• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sweet Peas and Saffron

meal prep recipes for busy people

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • All Recipes
    • Meal Type
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Lunch
      • Salad
      • Sides
      • Soups & Stews
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pot Meals
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
    • Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Low Carb
      • Nut Free
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Main Ingredient
      • Beans
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Eggs
      • Lentils
      • Pork
      • Seafood
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Meal Prep
  • Meal Prep
    • How to Meal Prep
    • Vegetarian
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Breakfast
  • Instant Pot
    • Instant Pot 101
    • Chicken
    • Side Dishes
    • Vegetarian
  • Dinner
    • 30 Minutes
    • One Pot Meals
    • Salad
    • Soups & Stews
    • Casseroles
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
  • Freezer
    • Vegetarian
    • Chicken
    • Casserole
    • Crockpot Freezer Meals
    • Chicken Marinades
    • Freezer Meal Do's & Don'ts
  • Shop
  • Start Here
    • Start Here
    • Denise Bustard of Sweet Peas & Saffron
    • Contact
go to homepage
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • Instant Pot
  • Dinner
  • Freezer
  • Shop
  • Start Here
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Easy Balsamic Chicken Skillet with Tomatoes and Tarragon

    September 8, 2015 by Denise Bustard 48 Comments

    Home / Recipes / One Pot Meals / Easy Balsamic Chicken Skillet with Tomatoes and Tarragon

    Jump to Recipe

    This balsamic chicken skillet with tomatoes and tarragon is essentially summer in a skillet! With fresh, sweet cherry tomatoes, tangy balsamic vinegar, and fresh tarragon, it's easy to prep and clean up is a breeze!

    While I love watching cooking shows, it always bothers me how many dishes they create...I find it unrealistic for the average family, especially on busy weeknights. This must be why one of my favorite things to cook is a one pan meal: from one pan black bean fajita pasta to a chili lime sweet potato skillet, I love that they are simple to cook and even simpler to clean up!

    overhead view of a stainless skillet filled with balsamic chicken skillet recipe

    With sweet cherry tomatoes, juicy chicken thighs, baby potatoes and fresh tarragon all tossed in a tangy balsamic 'gravy', this is a complete meal all cooked up in a single pan.

    This recipe was inspired by what was growing in my garden at the time: cherry tomatoes, zucchini and a huge abundance of fresh tarragon. If you can't get your hands on fresh tarragon, swap it for your favorite summery herb: fresh basil, chervil, parsley or oregano would all work well.

    Reasons you'll ♡ this balsamic chicken skillet

    • it's full of big bright flavors
    • it cooks up in one pan for easy clean up
    • leftovers make for delicious lunches

    showing the process of browning the potatoes in the skillet

    Start by sautéing potatoes

    For this recipe, you can use baby potatoes, or red potatoes, but you will need to cut them into small ½ inch pieces to help them cook through. If you use baby potatoes, cut them into quarters. We start off by cooking the potatoes partially through by sauteeing in some olive oil. They will only be partially cooked through, but this helps brown them and build extra flavor.

    Browning the chicken

    After 10 minutes of cooking the potatoes, transfer to a clean plate. Add more oil and chicken thighs to the pan. For this recipe, we are using boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1 inch pieces. Chicken thighs are great to use as they are difficult to overcook (unlike chicken breast), so they stay nice and juicy in this recipe.

    Brown the chicken on all sides, for around 5 minutes. It does not need to be cooked right through yet.

    Making the gravy

    After the chicken is browned, we add some garlic to the pan. Cook for only 1 minute to prevent it from burning. Next, we deglaze the pan with ¼ cup of white wine, scraping all the brown bits stuck to the pan with a spoon or spatula. White wine adds depth and added flavor to the gravy, and as it simmers, the alcohol completely cooks off.

    After deglazing for one minute, we add back the potatoes, chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, salt, tarragon and zucchini. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, until veggies and potatoes are tender.

    Thickening the sauce

    At this point, we are ready to thicken the sauce. You can thicken with cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Mix the starch or powder with ¼ cup of cold water until no lumps remain, then add to the skillet. Stir it evenly into the sauce, then simmer for 1-2 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and thickened.

    The finishing touches

    The last step is to stir in the tomatoes. I recommend fresh cherry tomatoes, but you can use any type of tomato you have on hand. I prefer to leave the cherry tomatoes whole as I love the juicy burst of flavor when biting into them. If using larger tomatoes, you'll need to chop into 1 inch pieces.

