Sausage-Mushroom Chicken

Though the name of this recipe is ordinary, the flavor is anything but, thanks to its use of rendered sausage fat, which makes everything it touches taste meatier, including the chicken breasts and mushroom pan sauce. Introduce this ultra-forgiving technique to any friend who's intimidated by cooking to prove just how easy it is to pull off a gorgeous dinner.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 851 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ cup white wine
• 1 red onion, diced
• 1 pinch salt to taste
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
• 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons cold butter
• 1 (6 ounce) sweet Italian sausage link
• 2 (6 ounce) skin-on, boneless chicken breasts
• 1 ½ cups beech mushrooms

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Place sausage in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Poke holes into the sausage with a fork. Cook, turning as needed, until browned and firm, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool to room temperature.

Step 3

Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Refrigerate sausage until ready to use.

Step 4

Heat oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts, skin-side down, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes.

Step 5

Meanwhile, cut off the base of the mushrooms and separate individual segments. Dice cold sausage.

Step 6

Flip chicken breasts over and sear on the opposite side, 2 to 3 minutes more. Set aside on plate.

Step 7

Add red onion, sausage, and mushrooms to the skillet. Season with salt. Cook and stir until mixture begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and return chicken to the skillet, skin-side up.

Step 8

Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 9

Transfer chicken to serving plates. Cover skillet handle with a towel; place over high heat. Cook and stir sausage mixture until caramelized, about 1 minute. Pour in wine and simmer until reduced by about half, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and toss in butter and 1 tablespoon parsley. Stir frequently until butter melts.

Step 10

Spoon sauce over the chicken. Garnish with remaining parsley.