Chicken with Creamy Fennel Broth | Tried and True Recipes (2024)

4.74 from 30 votes

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

• 4 chicken thighs skin-on, bone-in
• 2 teaspoons neutral cooking oil for frying
• 8 ounces orzo
• 2 cups reserved pasta cooking water
• 1 fennel bulb with stalks and fronds
• 1 yellow onion peeled and diced
• ½ cup heavy cream
• Salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste

Fennel Gremolata:

• ½ cup fennel fronds
• 1 lemon juiced
• 3 ounces pine nuts
• 1 teaspoon fennel pollen optional
• Salt and pepper to taste

Fry the Chicken:

• Preheat oven to 425ºF. Heat the neutral cooking oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, pat the chicken dry and season all over with salt and pepper. Place into the skillet and cook in batches, skin-side down, until the skin is crispy and golden (about 5 minutes).

• As the chicken finishes cooking, transfer it to a sheet pan, skin-side up. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of chicken fat and set the skillet aside.

• Place a small piece of aluminum foil in the corner of the sheet pan and add the pine nuts in an even layer.

• Transfer the sheet pan to the oven. After 5-7 minutes, remove the pine nuts and set aside.

• Continue baking the chicken for another 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reaches 165ºF. Turn off the oven and leave the chicken in the warm oven until you are ready to plate the dish.

Cook the Orzo:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until just al dente. Scoop out 2 cups of pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain and rinse the orzo.

Prepare the Fennel:

• Remove 1/2 cup of fennel fronds from the stalks. Pick off the remaining fronds and reserve for another use. Thinly slice the fennel stalks into rounds. Remove the core from the bulb and slice the bulb into strips. Set aside.

Prepare the Creamy Fennel Broth:

• Heat the skillet used to fry the chicken over medium heat. Once hot, add the fennel and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until softened and golden brown.

• Add the reserved pasta cooking water and bring to a boil. Season liberally with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook for 5 more minutes until reduced slightly. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and reduce heat to low. Cook for an additional 5-6 minutes until thickened. Turn off the heat.

Prepare the Fennel Gremolata:

• Roughly chop the fennel fronds and toss them in a bowl with the toasted pine nuts. Add the lemon juice, salt, pepper, and fennel pollen (if using) and toss to combine. Set aside.

To Serve:

• Divide the orzo between shallow bowls and ladle the broth on top. Place a chicken thigh on top and garnish with the fennel gremolata. Enjoy!