Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Basil
Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Basil is a dish with a European flair, blending the richness of a French-inspired wine sauce with the earthy flavors of wild mushrooms and the brightness of fresh basil. Serve with twice-baked mashed potatoes and a wedge salad with the best blue cheese dressing on the side!
“Oh my!! Delicious and not that difficult to make. My family loved it!”
The inspiration behind this recipe:
Before we left on a recent amazing European trip, we had a crazy time trying to come up with ways to use up our late summer produce. That’s when Chicken Noir with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Basil was born.
When deciding what to cook this time of year, I often feel torn between the seasons. The calendar shows that summer is over, but the weather will continue to be nice for at least another month or two. I mean…it’s 84 degrees today here!
Although it’s still warm outside, it’s hard to resist hearty, cold-weather comfort food. Except, we’re still enjoying some fresh summer produce from our garden!
Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Basil is a dish with a European flair that’s perfect for transitioning from summer to fall. It has the summer produce we were trying to use up before our trip such as fresh tomatoes and basil.
This dish also incorporates cool-weather elements such as braising for the cooking technique, red wine and mushrooms.
Tips for making Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Basil:
- I used Pinot Noir because it’s a light to medium-bodied dry red wine and doesn’t overpower the delicate taste of white-meat chicken. If you prefer dark-meat chicken, pinot noir is still fine, or you could use a more full-bodied wine such as merlot.
- Dried herbs, such as the dried oregano and thyme used here, should be added early in the cooking process. Fresh herbs, such as basil, are best added at the very end.
- Cover the dish tightly to minimize the evaporation of the braising liquid before placing it in the oven. I like to place a piece of aluminum foil or parchment paper over the pot before placing the lid on the pot.
- Although cremini (baby portobello), oyster and shiitake mushrooms are often referred to as “wild,” they are cultivated.
- Whether you wash mushrooms or not is a personal preference. Mushrooms already have a lot of water in them, so it’s difficult for them to absorb more water.
- If you prefer to wash them as I do, only wash whole mushrooms (not sliced). Do it shortly before using them then blot dry with a paper towel.
What to serve with this dish:
- Cauliflower White Bean Puree
- Asparagus Cordon Bleu
- Celery Root Puree
- Roasted Green Beans with Tomato Caper Relish
For more easy and delicious chicken recipes, be sure to try:
- Easy Skillet Mediterranean Chicken
- Garlic Herb Butter Roast Chicken with Root Vegetables
- 40 Clove Garlic Chicken
- Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Butternut Squash Chickpeas and Olives
Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Basil
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Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil - divided
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 split chicken breasts - (bone in, skin on)
- 1/2 medium onion - chopped
- 8 cloves garlic - halved
- 3 small plum tomatoes - seeded and chopped (or 1 cup drained, canned diced tomatoes)
- 1 cup dry red wine - preferably pinot noir
- 1 can (14.5-ounce) chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - softened, divided
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 8 ounces mixed wild mushrooms - cremini, oyster and shiitake, sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season chicken breasts with salt and black pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven.
- Place chicken breasts skin side down in the hot oil and brown 4-5 minutes or until golden. Turn and brown the other side approximately 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in the Dutch oven and add the onion.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook onion 3-4 minutes or until softened.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds or until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes and cook 1 minute.
- Add the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Add the chicken broth, oregano and thyme and return to a boil.
- Place chicken skin side down in the pot, cover tightly and place in the oven. Cook 1 hour, turning once or until chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender. Transfer Dutch oven to the stovetop.
- Combine 1 tablespoon butter with flour. Add to pot with chicken and bring to a simmer to thicken.
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat in a skillet or saute pan.
- Add the mushrooms and cook 4-5 minutes or until browned. Transfer to pot with chicken, stir in chopped fresh basil, adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper and serve.
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Recipe Notes
- Can also use bone-in chicken thighs.
- Pinot Noir is a light to medium-bodied dry red wine that doesn’t overpower white-meat chicken’s delicate taste. If you prefer dark meat chicken, Pinot Noir is still fine, or you could use a more full-bodied wine such as Merlot.
- Dried herbs, such as the dried oregano and thyme used here, should be added early in the cooking process. Fresh herbs, such as basil, are best added at the very end.
- Cover the pot tightly with aluminum foil or parchment paper before placing the lid on to minimize the evaporation of the braising liquid before placing it in the oven.
- Can be prepared up to 2 days in advance.
- Heat covered in the oven at 350 degrees until heated through (30-35 minutes).
- Cool thoroughly, place in an airtight container and freeze up to 2 months.
- Thaw in the refrigerator and heat covered at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
I doubled this recipe, so we’re using it in several meals. I’m serving it over Parmesan Peppercorn Grits, and we’re loving it!
Thanks, Carol, for another delicious dish. I’ll be saving to use in my work as a Personal Chef.
Dixie
Hi, Dixie, Thanks so much and so great to hear from a fellow personal chef! So happy you enjoyed! The Parmesan Peppercorn Grits with this sounds absolutely perfect! Thanks again and appreciate your taking the time to come back and comment and rate.
I made this last night and it is SO good! Very flavorful. I rehydrated wild mushrooms from France and used those. I will definitely be making this again!
Hi, Jack, Thanks so very much and love that you used wild mushrooms from France. Really appreciate your taking the time to come back and comment and rate. Thanks again!
This is chicken cacciatore meeting coq au Vin. I made it lean more heavily in the cacciatore direction by using a whole cut up chicken hand adding a 14-ounce can of Mutti tomatoes. Also added a dash of paprika and cumin along with Italian herb mix. Cooked in a hotter oven 400 degrees and served on pasta.
Hi, Peggy, Thanks so very much and so happy you enjoyed! Love your description of cacciatore meeting coq au vin. Thanks again and appreciate your taking the time to come back and comment.
This recipe looks delicious and I’m looking forward to trying it as written but am on a mission for a gluten free/dairy free recipe. Do you think omitting the butter and flour will change the flavor profile too much or worth giving it a shot?
Hi, Kara, Thanks so much for your question. All you would need to do is sub out the dairy butter for something plant-based like Earth Balance, which I use frequently and really like. As far as thickening, just use whatever thickener you’re comfortable using–cornstarch, arrowroot or xanthan gum will work fine. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
Oh my!! Delicious and not that difficult to make. My family loved it 🥰. I used baby Bella mushrooms and served the chicken with mashed potatoes. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you 😊
Hi, Cassandra, Thanks so very much and happy you enjoyed! Baby portobellos are a great choice. Thanks again and appreciate your taking the time to come back and comment.
Used a jar of roasted red peppers instead of tomato due to my husband’s allergy but this came out amazing! We both loved it. The chicken was so tender and the broth was perfect. It will be a go to… thanks for sharing!
Hi, Renee, Thanks so very much and so happy you both enjoyed! Love that you used roasted red peppers instead of the tomatoes–what a great idea! Thanks again and appreciate your taking the time to come back and comment.
So tender. So flavorful! Can’t wait to make again!
Hi, Barry, Thanks so much and happy you enjoyed!! Appreciate your taking the time to come back and comment.