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5 from 7 votes

Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Garlic and Pancetta

*See step by step photos & video above* The most incredible Creamy Tuscan Chicken that's actually made without cream! The sauce is rich, smooth and delicious, flavoured with garlic, pancetta and white wine. Serve with comforting mashed potatoes and you're in comfort food heaven!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 605kcal
Author: Emily Wyper

Ingredients

  • 6-8 Chicken thighs* see notes
  • 4.5 oz smoked pancetta cubed (130g)
  • 6 Garlic cloves
  • 1 Egg yolk large
  • 2 cups Chicken stock (500ml)
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh oregano
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh thyme
  • ½ cup White wine (125ml)
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon chives freshly chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet pan on a medium heat, lightly season the chicken skin with a little salt. Add the chicken thighs skin side down and fry until the skin is browned and crispy (around 8-10 minutes). Turn the chicken around and cook on the other side for around 8 minutes again. Remove the chicken and set aside.
  • Add the pancetta (4.5 oz / 130g) to the same pan and fry until starting to crisp up slightly (3-4 minutes). Add the whole garlic cloves (6 large) and fry for another minute, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the chicken back to the pan skin side up and add the white wine (½ cup / 125ml) with the fresh thyme and oregano (1 tablespoon of each). Reduce the wine by half (around 4-5 minutes).
  • Add the chicken stock and simmer to reduce until only ⅓ of the liquid remains (about 40 minutes). Remove the chicken from the pan again and set aside. At this point you can crisp the chicken up under a broiler (oven grill) if you prefer.
  • Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and make sure it’s not boiling. In a small ramekin, add the lemon juice (1 tsp) and 1 large egg yolk, whisk to combine. Add the egg mixture to the sauce and whisk continuously until the sauce has thickened and turned a pale yellow colour (around 3 minutes).
  • Add the chicken back to the pan to heat through, garnish with chives and serve. See notes for serving suggestions.

Video

Notes

  • Use free-range chicken for best results and flavour. I always use free-range because the quality of the meat is 100x better, it's more expensive but I just eat less of it on a weekly basis.
  • I use 6-8 thighs to serve 4 as they often vary in size.
  • Pat the chicken thighs dry with kitchen paper to reduce the moisture before frying (helps create an extra crispy skin)
  • Make sure to turn the heat to the absolute lowest heat or off completely and make sure the sauce isn't boiling before adding the egg yolks. If the pan is too hot they can curdle.
  • Be careful with the salt, you won't need much! The chicken stock and pancetta provide a lot of seasoning so I recommend lightly sprinkling the chicken skin with a little salt before frying and that's it. Taste it before serving to see if it needs any more.
  • I love the fresh taste of oregano and thyme they're so fragrant and full of flavor but you can also use fresh rosemary or tarragon which will work well. A little sprinkling of dried oregano will work too just not too much.
  • Leftovers: store the chicken and sauce separately as the sauce will thicken and a skin will form. The chicken can be stored in the fridge for around 2 days and eaten cold in a salad or whatever you like or reheated in a hot oven (350F/180C) until piping hot all the way through. The sauce can also be stored in the fridge for about 2 days a reheated, simply add it to a small saucepan with a splash of water to loosen it (around 1-2 tbsp) and heat on low until hot.
  • You can also freeze the chicken in suitable containers.

What to Serve it With

I love nothing more than a big mountain of mashed potatoes to mop up all the delicious sauce, it just goes so well but you could also serve this creamy Tuscan chicken with polenta, roast potatoes, grilled veggies, roasted asparagus, broccoli or even just a fresh salad. The list is endless and the choice is yours!

Nutrition

Calories: 605kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 235mg | Sodium: 382mg | Potassium: 577mg | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 4.7mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2.6mg