Dutch Oven Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts
Published 3/28/2021 • Updated 3/22/2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Everyone who has tasted this Dutch oven chicken thighs has loved it. I’ll prove it! After testing this recipe, we brought the leftovers over to Emily’s house and her 2-year-old (at the time) scarfed down the chicken, quinoa, and Brussels sprouts. EVEN THE SPROUTS.
Fear not, make this Dutch oven chicken thighs with brussels sprouts and the people will come!
Favorite Dutch Oven Chicken Thighs
One-pot meals are seriously the best. There’s less to clean up and one-pot meals are ALWAYS easier to prepare.
We use our Dutch oven weekly in our house because it doubles as both a pot and a casserole dish. You can use it on the stovetop or in the oven (or both…like this recipe!).
These Dutch Oven Chicken Thighs are first seared on the stovetop and then finished off in the oven with Brussels sprouts, garlic, and quinoa to make a complete one-pot meal.
What is so special about a Dutch oven?
Dutch ovens are made out of cast iron and they are great for searing meat at high temperatures. They’re also great for cooking things in the oven because they distribute heat evenly.
Great Jones
The Dutchess
This is hands-down our favorite Dutch oven. It’s a 6.75 quart enameled cast iron Dutch oven that’s super high-quality and gorgeous.
What You Need for these Chicken Thighs
Talk about an explosion of flavor! From the chicken seasoning, to the garlic, to the onion, to the butter, these Dutch oven chicken thighs come out tasting so delicious.
Chicken
- Chicken thighs: you need 1.5 to 2 lbs. bone-in chicken thighs. We love bone in thighs because they come out so tender.
- Chicken seasoning: the chicken seasoning for these thighs is flavor-packed and made with: garlic, brown sugar, thyme, salt, pepper, and dried lemon peel.
- Butter: the butter is used to sear the chicken thighs before baking. Butter adds fabulous flavor and just the right amount of fat.
try it!
Have our chicken seasoning on hand? Use about 2 tablespoons of that instead of the listed spices.
Other
- White wine: need to deglaze your pot? White wine is the perfect thing to do so. Can’t do wine? Just swap it for more broth.
- Onion and Garlic: these are two of my favorite things and they really help create a wonderful flavor base for these Dutch oven chicken thighs.
- Brussels sprouts: Brussels sprouts cook perfectly alongside these thighs. They’re hearty, so they won’t get mushy.
- Quinoa: quinoa adds protein and great texture to round out this dish.
- Chicken broth: make sure to use normal chicken broth (instead of low sodium) or you will likely need to add more salt.
- Tomato paste: a touch of tomato paste really helps give some depth to this recipe.
Easy Instructions
Make sure to scroll all the way down to the recipe card to get the full ingredient list and written recipe.
- Prep Chicken Thighs: use a piece of paper towel to remove moisture from your thighs. Trim any excess skin and fat.
- Season and Sear Chicken: generously seasoning the chicken thighs with the chicken seasoning. Then, heat butter over medium/high heat in your Dutch oven. Sear chicken thighs in the butter for
- Deglaze and Cook Brussels: deglaze Dutch oven with white wine and then cook onion, garlic, and Brussels sprouts.
- Add All Ingredients: Meanwhile, combine broth, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Then, add that mixture along with the uncooked quinoa to the Brussels sprouts and mix to combine. Place seared chicken thighs on top of Brussels sprouts.
- Bake: Place the lid on your Dutch oven and bake at 400ºF for 20-25 minutes. Then, uncover and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken thighs reaches 165ºF.
Storage
Let chicken thighs cool completely and then transfer the meal into an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
Dutch Oven Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1.5 to 2 lbs. bone-in chicken thighs, ~6 medium thighs
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1.5 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried lemon peel
- 3 tablespoons butter, or olive oil
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 large white onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1- lb. Brussel sprouts, halved
- 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1.5 cups chicken broth, or beef broth
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 5-8 sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Mix the granulated garlic, brown sugar, dried thyme, salt, pepper, and dried lemon peel in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
- Remove moisture from the chicken thighs by patting them with a paper towel. Use a pair of kitchen sheers to trim any excess fat and skin.
