Braised Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and Leeks

Nothing makes a cold winter night more bearable than a hot and hearty meal made in the oven. Some dishes I love to prepare in the winter are Braised Brisket with Potatoes and Vegetables, Turmeric Braised Chicken with Beets and Leeks, and Baked Chicken Enchiladas.

When it comes to chicken, some many people prefer breasts, but personally I’m a thigh girl all the way. Chicken breasts of course have their place – as breaded cutlets or in chicken salad, but when it comes to braised dishes, dark meat is my first choice because it’s more versatile and forgiving, and bonus, more affordable. This braised chicken dish starts on the stove, then finishes in the oven, so you’ll want to use a heavy oven proof skillet or dutch oven with a fitted lid. First step is browning the chicken, then you’ll want to saute your aromatics and vegetables. Then the whole dish goes in the oven until the chicken is tender and delicious. Tommy loved this dish, and asked what made this taste so good. It’s the leeks I told him, and he said we should use them in more dishes. I agree, leeks add something special to dishes, once you know how to cook with them you’ll want to cook with them more. Pictured above, the chicken is served with raw kale tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper.

How To Make Braised Chicken

How To Cook With Leeks

Leeks are delicious and healthy, but it’s important to get rid of the dirt trapped between the layers. You don’t use the whole leek, you just keep the white and light pale green part.

Cut off the dark green part of the leek, trimming to the part where the color is a pale green. Cut off the root end then slice the stalk the lengthwise. Run leeks under cold water, separating the layers slightly to help remove any dirt. Place the leeks in a bowl of cool water, to let and dirt sink to the bottom, then strain, dry and slice.

More chicken thigh recipes I love:

Baked Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Asian Glazed Boneless Chicken Thighs Baked Apple Cider Chicken and Cabbage Chicken Thighs with Shallots in Red Wine Vinegar Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Leeks - 91Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Leeks - 44Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Leeks - 88Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Leeks - 90Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Leeks - 19Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Leeks - 9Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Leeks - 46Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Leeks - 73Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Leeks - 38