Chef notes
It’s hard to beat a classic Caesar salad, but why should romaine lettuce have all the fun? Rich, creamy Caesar dressing can upgrade all sorts of dishes — including your next chicken dinner.
Drizzle the umami-rich combo of oil, eggs, Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon and anchovies over bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs to add deep flavor and to help the meat brown beautifully. And you don’t even need to make your own dressing. Bottled Caesar works wonderfully and is so much easier.
After browning the chicken, add peeled, finely chopped broccoli stalks to the skillet and sauté them in the chicken drippings. Many cooks throw the stalks away, but they require just a little prep to make them a prime ingredient. Trim off any woody bits and peel the stems until the darker green skin appears, then finely chop and cook as you would onions.
Once the stems soften, toss the broccoli florets in the drippings, pour on some Caesar dressing and toss again. Nestle the chicken on top of the broccoli, then drizzle the meat with more dressing. As the dish cooks, the dressing mixes and mingles with the chicken juices, creating a delicious sauce that coats the broccoli. After 15 minutes in the oven, dinner’s done!
Finish things off with a healthy grind of black pepper, some lemon zest and a fun addition — crunchy Parmesan crisps, which are a nod to Caesar salad. Serve with crusty bread for sopping up the sauce in the bottom of the skillet.
Technique Tip: It’s tempting to keep peeking to see if the chicken skin is browned, but let it be. You’ll know it’s ready when the skin naturally releases from the pan.
Swap Option: You can use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts in this recipe, but note that the cook time will vary depending on the size of the meat. And feel free to play around with the veggies. Cauliflower would be delicious in place of the broccoli, as would Brussels sprouts. Go for small sprouts or cut larger ones into quarters to help them cook more quickly.
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds total)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 12 ounces broccoli, florets separated, stems peeled and finely chopped
- 1 cup store-bought Caesar dressing, divided
- 2 tablespoons crushed Parmesan crisps
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- zest of 1 lemon, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
1.Preheat the oven to 425 F. Using a paper towel, pat the chicken dry; season with salt and garlic powder.
2.In a large, ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken skin-side down. Cook undisturbed until the skin is golden and releases easily from the pan, 8 to 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook until very lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
3.Reduce the heat to medium and add the broccoli stems. Cook, stirring frequently, until the stems soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the broccoli florets and toss to coat with the pan juices. Turn off the heat and drizzle 3/4 cup dressing over the broccoli; toss to coat. Arrange the chicken thighs on top of the broccoli. Evenly drizzle the remaining 1/4 cup dressing over the chicken (about 1 tablespoon per thigh).
4.Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the broccoli is tender and the chicken registers 165 F on an instant-read thermometer, about 15 minutes. Let the chicken rest 5 minutes before serving. Top with crushed Parmesan crisps, pepper and lemon zest, if using.
