Recipe for baked chicken breasts with potatoes and carrots

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Wash the potatoes and cut into quarters

Slice the carrots into 1/2 in chunks.

Line one side of a 9 x 13 baking dish with potatoes and line the other with the carrots.

Place the chicken breast between the potatoes and carrots. 

Cut the butter into 1 tbsp pieces  and place evenly over the carrots, chicken, and potatoes.

Sprinkle entire dish with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. ( I limit the salt since the Italian seasoning can be salty)

Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes or so. Remove chicken breasts and cook uncovered for another 30 minutes DO NOT LEAVE CHICKEN IN CASSEROLE DISH OR CHICKEN BREAST WILL BE DRIED OUT!

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205 ratings · 1 hour · Gluten free · Serves 4

Sweetphi | Fast and Easy Recipes + 5 Ingredient Recipes

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Farmers Market Chicken Potatoes and Carrots, Sweetphi blog recipe

Farmers Market Chicken Potatoes and Carrots, Sweetphi blog recipe

1 Yellow onion, large medium

1/2 tsp Garlic salt and onion salt/granules or, powder

1 Pepper, freshly cracked

3 tbsp Olive oil, extra virgin

Cooking chicken breast in the Dutch oven couldn't be easier! This recipe for Dutch oven chicken breast with potatoes and vegetables is a complete, and very comforting, meal that's ready in only about 45 minutes.

Did you know you can cook chicken breast in the Dutch oven? Yes you can, and it's super simple to do! I'm sure after trying it, this chicken breast recipe for the Dutch oven will soon be in your weekly dinner rotation. It's a very comforting recipe that tastes like a Sunday dinner, but with a Wednesday evening time commitment! You only need about 45 minutes and 10 basic ingredients!

Chicken breasts are first browned in butter, then finished off in the oven with baby potatoes, carrots and onions, all smothered in a flavorful (but not too heavy) gravy. All the cooking for the chicken breast, potatoes and vegetables is done in the Dutch oven, saving you lots of pots and pans to wash!

And, by finishing the chicken breasts in the oven rather than the stove top, you are also saving yourself a lot of hassle and attention - no need to adjust the burner temperature or stir the pot to avoid scorching the bottom. Instead, you can use that window of time to wash your (very few!) dishes from prep or put together a nice salad to go alongside.

Before we go any further, are you wondering - what is a Dutch oven, and why should I use one? Read on for more!

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• What is a Dutch oven?
• What are the benefits of cooking in a Dutch oven?
• Recipe ingredients
• Step by step photos
• Substitutions and add-ins
• How long to cook the chicken breasts in the Dutch oven
• Storage and reheating tips
• Other tips and tricks
• Recipe FAQs
• Related recipes
• 📖 Recipe

What is a Dutch oven?

A Dutch oven is a thick-walled cooking pot that comes with a tight-fitting lid. They are usually made of cast iron, cast aluminum or ceramic. The metal can either be coated in enamel, or seasoned (just like a cast iron skillet).

What are the benefits of cooking in a Dutch oven?

There are many benefits to cooking with a Dutch oven. For me, one of the biggest benefits is the ability to use it both on the stovetop and in the oven. This mean you can both brown food and simmer sauces on the stovetop, then move the whole thing directly into the oven to finish cooking.

And this is exactly what we will be doing with this Dutch oven chicken breast recipe! (It's nice to finish the food in the oven because it's more hands-off; no need to stir or adjust the stove temperature, as I mentioned above.)

Another benefit is that the Dutch oven looks nice enough to serve the food from right at the table. So, you can start on the stovetop, move to the oven, and finish at the table. This means less dishes to clean up at the end of the night - always a good thing!

Overall, owning a Dutch oven is great because it's a super versatile piece of kitchen equipment that should last you a really long time. You can make soups, stews, braised meat dishes, and even bread in the Dutch oven. Here's a great article discussing even more Dutch oven benefits and uses!

Recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

• Chicken breast: for this recipe, you will need boneless skinless chicken breast.

