A Quick Look at This Effortless Skillet Recipe

Before diving into the full details, here’s a snapshot of what makes this one-pan chicken and potato skillet a new favorite:

Recipe Name: Chicken Potato Skillet With Bacon And Veggies

• 🕒 Ready in: Just 30 minutes, making it ideal for even the busiest evenings.
• ⏲️ Prep Time: A mere 5 minutes – minimal chopping, maximum flavor.
• 🍳 Cook Time: 25 minutes of active cooking in a single pan.
• 👪 Servings: Generously serves 4 people, perfect for families or small gatherings.
• 🥄 Calories: Approximately 704 kcal per serving, a satisfying and filling meal.
• 🥘 Main Ingredients: Chicken breast, baby potatoes, bacon, a colorful blend of frozen vegetables, rich heavy cream, and tangy Dijon mustard.
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Taste Profile: A delightful balance of savory, deeply creamy, with a subtle smoky undertone and a rustic French-inspired zest.
• 📖 Diet Information: Naturally gluten-free, nut-free, fish-free, shellfish-free, and celery-free. Please note it does contain dairy (from cream) and eggs (typically found in Dijon mustard).
• ⭐ Difficulty Level: Remarkably Easy – requiring only one skillet, straightforward steps, and no specialized culinary techniques. Perfect for beginners and seasoned cooks alike.

Inspired by Classic Comfort: Chicken Bonne Femme with a Modern Twist

Growing up, mealtime often featured the reliable Dutch “AVG” – aardappelen (potatoes), vlees (meat), and groenten (vegetables). While comforting in its predictability, I yearned for something that elevated this simple concept, something with a bit more flair and interconnectedness. This is where the inspiration for this French-inspired skillet, often referred to as “Bonne Femme” (meaning “good wife” or “homestyle”), truly shines. It takes that familiar foundation of potatoes, meat, and vegetables, and infuses it with a fresh, elegant twist that feels both rustic and refined.

The first time I prepared this dish, the intoxicating aroma of sizzling bacon and fresh thyme wafted through my kitchen, instantly transporting me back to cherished family dinners. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a sensory journey. What I truly adore about this recipe is its undeniable ease and efficiency. The smart use of pre-cooked baby potatoes and a medley of frozen vegetables drastically cuts down on preparation time, ensuring that even on the busiest evenings, a wholesome and incredibly flavorful dinner is within reach. And the best part? It all comes together in just one skillet, minimizing cleanup and maximizing enjoyment.

In less than half an hour, you can create a dish that boasts a profound depth of flavor – the crispy potatoes, tender chicken, savory bacon, and delicate vegetables are all brought together by a luscious, creamy Dijon sauce. This isn’t just a quick meal; it’s a culinary triumph that feels homely enough for a cozy night in, yet sophisticated enough to impress guests without any extra fuss. It’s the perfect embodiment of comfort food made accessible and extraordinary, embodying the spirit of “Bonne Femme” cooking – simple, wholesome, and utterly delicious.

Essential Ingredients for Your Skillet Masterpiece

Crafting this delightful chicken and potato skillet relies on a few key ingredients, each playing a vital role in building the layers of flavor and texture. The exact quantities are detailed in the recipe card further down, but here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why:

