I am so excited to share my Hunter’s Chicken with you. It is filled with onions, shallots, mushrooms and has a savory pan gravy. Rich and flavorful, it’s perfect for a Sunday dinner in the middle of winter!  Although this recipe isn’t complicated, it does require some finesse, but it is worth it!!  Let’s go!  

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Whole30 Hunter’s Chicken

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: nocrumbsleft
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 1 hr
  • Total Time: 1 hr 15 min
  • Yield: 4-5 servings
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Description

This delicious dish is so tasty and the perfect Whole30 comfort food! 

Ingredients

2–½ tsp kosher salt, divided 

¾ tsp freshly ground black pepper 

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided 

3 slices bacon (to render fat) 

3 Tbsp bacon fat 

10 oz whole baby bella mushrooms (stem intact, ends trimmed) 

1 cup sliced shallots 

1 cup peeled pearl onions (you can use frozen, if you choose) 

4 cloves garlic, crushed 

8–10 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (depending on size) 

1–½ cups + 2 Tbsp chicken stock, warmed  

2 Tbsp sherry vinegar 

1 Tbsp arrowroot 

2 Tbsp cold water 

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350° F. 

 Sprinkle 2 tsp of salt and ¾ tsp black pepper evenly over the chicken. 

In a large, oven safe sauté pan or skillet, over medium high heat, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil. Add the bacon and cook until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the pan, leaving about 3 Tbsp bacon fat. 

In the same pan, add 1 Tbsp olive oil to the bacon fat. Add the chicken thighs, skin down, and sear until golden brown and crispy, about 4 ½ to 5 minutes. Using tongs, turn thighs over and cook until golden brown, about 3 ½ to 4 minutes.  Reserving the fat and drippings from the pan, remove the chicken thighs and set aside in a medium sized bowl. Measure 3 Tbsp of the reserved fat and add back to the pan. Set the remainder aside. 

In the same pan, add the mushrooms and stir well to coat. Add 2 Tbsp of chicken stock to the pan to deglaze, using a wooden spoon to scrape the bits off the bottom of the pan. Cover the pan and cook 2 minutes. Remove the cover, add the remaining ½ tsp salt, and cook uncovered for an additional 4 minutes.  

Measure 1 Tbsp of the set-aside reserved fat and add to the pan. Add the shallots and cook until translucent and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute.  Add 1 cup of warm broth to the pan. Using a wooden spoon, continue scraping the bottom to deglaze.  

Place the chicken (and any accumulated juices) on top of the mushrooms and shallots. Add the remaining ½ cup chicken stock around the edge of the pan (make sure the liquid is not higher than the layer of mushrooms).  

In a medium sized bowl, drizzle the onions with a little bit of olive oil, tossing to coat. Place them all around the pan with the chicken and mushrooms.  

Place the pan in the oven and cook, uncovered, 30 minutes. (If the chicken is not golden brown, cook for an additional 10 minutes.)   

Increase the oven temperature to 400°F for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is brown and crispy. Remove the pan from the oven and place on the stove.  Using tongs, remove chicken from the pan and set aside in the same bowl used earlier.   

Add the sherry vinegar to the pan. Make a slurry with the arrowroot and water and add to the pan. Return to medium low heat and, stirring constantly, cook the sauce to thicken, about 1 minute.  Return the chicken to the pan.  Serve!