Chicken Breasts with Creamy Dijon Mustard Sauce
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You don’t have to be Julia Childs to cook up a delicious French-inspired chicken dish at home!
Chicken Dijon is a delicious dish that showcases the elegance and simplicity of French cuisine. The velvety sauce with tangy Dijon mustard is the perfect complement to the lightly pan fried tender chicken.
Why you’ll love this Dijon chicken recipe!
Ingredient notes
- Chicken — Slice a boneless, skinless breast in half down the middle, then pound thin between sheets of plastic wrap to make chicken cutlets. To make four servings, you’ll need about a pound total.
- Flour and fresh rosemary — Adding fresh rosemary to the flour for dredging gives the dish so much flavor and freshness. Chop up some extra to sprinkle over the dish at the end as well.
- Dijon mustard — The sharp, tangy taste is the base for the sauce. Dijon mustard is a condiment from France made from black mustard seeds and white wine or verjuice, the acidic green juice from grapes. I prefer to use a stone-ground version like the one by Grey Poupon.
- White wine — Do not substitute cooking wine! The flavor is simply no good. Always cook with wine that you wouldn’t mind drinking by itself. Not only will you enjoy how it tastes, but you’ll probably already have a bottle on hand.
- Heavy cream — This makes the mustard sauce for the chicken extra creamy and rich. For a lighter option, use half and half instead.
- Olive oil and butter — Using both fats together to fry the chicken adds incredible flavor and prevents burning.
- Minced garlic — Use fresh cloves whenever possible for the best flavor.
How to make this mustard chicken recipe
Properly season the meat with salt and pepper before cooking. Then, simmer it in the creamy sauce until it absorbs all the extra flavor and becomes fork-tender.
STEP 1 | Season the meat
Sprinkle both sides liberally with salt and freshly ground black pepper. In a shallow dish, combine the flour and rosemary, then dredge the cutlets in the mixture and shake off the excess.
STEP 2 | Pan fry the cutlets
Heat butter and oil together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter starts to foam, place the chicken in the hot skillet.
Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until crisp and golden brown, then remove to a plate.
STEP 3 | Make the sauce
Deglaze the pan to remove any brown bits from the bottom of the pan with some of the white wine. Stir, then add the minced garlic.
Once fragrant, stir in the cream, remaining wine, and mustard. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for a couple of minutes.
STEP 4 | Simmer the chicken
Nestle the cutlets down into the sauce and sprinkle with the remaining rosemary. Simmer over medium-low heat until the meat is cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes.
The creamy dijon mustard sauce will reduce and thicken and the chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
tips
- For best results and even cooking, be sure the chicken is an even thickness.
- Remember that butter will smoke at a high temperature, so add the chicken as soon as the butter is melted and foamy.
Variations and substitutions
- Although this recipe was written for chicken cutlets, you may also use boneless chicken thighs. Or if you want to change up the meat altogether, try this recipe using sliced pork tenderloin medallions or veal — both would be delicious!
- Want to avoid the alcohol in this recipe? Substitute chicken stock for the white wine in the sauce.
Storage and reheating tips
- Store cooked chicken with the sauce in an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
- Reheat on the stove until the meat is warmed through, adding a splash of cream as needed to loosen the sauce.
Serving suggestions
I love to pair this mustard chicken recipe with fresh green beans and fingerling potatoes. You could even toss the green beans in the pan after you deglaze and let it cook all together!
Chicken Dijon is just as delicious over a bed of rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes to soak up any leftover sauce. If you’re still craving some greens, add a handful of spinach towards the end of simmering.
Frequently asked questions
The main difference between these two condiments is the taste. Yellow mustard is milder, while Dijon mustard is sharper and tangier.
You could substitute the yellow variety in mustard sauce for chicken, but you would miss out on all those lovely flavors! In a pinch, you can make your own Dijon mustard by combining one tablespoon of dry mustard powder with one tablespoon of mayonnaise. Then, stir in a pinch of sugar with a teaspoon each of white wine vinegar and water.
If you’re feeling really adventurous — and have some elbow muscle — you may even want to try making homemade Stone-Ground Mustard from scratch! Grind up brown mustard seeds with a mortar and pestle and combine with a few more pantry staples.
If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can check for doneness by looking for these things:
Check the juices. When you pierce the chicken with a fork or knife, the juices should run clear without any visible pink.
Check the size. Chicken gets smaller as it cooks. If it looks the same size as when you started, it’s not done yet.
Check the texture. Chicken should be firm and not rubbery or jiggly when it is done.
Looking for more comforting chicken recipes?
On the table in under an hour, chicken with olives is one of my all-time favorite fancy chicken dishes. I think you’ll also love my Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole or this canned-free version with broccoli and yellow curry powder.
Chicken Dijon
Ingredients
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons minced fresh rosemary divided
- 4 chicken cutlets 1 lb.
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups white wine or chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons stone ground Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Combine flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons rosemary in a shallow bowl. Season chicken cutlets with salt and pepper and dredge in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium high heat until the butter starts to foam.
- Cook the chicken 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Remove to a plate.
- Add minced garlic and 1/2 cup of the white wine to the skillet and stir to deglaze the pan. Stir in the remaining wine, cream, and Dijon mustard. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and let simmer 2 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining minced rosemary. Continue cooking on medium low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is done. The sauce should reduce by about half and will thicken as the chicken cooks.
Notes
- Do not substitute cooking wine for the white wine.
- Remember that butter will smoke at a high temperature, so it is time to add the chicken to the pan once the butter is melted and foamy.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
About Sheila Thigpen
Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Food Writer
Sheila Thigpen is the publisher of Life, Love, and Good Food — a Southern food blog — and the author of Easy Chicken Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient Fresh and Easy Cookbook. After 20+ years in the publishing industry, she retired in 2018 to focus on her own creative endeavors full time. She and her husband live near the beautiful Smoky Mountains and have a precious little granddaughter who has stolen their hearts. As an influencer, Sheila has collaborated with brands like Creamette, Kroger, HERSHEY’S, Hamilton Beach, Garafalo Pasta, OXO, Smithfield, Valley Fig Growers, and more.
Love the tangy flavors from the dijon mustard. I used white wine and chicken came out tender and flavorful. Great recipe!
We loved this recipe. It was so moist and flavorful. I sliced leftovers over a salad for lunch and will be making a double batch next time.
I made this for dinner the other night and WOW, we loved it! My hubby said it needs to be on repeat!
I made this recipe to take to my in-laws house. They loved it and said it was the nicest thing someone had done for them. Easy to reheat too!