Dutch Oven Chicken Thighs and Vegetables

This Dutch Oven Chicken Thighs recipe has tender chicken thighs with healthy vegetables roasted right along with the chicken. You can skip the gravy and drizzle the delicious, savory pan juices right over the chicken for a very easy, tasty dinner.

Why this recipe is just so good...

• This is an easy low carb weeknight meal. The bone in chicken thighs are ready in just about 30-40 minutes. And your side vegetables bake right alongside.
• The seasonings and drippings from the chicken make an amazingly savory pan sauce. It's much lighter than gravy but is full of flavor.
• Meals that cook in one pot are my favorite! A simple recipe and easy clean up is the way to go!! If you love one pot meals too, try my other Dutch oven recipes like Dutch oven chicken breasts, Dutch oven corned beef or Dutch oven Turkey Breast.

Recipe Ingredients

• Carrots
• Onion
• Radishes
• Tomatoes
• Butter
• Bay leaves
• Chicken broth (not pictured)
• Fresh herbs-rosemary, thyme, sage
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder, saffron, celery salt or poultry seasoning

Ingredient Notes

Bone in, skin on chicken thighs are used in this recipe. You can substitute boneless chicken thighs. Adjust the time since they will cook a bit quicker.

Mix up your choice of vegetables. Zucchini, squash, green beans and peas can be substituted for the carrots etc. Just make sure they are about the same size so that they cook at same time.

If you'd like more spice, adjust the seasonings and add some cayenne pepper or smoky paprika.

How to make Dutch Oven Chicken Thighs

Combine seasonings and rub all over the skin of the chicken thighs.

Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a Dutch oven or other large oven safe pot over medium flame. Brown both sides of the chicken. Remove to platter. Leave any drippings in the pot and pour in remaining butter.

Saute' the vegetables for about 2 minutes until lightly browned.

Return chicken to pot, add fresh herbs and chicken stock. Place the lid on Dutch oven and braise for 20 minutes in a 400°F oven. Remove the lid and cook another 10 minutes. Test the chicken thighs with a meat thermometer. When it registers 165°F, the chicken is done.

Remove chicken to a platter and serve with vegetables and pan juices.

Cooking Tips

• Make sure the chicken thighs are patted dry with a paper towel before seasoning. This will help the spices stick to the skin. Also, if the chicken is too damp, it will steam instead of roasting.
• If you don't have a Dutch oven pot, you can use a casserole or baking dish. Just brown the chicken and vegetables in a skillet on the stovetop and transfer everything to the dish. Cover with aluminum foil for the first part of cooking, then remove the foil for the last few minutes to brown the chicken a bit more.

Make it Low Carb!

The vegetables in this recipe are naturally lower carb. There aren't any white or sweet potatoes. This recipe is so hearty and delicious, you won't miss any higher carb vegetables or starches.

FAQ

Is it better to cook chicken thighs at 350°F or 400°F?

Since the thigh is a dark meat, either temperature will work. The thigh should be juicy on the bone, with 400°F take about 10 minutes less to cook than 350°F. However, 400°F might be too high for chicken breasts since the white meat tends to be drier.

Should Dutch oven thighs be cooked on a higher or lower rack in the oven?

Unless you are using the broiler in the oven, I wouldn't recommend the top rack for cooking chicken pieces.

The middle rack is the best since the heat can circulate throughout the oven more evenly.

The bottom rack is closer to the heat source and might be too hot to cook the chicken. When I use a Dutch oven or other larger pot, I place the top rack on the highest selection so the Dutch oven can cook at the more middle section.

Should the Dutch oven be covered or uncovered?

In general, it has usually been stated that if you want juicer chicken, then you should cover the pot. Honestly, the chicken is not cooking or braising for that long to make much of a difference of whether you cover the pot or not. I tend to cover the chicken for most of the cooking time and uncover the pot for the last 10 minutes or so. As always the meat thermometer is the best tool to prevent any overcooking and drying out of the meat.

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Here are more Dutch oven recipes to try!

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