• Baby potatoes: I love using baby (aka "new") potatoes; they are so small so you don't need to cut or peel them, saving time on prep. But, if you don't have baby potatoes, you can just cut up regular potatoes!

• Onion: I used yellow onion, which is a good all-around onion for cooking. But, if you don't have yellow onion, you can use whatever type you have.

• Chicken broth or stock: you can use either store-bought or homemade. And, if you don't have chicken broth, you can substitute any type of broth you do have, like beef or vegetable.

Step by step photos

1. Before you do anything else, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Then, you can start by prepping the veggies. First, peel and slice the onion.

2. Next, peel the carrots and cut them into about ½ inch (~1.3 cm) slices. If needed, scrub the baby potatoes. (The ones I bought were pre-washed, hooray!). Set the veggies aside for now.

3. Now you can turn to the chicken breasts. All you need to do is season them on both sides with salt.

4. Next, place the Dutch oven on the stovetop set to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and let it melt. When the butter is hot, add the seasoned chicken breasts.

5. Let the chicken cook without touching it for about 3 minutes. Check underneath the chicken with tongs. If you see a nice brown color, flip the chicken pieces.

Otherwise, you can let them cook for another minute or so, until they are browned to your liking, before flipping.

6.When the chicken breasts are browned on both sides, remove them from the Dutch oven, and set them aside. They won't be fully cooked, but that's ok.

7. Now add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the Dutch oven and allow it to melt. Then add in the onion, kosher salt, dried thyme, and garlic powder.

8. Let the onion cook for about 3 - 4 minutes, stirring frequently. The onion should be softened, and just starting to pick up some color at this point.

9. Now you can sprinkle in the flour. You don't have to be delicate about it, just pour it in and stir it around so it coats the onions evenly. Cook the onion and flour for another minute.

10. At this point you can pour in the broth. Stir everything together - and make sure to use your wooden spoon to scrape up all those brown bits stuck to the bottom of the Dutch oven!

11. Now you can add in the baby potatoes and carrots from earlier.

12. Turn the heat up to bring the mixture to a boil, then turn it down to maintain a simmer. Stir occasionally, and let everything simmer together for about 5 minutes.

13. Now you can nestle the browned chicken breasts back into the Dutch oven; make sure they are at least partially submerged in the gravy!

Add the lid on top and place it in the preheated oven to finish cooking.

14. When the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and the potatoes and carrots are tender, the dish is done! You can check the chicken temperature with an instant read thermometer. To test the doneness of the carrots and potatoes, pierce them with a fork.

Once the chicken is cooked, it's a good idea to let it rest for about 5 minutes. I like to remove the chicken from the Dutch oven for the resting period, so it doesn't continue to cook in the hot liquid.

Substitutions and add-ins

I kept the ingredients and seasonings in this Dutch oven chicken breast recipe pretty simple, to cut down on prep time and to make the recipe as accessible as possible. So, that means there are a ton of opportunities to customize this recipe to suit your own tastes!

Here are some substitution and/or add-in ideas:

• As I mentioned above, if you don't have baby potatoes, you can use any other type of potato. Just cut them into about 1 inch (2.5 cm) pieces. If the skin of the potato is thin, you don't even have to peel them!

• If you don't want to use butter, substitute an equal amount of pure olive oil or avocado oil.

• Try switching out the carrots and/or potatoes for other root vegetables you like, such as: sweet potatoes, parsnips, rutabaga, celeriac, or turnips!

• You can also add in even more hearty vegetables to go along with the carrots, potatoes and onions. Try adding mushrooms (I know, not technically a vegetable!), cauliflower florets, or sliced celery.

• Feel free to substitute or add in other herbs and spices that you enjoy. Instead of dried thyme, I've substituted an equal amount of dried rosemary, which was also delicious. You can also try dried sage, oregano, tarragon, or marjoram.

How long to cook the chicken breasts in the Dutch oven

• After browning, the chicken breasts should take roughly about 15 - 18 minutes in the oven to reach the target temperature of 165 degrees F. But, the exact amount of time needed will vary based on how large the chicken breasts are, and on your own unique oven.