    Add the tomatoes to the pan, stir up, cover and allow to sit for around 5 minutes. Tomatoes should be softened and warmed through.

    side angle view of balsamic tarragon chicken skillet

    Recipe tips

    • you will need a large pan with a lid to fit this whole recipe; I've used a 12-inch stainless steel skillet
    • this recipe is great served with bread to soak up the gravy
    • leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave until steaming hot.
    • you may swap the chicken thighs for boneless chicken breast, but be careful not to overcook
    • if you can't get your hands on fresh tarragon, swap for fresh oregano (add when you would add the tarragon) or fresh basil (add with the tomatoes before serving)
    • while I haven't tried it, I would bet some feta cheese would go well with the balsamic vinegar, tomatoes and tarragon

    overhead view of skillet containing chicken, potatoes, herbs and tomatoes

    More skillet recipes for us

    • 45 Healthy Skillet Dinners
    • Spiralized Sweet Potato Enchilada Skillet
    • Caprese Chicken Gnocchi Skillet
    • Vegan Moroccan Chickpea Skillet
    • Winter One Pan Chicken + Veggies
    overhead shot of balsamic chicken skillet with wood spoon
    Print Recipe
    3.67 from 3 votes

    Balsamic Chicken Skillet with Tomatoes and Tarragon

    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Skillet
    Calories: 401kcal
    Author: Denise Bustard
    Servings: 4 -6
    Chicken, potatoes and veggies are cooked up in a delicious sauce flavored with balsamic vinegar and tarragon in this easy balsamic chicken skillet.  Don't forget a big chunk of bread to sop up every last drop!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time45 mins

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • salt and pepper
    • 1 pound baby potatoes (quartered; 3-4 cups)
    • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs (6-8 thighs, cut into 1 inch pieces)
    • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
    • ¼ cup wine (white or red are both good)
    • 1 cup chicken stock
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon
    • 2 cups zucchini (sliced)
    • 1 tablespoons arrowroot starch (or cornstarch)
    • 2 cups cherry tomatoes

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the potatoes, tossing to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring every 3 or so minutes.
    • Remove potatoes from pan and set aside. Add chicken to pan, and cook until browned on all sides, roughly 5 minutes.
    • Add the garlic to the pan, stirring frequently. Cook until garlic is golden (don't burn!) approximately 1 minute.
    • Add the wine to the pan and cook for one minute, scraping up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
    • Add the potatoes back with the chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, salt, tarragon and zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally for 10 or so minutes, until potatoes are soft when poked with a fork.
    • Whisk together 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch with ¼ cup water. Add to the pan and cook until sauce reduces, 3 or so minutes. If not thickened to your liking, add another tablespoon of flour.
    • Add the tomatoes, turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 5 or so minutes until tomatoes are soft.
    • Serve with a big chunk of bread.

    Notes

    Storage
    Leftovers may be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days (though best eaten within 2 days). Reheat in the microwave until steaming hot.
     
    Recipe tips
    • you will need a large pan to fit this whole recipe; I’ve used a 12-inch stainless steel skillet
    • this recipe is great served with bread to soak up the gravy
    • you may swap the chicken thighs for boneless chicken breast, but be careful not to overcook
    • if you can’t get your hands on fresh tarragon, swap for fresh oregano (add when you would add the tarragon) or fresh basil (add with the tomatoes before serving)
    • while I haven’t tried it, I would bet some feta cheese would go well with the balsamic vinegar, tomatoes and tarragon

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/6 of batch | Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 682mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @SweetPeaSaffron or tag #sweetpeasandsaffron

    About Denise Bustard

    Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more. read more

    Previous Post: « Chai and Honey Roasted Almonds
    Next Post: Slow Cooker Maple Pulled Pork »

    Primary Sidebar

    https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/about

    Hi, I'm Denise

    Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too!

    Read more about it here!

    POPULAR

    overhead shot of 7 easy stir fry sauces on gray background

    7 Easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

    freezer bags labeled and filled with chicken and seven different chicken marinades

    7 Chicken Marinade Recipes You Can Freeze

    overhead shot of sweet potatoes lined up with text showing number of minutes to cook each

    PERFECT Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

    overhead shot of blue mason jar filled with crispy chickpeas

    ULTRA Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

    pile or air fryer chicken breasts with one sliced

    20 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Breast

    collage image that says 33 healthy lunch ideas for work

    33 Healthy Lunch Ideas For Work

    FREE EMAIL COURSE

    Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

    Tips & strategies to get you prepping...fast!

    In Season

    overhead view of spiralized pasta with egg in bowl

    Spiralized Pasta with Egg and Asparagus

    fork taking a bite out of the lemon pepper salmon

    Lemon Pepper Salmon Sheet Pan

    overhead shot of farro arugula salad with a soft boiled egg in glass meal prep container

    Farro Arugula Salad (Meal Prep)

    Close up shot of multiple healthy rhubarb muffins

    Healthy Rhubarb Muffins

    Pile of sauteed green beans with garlic butter on gray plate

    Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic Butter

    close up shot of a bowl of instant pot carrots with honey glaze

    Instant Pot Carrots with Honey Glaze

    Footer

    logos

    · Copyright © 2012 - 2020 Sweet Peas & Saffron · Nutritional Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Comment and Copyright Policy | Implemented by WPopt