. Rather than the typical chicken breast, I've used thighs which stay more moist and have more flavor, in my opinion.
The resulting dish is delicately, but deliciously, flavored and so easy.
We had it - and I would highly recommend - served over rice with the cooking juices poured over so the rice absorbs all the delicious flavor. Some green veg, like roast broccoli or green beans, would fit in perfectly as well.
Steps to make baked tarragon chicken
This is a really easy dish to make:
- Put the pieces of chicken in an oven dish.
- Mix together the marinade/cooking sauce (lemon, tarragon, garlic and mustard) and pour it over the chicken.
- Let the chicken marinade a little while then pop them up in the oven to cook.
See how it comes together in the short video!
The skins crisp up gently and the chicken takes on all the lovely flavors of the sauce. They're delicate flavors, as I say, but oh so tasty. It makes for a great, easy dish and is especially nice on a colder day, what with being roasted in the oven, but really it works any time.
What to do with leftovers
Any leftover tarragon chicken is delicious cold as a sandwich filling as it has that lovely delicate lemony-tarragon flavor and is nice and moist.
You can even simply mix it with some leftover rice and maybe add in some chopped pepper, cherry tomatoes and beans for a simple, tasty rice salad. Alternatively, add it to a green salad.
This baked tarragon chicken is such an easy, comforting dish that's perfect for slightly cooler, or truly cold days, as roast chicken so often is. But it also has that lovely aromatic herby flavor that gives it some freshness as well. Give it a try, and enjoy.
Try these other comforting chicken recipes:
- One pot lemon garlic chicken with vegetables
- Aji de gallina (Peruvian chicken stew)
- Creamy lemon chicken pasta bake
- Musakhan (Palestinian sumac chicken)
- Garlic herb roast chicken
- Plus get many more main dish recipes in the archives.
Baked tarragon chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon tarragon chopped (leaves only)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic finely diced
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper
- 2 lb bone-in chicken thighs approx, preferably skin-on
Instructions
- Mix together the tarragon, mustard, garlic, lemon juice and some salt and pepper and stir so they are combined.
- Place the chicken thighs in an oven dish and pour over the tarragon-lemon mixture and ensure all of the thighs are well coated. Allow to marinate for 30 min to 2 hours, as far as possible.
- When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 375F/190C.
- Bake the chicken in the oven, skin side up, for approx 30-35 minutes until lightly crisp and browned on the top and the chicken is cooked through (time will vary a little depending on how large and tightly packed your chicken is).
- Serve hot, suggested over rice with the cooking juices poured over the top.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Some more ideas with tarragon from some favorite bloggers:
- Chicken salad rolls with miso tarragon dipping sauce from Salt and Lavender
- Fennel, red cabbage, goat cheese and tangelo salad with tarragon, mint, yogurt dressing from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Post has been updated, primarily to update photos.
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Maureen
What if I only have boneless skinless thighs? Will it work at all? I’m hungry now!
Caroline's Cooking
Yes, it should still work fine, you'll just need to reduce the cooking time to probably around 20-25 minutes.
Red Head
Had some tarragon left over from another recipe and went looking for ways to use it. Stumbled across this recipe and oh so glad I did! I've made it twice in the last week. So very easy and so very yummy! Now, I need more tarragon!
Caroline's Cooking
Glad to hear you enjoyed! It's definitely one we really enjoy too - both easy and lovely flavors!
Veena Azmanovv
Love the dressing to the Chicken. It is simple but looks yummy and delicious. Next option for my Dinner Parties.
Caroline's Cooking
It's a great, easy combination but with a lovely flavor!
Tisha
So simple and delicious! Love the lemon mustard sauce
Caroline's Cooking
It really adds a great flavor!
Adrianne
This Baked Chicken Tarragon looks delicious. I hadn't had it for a while and then recently I used the leftovers from a roast chicken to whip some up. I really enjoyed reading your recie and seeing a different style of cooking this dish!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, this is a simple and tasty way to get that lovely tarragon and lemon flavor.
Colleen
I'm with you, I really do like chicken thighs better, they have so much more flavour. And this recipe looks simple and delicious. Can't wait to try!
Caroline's Cooking
Enjoy, it's a lovely way to prepare them!
Marie
Love the flavours in this baked chicken! So simple to make, but really flavourful too. It sounds perfect to make on a busy weeknight.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, indeed perfect for any night!
Catherine Hernandez
Excellent, excellent simple dish for a weeknight meal is always welcomed in my cooking arsenal! This tarragon chicken looks delish!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it's a lovely simple yet tasty dish.
Indira
What a simple and classic recipe! And yes, I totally agree with you...French food isn't the absolute best cuisine in the world. I much prefer many other cultures and there are actually only a few French dishes that I actually truly love. Plus I can't be a French type chef - I don't have the time, or availability of food items. But I would never pass up a French meal if someone took me out for one! Lol. Happy FF!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Indira - I know what you mean, a good French meal is still worth having 🙂
Kaila
My mom and sister just came back from a bakery and chocolate tour in France, so maybe their PR person is putting together all those tours! They did have a great time though. 🙂
Anyway, your dish looks fabulous, like the perfect comfort food! Thank you so much for bringing it to the fiesta. Happy FF, and have a wonderful weekend.
Caroline's Cooking
That sounds like a fantastic tour, Kaila. And thanks, this is a very tasty dish. Happy FF, hope you had a good weekend.
Julie is Hostess At Heart
When I think of French cuisine, I go right for their pastries. Yum, but it has nothing on your chicken dish. It looks and sounds amazing!
Caroline's Cooking
Ah yes, pastries are definitely one of the good parts! But this dish is a lot easier and still tasty 🙂
Judi Graber
A simple but tasty recipe - I favor breasts - yes I know thighs are more tender and flavorful but I would have to substitute. My tarragon is still growing - usually it gets nipped but we have not had any hard frosts -yet. Happy Fiesta Friday 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Each to their own, Judi 🙂 I know many others prefer breasts too, I just never have myself, but this would be tasty either way.