Savory Chicken Tarragon
A savory chicken and vegetable pasta dish featuring fresh tarragon and parsley, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner with bright herbal flavors.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup margarine or butter ⓘ
- 1/2 cup sliced onion ⓘ
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced ⓘ
- 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken ⓘ
- 1 1/2 cups sliced carrots ⓘ
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley ⓘ
- 3/4 teaspoon dried tarragon leaves ⓘ
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper ⓘ
- 2 1/2 cups water ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons water (for slurry) ⓘ
- 1 3/4 cups chicken broth ⓘ
- 1 3/4 teaspoons lemon juice ⓘ
- 3 cups uncooked pasta (rotini, twirls, or curly-roni) ⓘ
Instructions
- Melt margarine in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat.
- Add sliced onion and minced garlic; sauté for 1 minute.
- Add diced cooked chicken, sliced carrots, chopped parsley, dried tarragon, and black pepper.
- Cook until the chicken is lightly browned.
- Add 2 1/2 cups of water and chicken broth; bring to a boil.
- Stir in pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions.
- In a small bowl, mix flour with 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry.
- Gradually stir the flour mixture into the saucepan to thicken the sauce.
- Add lemon juice, adjust seasoning as needed, and serve hot.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider using chicken thighs instead of breast meat. If you don't have fresh parsley, dried parsley can be substituted, though you'll need less. To save time, you could use rotisserie chicken. For a gluten-free version, switch to gluten-free pasta and use cornstarch instead of flour for the slurry.
Serving Suggestions
This savory chicken tarragon dish pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad or garlic bread. For a heartier meal, serve it alongside roasted vegetables. You can also sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top for an extra layer of flavor. It complements other chicken recipes like Cheddar Chicken And Mushrooms beautifully.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a splash of water or chicken broth to prevent the pasta from drying out. Heat in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Savory Chicken Tarragon contains roughly 2226 calories, with 66g protein, 271g carbohydrates, and 108g fat. It is an excellent source of iron (222% of the Daily Value), calcium (140% of the Daily Value), and protein (133% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1715mg per serving (75% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen cooked chicken, but ensure it's fully thawed and heated through before adding it to the dish. This will help maintain the texture and flavor of the chicken in the final dish.
What can I substitute for tarragon?
If you don't have tarragon, you can use a combination of dill and parsley as a substitute. While the flavor won't be exactly the same, it will still provide a lovely herbaceous note to the dish.
How do I make this dish spicier?
To add some heat, consider incorporating a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce when you sauté the onions and garlic. This will give the dish a nice kick without overpowering the other flavors.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).