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Home » Recipes

French Tarragon Chicken - 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

May 16, 2019Last Modified: July 13, 2022

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make French Tarragon Chicken!

French Tarragon Chicken in a cast iron skillet
Jump to:
  • What Ingredients Do You Need To Make This Dish?
  • Easy Instructions
  • 1,000 FOODS TO EAT PROJECT
  • Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
  • French Tarragon Chicken

Can I please say at the beginning of this post, do not be afraid of the butter. 😃

What Is Tarragon?

Tarragon

Tarragon is a lovely herb. It has a licorice-like taste, and also a licorice/aniseed aroma. We have some growing in our herb garden, and it grows like crazy! It has a very fascinating history, and was used by the Greeks and the Arabs as early as 500 BC. Allegedly at that time it was called "Dragon Mugwort." The French call tarragon "estragon" which means "little dragon." Therefore, poulet a l'estragon translates as chicken with tarragon.

What Ingredients Do You Need To Make This Dish?

chicken, shallots, green onions, tarragon
shallots and green onions and tarragon

Chicken with tarragon is a classic dish, and couldn't be simpler to make.

You will need the following ingredients to make this tarragon chicken recipe:

  • Chicken pieces - I like to use bone in and skin on chicken thighs, however you can also use chicken breasts if you like
  • Fresh tarragon
  • Shallots
  • Green onions
  • Olive oil
  • Butter
  • White wine
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

This is all you will need to make this classic French dish!

Easy Instructions

Take out your chicken, and allow to come to room temperature (approximately 30 min). Season chicken by adding generous amounts of salt and pepper to both sides of the chicken.

Add the butter and olive oil to a large skillet, set on medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the chicken. Fry each side for approximately 5 minutes, or until nicely browned.

Browned Chicken thighs seasoned with coarse pepper frying in butter in a cast iron skillet

Add the shallots and green onions, and lower the heat and simmer for 14 minutes, turning the chicken after 7 minutes. Stir around every few minutes so that there is even browning of the shallots and green onions. You may need to cook the chicken a few extra minutes to ensure it is thoroughly cooked through (depending on thickness of your chicken).

Browned chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet topped with chopped green onions and diced shallots

After 10 minutes, increase the heat to high, and add your wine and minced tarragon. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is reduced a bit and take off the heat. Add another sprinkling of salt and pepper, garnish with additional tarragon leaves, and the dish is ready to serve!

Chicken thighs browned in butter and topped with green onions

1,000 FOODS TO EAT PROJECT

Chicken with tarragon is also one of the 1,000 foods to eat listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. It is #14 in my quest to try each and every one of the foods in the book.

Chicken thighs browned in butter and topped with green onions

I made this last night and the delicious aroma from the meal still lingers this morning. If you haven't made this before, I highly recommend you try chicken with tarragon. The taste and aroma is out of this world good.

French Tarragon Chicken in a cast iron skillet

Bring a taste of France to your table with this delicious poulet a l'estragon, and please remember...don't be afraid of the butter. 😃

Please follow along with me on this quest to try the 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, from the book by Mimi Sheraton! Join me in this journey and discover new foods, experiences, and cuisines which I hope will add inspiration, fun, and joy to your life! For a list of the foods tried so far visit the 1,000 Foods to Eat Project page.

Please share this content with others and comment below. Thank you!!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Russian Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff

Turmeric Chicken With Sumac and Lime

Turmeric Chicken With Sumac and Lime and rice

Please sign up to get the latest recipes and culinary inspiration! Also come along with me on the 1,000 Foods to Eat Journey by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

French Tarragon Chicken in a cast iron skillet

French Tarragon Chicken

Grace
This classic French dish is so simple and easy to prepare. The tarragon pairs perfectly with the chicken, which is browned and cooked in a butter and olive oil sauce. Serve with heaps of mashed potatoes for a perfect meal. 🙂
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 27 mins
Total Time 37 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine French
Servings 4 people
Calories 76 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 large chicken thighs - bone in and skin on approximately 2.5-3 lbs; you can also use chicken breasts
  • 2 shallots minced
  • 2 ts tarragon 2 ts minced plus extra for garnish
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • ½ cup white wine
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Take out your chicken, and allow to come to room temperature (approximately 30 min). Add generous amounts of salt and pepper to both sides of the chicken.
  • Add the butter and olive oil to your skillet, set to heat on medium-high.
  • Once the skillet is hot, add the chicken. Fry each side for approximately 5 minutes, or until nicely browned.
    Browned Chicken thighs seasoned with coarse pepper frying in butter in a cast iron skillet
  • Add the shallots and green onions, and lower the heat and simmer for 14 minutes, turning the chicken after 7 minutes. Stir around every few minutes so that there is even browning of the shallots and green onions. You may need to cook the chicken a few extra minutes to ensure it is thoroughly cooked through (depending on thickness of your chicken).
    Browned chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet topped with chopped green onions and diced shallots
  • After 10 minutes, increase the heat to high, and add your wine and minced tarragon. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is reduced a bit and take off the heat. Add another sprinkling of salt and pepper, garnish with additional tarragon leaves, and the dish is ready to serve.
    French Tarragon Chicken in a cast iron skillet

Notes

Serve the tarragon chicken with buttery mashed potatoes and a side salad.  I recommend pouring the residual butter, olive oil, and wine sauce with shallots and green onions over the chicken and mashed potatoes!.  Enjoy this Poulet a l'Estragon!

Nutrition

Calories: 76kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 17mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 130IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Chicken
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Belinda

    September 19, 2021 at 5:59 pm

    5 stars
    Simple, yet elegant meal. Thanks for the recipe! Only 999 to go. 😉

    Reply
    • Grace

      September 19, 2021 at 6:25 pm

      Belinda! I'm doing cartwheels!!! Thanks so very much for trying this recipe and commenting here! I'm over the moon that you liked it! And equally if not more over the moon that you are on this 1000 Foods Journey too! YAY! Super fun! I hope we can connect more on this! Take good care! Grace

      Reply

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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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