Wine-Braised Chicken With Mushrooms and Leeks

Updated May 23, 2024

Wine-Braised Chicken With Mushrooms and Leeks
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
1 hour
Rating
4(2,949)
Comments
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Adding crème fraîche and fancy mushrooms to a pan full of wine-braised chicken makes it ultrarich and extra special. This recipe is perfect for a festive dinner when you’re looking for a chicken dish that’s a little more dressed up than your average weeknight meal, but it isn’t overly difficult. Make it a day or two in advance, and, like all braises, it gets even better with time.

Featured in: A Creamy, Wine-Braised Chicken to Celebrate Simply

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1(3½-pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces (or use 3½ pounds bone-in chicken parts)
  • 2teaspoons kosher salt (Diamond Crystal), plus more as needed
  • ½teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
  • 4garlic cloves
  • 2tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
  • 2tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1cup thinly sliced mushrooms (preferably specialty mushrooms, such as king, hen-of-the-woods, chanterelles or black trumpet, or a combination)
  • 2large leeks (4 cups), halved and thinly sliced into half-moons (use white and light green parts)
  • 2 to 3rosemary sprigs
  • ¾cup dry white wine (or use a dry red or rosé)
  • ¼cup crème fraîche, plus more for serving if desired
  • 2tablespoons chopped chives
  • 1teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, plus more for serving
  • ½cup finely chopped fresh parsley, leaves and tender stems
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

802 calories; 56 grams fat; 18 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 24 grams monounsaturated fat; 10 grams polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 52 grams protein; 1155 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season all over with 1½ teaspoons salt and the black pepper. Finely grate, pass through a press or mince 2 garlic cloves. Set aside half the grated garlic for finishing the dish. Rub the rest all over the chicken pieces. Set aside the chicken while preparing the other ingredients.

  2. Step 2

    In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter. When the butter melts, add chicken in batches and cook until browned on both sides, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If the pan dries out, add a little more oil as needed. Transfer browned chicken to a plate.

  3. Step 3

    Add remaining tablespoon each oil and butter to the pan. Once the butter melts, add mushrooms and cook undisturbed until well browned on one side, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir and cook for 1 minute longer.

  4. Step 4

    Thinly slice 2 garlic cloves. Reduce heat to medium, and stir in sliced garlic, leeks and a large pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are tender and golden brown, 7 minutes. Add rosemary and wine to the pot and let simmer, scraping up the browned bits, until liquid reduces by half, about 1 minute.

  5. Step 5

    Nestle chicken, skin side up, into the pan and pour in any accumulated juices from the plate. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, until chicken is cooked through, 25 to 35 minutes.

  6. Step 6

    Transfer chicken to a serving platter and tent with foil to keep warm. Pluck the rosemary sprigs from the pot. If the sauce looks thin, turn the heat to medium-high and let simmer until it thickens slightly, 2 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining grated garlic, the crème fraîche, chives and lemon zest. Taste sauce and add more salt if needed. Spoon sauce over the chicken and top with parsley, more lemon zest and a dollop of crème fraîche, if you like, and serve.

Ratings

4 out of 5
2,949 user ratings
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Comments

With braised chicken instead of chopped garlic I like to put whole, peeled cloves in at the beginning and mash them into the sauce with a wooden spoon at the end. They end up caramelized and have a nice, creamy texture.

Stir a TBSP of flour into the sour cream before adding to hot liquids to keep the sour cream from splitting.

You can make your own creme fraîche by adding a tablespoon of cultured buttermilk to a cup of heavy cream in a glass jar with a lid and leaving it on the counter until it thickens (at least 12 hours, depending on how thick you want it). It should keep up to two weeks in the fridge after that.

Didnt have leeks or crème fresh, used baby Bellas, and it was still great- thanks!

Delicious! To cut down on cholesterol, I used plain yogurt with a teaspoon of maple syrup to cut the tartness. I also used olive oil instead of butter. Otherwise, I followed the recipe as written.

This was okay, but not a stand out recipe. It seemed rather bland, even though I used Penzey's Northwoods for seasoning. Maybe something more acidic or salty would help.

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