• The most accurate way to ensure the chicken breasts are cooked to the target temperature is to use an instant read thermometer. Make sure you probe the chicken at the thickest part. If you don't have one, you can cut open the thickest chicken breast and make sure it is white all the way through.

• This would also be a great time to use an oven-safe alarm thermometer, shown below. This is a special type of thermometer probe that you can insert into the chicken before placing it in the oven. You can place the lid right on top of the wire. The display is kept outside the oven, which will beep when the food reaches your target temperature.

• This is the same thermometer I used for my baked BBQ chicken thighs recipe. This is a great tool to use because you don't have to keep checking on the chicken, and really helps eliminate the risk of overcooking the chicken!

Storage and reheating tips

• Store any leftovers in the fridge in a covered food storage container. You can keep leftovers in the fridge for 3 - 4 days.

• If you want to keep leftovers for a longer time period, store them in the freezer (again in an airtight container) for 3 - 4 months. The potatoes will be a little soft after coming out of the freezer, but they will still taste good!

• Wondering what's the best way to reheat leftover Dutch oven chicken and potatoes? My favorite way is to place them into a pan with a lid and warm them gently on the stove, stirring occasionally, until heated through. If you need a little more moisture, add a splash of broth or water. You can even use the same Dutch oven as before to reheat the leftovers!

• For best results in reheating leftovers from the freezer, first let them thaw in the fridge overnight.

• If you want to use the microwave to reheat a single serving, cut the chicken into slices or bite-sized pieces first. This will help the chicken heat more quickly and evenly than if you try to microwave an entire chicken breast!

Other tips and tricks

• Here I used Diamond Crystal kosher salt, which is lighter and flakier than Morton kosher and regular table salt. If you want to use table salt or Morton kosher salt, use ½ teaspoon in the gravy rather than the full 1 teaspoon called for. When seasoning the chicken, just salt to taste.

• Are your chicken breasts finished cooking but the potatoes and carrots aren't done? This could happen if the chicken breasts are on the smaller side. Just remove the chicken breasts from the Dutch oven, then place the lid back on. Bake for an additional 5 - 10 minutes, or until the veggies are cooked through.

• The gravy will continue to thicken as it cools; if you still want it a little thicker, you can remove the veggies and chicken from the Dutch oven and simmer the gravy a little longer on the stovetop!

Recipe FAQs

What size Dutch oven do I need?

You will need a Dutch oven with a capacity of around 7 - 8 quarts (6.6 - 7.5 liters). Just make sure you have enough room to brown all the chicken pieces without too much crowding. If your Dutch oven is a little larger than that, it will work fine too. The Dutch oven I used here is the 7.25 quart capacity Dutch oven from Le Creuset (affiliate link).

Can you make this recipe in a different pot or pan?

If you don't have a Dutch oven, you can still make this recipe with a little modification. For the portion of the recipe that is done on the stovetop, you can use a large pot instead.

Then, transfer all the ingredients into a casserole dish that has a tight fitting lid and finish baking in the oven. Alternatively, you can use a 9 x 13 inch baking pan that you cover tightly with aluminum foil.

What should I serve with Dutch oven chicken breast and potatoes?

This recipe already has protein, starch, and vegetables, making it very well-rounded as-is! You don't need to add much to make it a complete and satisfying meal.

Try pairing the chicken with a green salad, bean salad, or kale salad, sautéed mixed vegetables, or steamed broccoli. Bonus points for drizzling the gravy overtop the side of veggies also!

These Dutch oven chicken breasts and potatoes would also go well with my recipes for brussels sprouts salad with cranberries and creamy tomato cucumber salad!

How do I keep chicken breasts moist?

The biggest way to ensure the chicken breasts stay moist is to not overcook them! The USDA advises that chicken breasts must be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F. So, that's what we are going with here; much beyond that, and you risk drying the chicken breasts out.

For that reason, I recommend picking up an oven safe alarm thermometer as I recommended above - they're great because they will let you know exactly when the target temperature is reached. You don't have to keep checking the food constantly, or, even worse, risk the chicken breasts going way above the target temperature.