• Chicken Breast: Our lean protein of choice, chicken breast cooks quickly and absorbs flavors beautifully. For an even juicier and more robust flavor profile, consider substituting with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They stand up well to pan-frying and tend to stay more moist.
• Baby Potatoes: The star of the dish for their delightful crispiness. We recommend pre-cooked, skin-on baby yellow potatoes for convenience and optimal texture. Their waxy nature helps them crisp up without turning mushy. If pre-cooked aren’t available, select waxy varieties (like Yukon Gold or new potatoes), peel them if desired, and parboil until just fork-tender before adding them to the skillet. This ensures they cook evenly and develop that irresistible golden crust.
• Bacon Bits: These tiny morsels are flavor powerhouses, adding a crucial layer of smoky depth and a satisfying salty crunch. They also render fat into the pan, providing a flavorful base for cooking the other ingredients. For an alternative, try dicing pancetta or smoked ham cubes for a similar savory impact.
• Carrots, Green Beans, Peas (Frozen): The beauty of using frozen vegetables lies in their convenience and consistent quality. They retain their vibrant color, nutritional value, and a pleasant bite, saving you precious prep time. If you prefer fresh, simply blanch them briefly in boiling water before adding to the skillet to ensure they cook through evenly and maintain their crispness. A colorful mix makes the dish visually appealing and nutrient-rich.
• Shallots: These elegant members of the onion family offer a milder, subtly sweet flavor compared to regular onions, and they caramelize quickly, adding a gentle aromatic foundation. If shallots aren’t on hand, a small red onion, finely diced, can serve as a suitable replacement, though its flavor will be slightly more pungent.
• Garlic Clove: A fundamental aromatic that brings indispensable depth and warmth to the dish. Always opt for fresh garlic and mince or squeeze it just before use for the most potent flavor. In a pinch, a quarter teaspoon of garlic powder can be used, but fresh is truly best here.
• Thyme Sprigs: Fresh thyme is the classic herb for this French-inspired skillet, lending an earthy, slightly floral note that complements the chicken and potatoes perfectly. If you’re looking for variations, fresh rosemary or oregano can offer equally delightful aromatic twists. Remember to use only the leaves, discarding the woody stems.
• Butter and Olive Oil: This dynamic duo forms the initial cooking fat. The butter provides a rich, nutty flavor, while the olive oil has a higher smoke point, helping to prevent the butter from burning and ensuring a beautiful golden-brown sear on your potatoes and chicken.
• Sea Salt: Essential for seasoning and enhancing all the flavors in the skillet. If you have it, smoked sea salt can add an extra layer of complexity and depth that beautifully complements the bacon.
• Nutmeg: Just a small pinch of ground nutmeg works wonders, adding a subtle warmth and a touch of sophistication that elevates the potatoes and the creamy sauce, a classic pairing in French cuisine.
• Heavy Cream: This is what gives our skillet its luxurious, silky, and rich sauce. It creates a comforting base that binds all the ingredients together. Excellent alternatives include crème fraîche for a tangier note, or sour cream (stirred in gently at the end to prevent curdling) for a similar creamy texture.
• Dijon Mustard: The secret ingredient that brings a bright, tangy zest and a subtle peppery kick to the creamy sauce. It cuts through the richness and adds a distinctive gourmet flavor. Whole grain mustard is another fantastic option, offering a slightly coarser texture and a milder, sweeter mustard flavor.
• Fresh Parsley: Our chosen garnish for a final touch of freshness, brightness, and color. Chopped fresh parsley adds a vibrant counterpoint to the rich, savory elements of the dish and a lovely pop of green.

Mastering the One-Pan Skillet: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating this flavorful chicken and potato skillet is surprisingly straightforward, relying on simple techniques that yield impressive results. The detailed, step-by-step instructions are provided in the comprehensive recipe card below, but here’s a visual overview of the key stages in preparing this satisfying one-pan meal. The beauty of this recipe lies in its sequential addition of ingredients, allowing each component to cook perfectly and build layers of incredible flavor within a single pan.

Begin by frying the seasoned baby potatoes in a blend of butter and olive oil until they achieve a gorgeous golden-brown crispness. This crucial first step creates the foundation of texture and flavor.

Next, introduce the bacon, cubed chicken, finely diced shallots, minced garlic, and fresh thyme. Cook these together until the bacon is perfectly crisp and the chicken is beautifully browned on all sides, infusing the pan with irresistible aromatics.

Once your chicken is cooked through, stir in the vibrant medley of frozen vegetables. Allow them to gently cook in the flavorful pan drippings until they are tender-crisp, adding a delightful freshness and essential nutrients to the dish.

Finally, introduce the velvety heavy cream and tangy Dijon mustard mixture. Stir it gently to combine all the delicious elements, letting the sauce simmer and thicken for just a minute. Finish with a generous sprinkle of fresh parsley for a burst of color and herbaceous aroma, then serve immediately.

We absolutely love seeing your culinary creations! If you’ve whipped up this delightful chicken and potato skillet, please don’t hesitate to tag #byandreajanssen on Instagram! Your beautiful photos inspire us and other home cooks, and we regularly feature the most stunning ones. And if this recipe brought joy to your table, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave a rating on the recipe card below! Your valuable feedback is an immense help to our community and allows us to continue sharing recipes you’ll love.

Hungry for more inspiration?

• Discover a treasure trove of video recipes on my dedicated YouTube channel, where you can watch each step come to life.
• And to ensure you can easily revisit your favorite dishes, remember to save all the recipes you love on Pinterest. Happy cooking!

Chicken Potato Skillet With Bacon And Veggies

Andréa

More Effortless One-Pot Wonders to Explore

If you loved the simplicity and flavor of this one-pan chicken and potato skillet, you’ll be thrilled to discover more of our favorite one-pot and one-pan recipes. These dishes are designed to minimize cleanup without compromising on taste, making them perfect for any day of the week!