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A serving of braised chicken with tender green asparagus spears on a plate.

Classic Braised Chicken With Asparagus

This classic recipe features tender braised chicken in a rich, savory sauce with diced tomatoes and fresh herbs, complemented by crisp-tender asparagus for a complete meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch oven
  • wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks (or a mix!)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1.5 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 0.5 cup dry white wine (like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio – optional but adds depth)
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 4-5 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 pound asparagus trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces

Seasoning & Garnish

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (for garnish)

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
  • Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and sear chicken skin-side down until golden brown, then flip and sear the other side before removing.

Cooking

  • Reduce heat to medium, then sauté chopped onion until softened and translucent before adding minced garlic and cooking until fragrant.
  • Pour in white wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits, and simmer until reduced by half.
  • Stir in chicken broth and diced tomatoes, then add thyme sprigs and bay leaf, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  • Return the browned chicken to the pot, nestling it into the liquid, then cover and braise over low heat for 30-35 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
  • Uncover the pot, stir in the asparagus pieces, then cover again and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until the asparagus is bright green and crisp-tender.

Serving

  • Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed, and then garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes before browning. You can serve this dish with crusty bread or a light grain like quinoa or rice to soak up the delicious sauce.