Even if you do end up overcooking the chicken, just smother each bite in the delicious gravy that the chicken and vegetables are cooked in - this will really help to re-moisten the chicken and it will still be absolutely delicious!

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

In my opinion, these Dutch oven chicken breasts taste the best when eaten fresh, but leftovers do keep very well and taste delicious reheated. See the above Storage and reheating tips section for more info on managing any leftovers!

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📖 Recipe

This is an easy and comforting meal you can make with basic ingredients and in only 45 minutes! A Dutch oven is the only cooking pot used - for browning, simmering, and baking in the oven - saving you lots of dishes to wash up!

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: main course, entree
• Method: stove top, bake
• Cuisine: American

• 24 ounces (680 g) boneless skinless chicken breast (about 3 - 4 medium chicken breasts)
• 12 ounces (340 g) onion (about 2 medium or 1 large onion)
• 12 ounces (340 g) carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
• 12 ounces (340 g) baby potatoes (1 inch diameter - see note 1)
• 3 tablespoons (43 g) butter, divided
• 3 tablespoons (24 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to season chicken (see note 2)
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 cups (473 ml) chicken broth/stock

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Slice the onion. Peel the carrots and cut into approximately ½ inch (1.3 cm) rounds. Scrub the potatoes (if not purchased pre-washed). Set vegetables aside.
3. If needed, trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts. Season both sides of the chicken with salt to taste.
4. In a large Dutch oven (7 - 8 quart capacity), heat 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Swirl the melting butter to evenly coat the surface of the Dutch oven. When the butter is melted, place in the seasoned chicken breasts. Let the chicken breasts cook, undisturbed, for 3 - 4 minutes, or until browned. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 3 - 4 minutes to brown the other side. (If the butter is getting too dark while the chicken is browning, turn the heat down.)
5. Remove the browned chicken breasts to a plate and set aside. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the Dutch oven. When the butter is melted, add the sliced onions, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, dried thyme, and garlic powder. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened.
6. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
7. Pour in the chicken broth/stock. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the carrots and potatoes to the Dutch oven. Turn the heat up to high to bring the liquid to a boil, then turn the heat down again to maintain a simmer. Simmer for 4 - 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
8. Turn the heat off the burner and add the browned chicken breasts back into the Dutch oven, nestling them down into the gravy (they do not have to be fully submerged). Place the lid on the Dutch oven and bake in the preheated oven for 15 - 18 minutes, or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and the carrots and potatoes are fork-tender.
9. Remove the chicken from the Dutch oven and allow it to rest for about 5 minutes. (Allowing the chicken to rest submerged in the hot liquid may cause the chicken to overcook.) The gravy will continue to thicken as it cools. When serving, the chicken can be placed back in the Dutch oven with the vegetables. 

Notes

If you don't have baby potatoes that are roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, you can use any type of potato cut into 1 inch (2.5 cm) chunks.

This recipe was developed using Diamond Crystal kosher salt; to substitute table salt or Morton kosher salt, use ½ teaspoon in the gravy rather than the 1 teaspoon called for. When seasoning the chicken, salt to taste.

If the chicken breasts are finished cooking but the potatoes and carrots aren't tender enough, just remove the chicken breasts from the Dutch oven, place the lid back on and bake for an additional 5 - 10 minutes, or until the veggies are cooked through.

The nutrition information below was calculated using a total of 1 ½ teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt for the entire recipe. This nutrition information is an estimate only; the nutrition counts of your dish will vary based on the brands and exact amounts of ingredients used. This information was provided by an online nutrition calculator, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. See our full nutrition disclosure policy.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: ¼ recipe
• Calories: 343
• Sugar: 5.1 g
• Sodium: 917 mg
• Fat: 11.9 g
• Saturated Fat: 6.4 g
• Carbohydrates: 25.2 g
• Fiber: 4.6 g
• Protein: 34.4 g
• Cholesterol: 97 mg

Keywords: Dutch oven chicken breast, chicken breast in Dutch oven

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