- Sprinkle the chicken thighs with the dried spice mixture. Be sure each chicken thigh is coated in the spices.
- Heat a large Dutch oven over medium/high heat. Add butter. When the butter is melted and starting to bubble, add the chicken thighs to the Dutch oven skin-side down. Sear the chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes on each side. Be sure the chicken skin is browned. Remove from the Dutch oven and set the chicken aside.
- Deglaze the pot with white wine and scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven with a spatula. Add the onion and minced garlic to the Dutch oven and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
- Next, add the Brussels sprouts to the Dutch oven and mix. Sauté for an additional 2 minutes.
- While the Brussels sprouts are cooking, mix the broth, tomato paste, salt, and pepper into a large Pyrex container. Whisk until all the ingredients are combined.
- Finally, add the fresh thyme and uncooked quinoa to the Brussels sprouts and pour the broth mixture into the Dutch oven. Toss everything together.
- Place the seared chicken thighs on top of the Brussels sprouts and put the lid on your Dutch oven. Bake at 400ºF for 20-25 minutes.
- Uncover the Dutch oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes to brown the chicken skin.
- When the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165ºF and the quinoa is cooked, remove the chicken from the oven.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Don’t forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds, we’d love to see what you’re up to!
I also am looking for the recipe card! I have all the ingredients laid out in front of me but have no idea how much of what to use. Ill have to try to get through tonight’s dinner using my recollection the previous times i’ve made this meal, but hopefully its back next time!
It looks like there’s an issue with this recipe and the card isn’t showing! I’ve made this a couple times and really enjoyed it so I’d love to be able to see the recipe again.
This was so tasty! Adding it to my collection! I had no dry lemon peel on hand. I added only 2 tbl sp of tomato paste. I used small head of cabbage instead of brussel sprouts. I also added complete seasoning. Maybe half a teaspoon.
Thanks for sharing that these modifications worked for you!!
So delicious! Made exactly as written. Would definitely make again.
Thank you!
YUM! This recipe is amazing!! Here are the little tweaks I made just based on what I had on hand:
Butternut squash instead of Brussels, pumpkin beer instead of wine, rice instead of quinoa. I didn’t have tomato paste sadly, nor did I have lemon peel but I think it ended up fine! The house smells so homey when making this!
One thing I’ll note, I needed waaaay more spice rub than said here. Maybe I did it wrong lol! But because of this I didn’t add extra garlic, salt or pepper beyond the rub.
Thanks so much!
So glad these modifications worked for you, Katarina!
Never saw in the directions when to add the quinoa so I forgot to until at the end it says make sure quinoa is cooked…
you can start by opening your eyes. It’s number nine on the recipe instructions.
This was easy and tastes delicious. I used rice instead of quinoa and didn’t have brussels sprouts on hand but the spices and other ingredients make this recipe a keeper!
BTW, I added 2 chicken breasts to use in my salads.
made the recipe exactly how it suggested, and it was amazing. the chicken seasoning is wonderful the quinoa and the brussel sprouts taste great. love one pot meals. thank you for sharing.
This recipe far surpassed my expectations, OMG! I don’t usually review recipes but I couldn’t remember the last time I ate something this delicious, let alone something I cooked myself. The flavor combos are perfect. As you can see I did use skinless to cut down some fat, I just left off the uncovered last five mins of oven time and they were perfect temp. I also subbed parsnips for quinoa and left a little broth out to compensate. I will be cooking this over and over..
OMG! Love this. I just bought a Dutch oven and was looking for recipes. I have lost 180 lbs and was trying to find some healthy satisfying meals for my family….they don’t like the foods I usually eat. I’m so happy I found your page. I did not have white wine so I subbed apple cider vinegar and no dried lemon peel so I tried lemon pepper also all I had was boneless skinless chicken thighs. I had some quinoa so I figured, what to heck give it a try. So happy I did my family loves it. I will be making this again. Thank you so much!