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This cast iron chicken is full of fresh rosemary and bright lemon flavors. Made with potatoes and mushrooms, it’s perfect for dinner.
This cast iron chicken comes together easily in a cast iron skillet.
Cast iron pans are so durable, versatile, and affordable, that every kitchen should have at least one!
Juicy chicken thighs with crispy crackling skin, citrusy lemon, and herbaceous rosemary, with potatoes and meaty mushrooms, this cast iron chicken hits all the right spots.
Whether it’s the middle of the week or a weekend date night, you’re going to love serving this cast iron chicken to friends and family.
Ingredients for cast iron chicken
- Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs – The bone and the skin both help the chicken thighs to stay juicy.
- Rosemary – Rosemary is herbaceous and piney, and is a perfect pairing with chicken.
- Garlic – A classic ingredient that brings an earthiness to the dish.
- Red pepper flake – The small amount of red pepper flake will add a slight warmth to the dish. Feel free to omit if you dislike any spiciness.
- Lemons – Bright and fresh, lemons elevate the flavors of the cast iron chicken.
- Baby bella mushrooms – These little mushrooms pack a big meaty flavor, and soak up all of the garlic and lemon.
- Yellow potatoes – Yellow potatoes are creamy and soft.
Make it your way
Not a fan of rosemary? No worries!
Feel free to use other herbs, like thyme, or sage.
If you don’t have any lemons on hand, not a problem!
You could easily substitute limes for lemons.
Out of yellow potatoes? That’s easy.
You can use red potatoes instead!
Adjust the heat
I’ve used only 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flake here, but if you prefer things spicier, you could easily increase the amount to 1/2 teaspoon.
Alternatively, if you’re not a fan of anything spicy, you can omit the red pepper flakes altogether.
Storage and leftovers
This cast iron chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating is as simple as putting it on a microwave-safe dish, covered loosely with a wet paper towel, and heating for 3-4 minutes or until heated thoroughly.
Keep in mind though, that the skin will no longer be crispy after it has been in the refrigerator and heated in the microwave.
More chicken thigh recipes
- Want to go back to basics? Try my Crispy Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs
- Love using your
air fryer ? Try my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs - Craving something sweet and savory? Try my Maple Ginger Chicken Thighs
- Need something spicy? Try my Chili Mango Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs
Cast Iron Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 cups cubed yellow potatoes
- 2 tablespoons rosemary leaves, plus 2 whole rosemary sprigs
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Juice of 2 lemons, save those squeezed halves!
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
- 10 ounces baby bella mushrooms
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Fill a large pot with cold water and cut potatoes.
- Cook on high until potatoes are fork-tender but not falling apart.
- When ready drain the potatoes and set them aside.
- On a cutting board finely mince rosemary leaves, garlic cloves, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. Mince together until paste forms.
- Add herb paste to a medium-sized bowl and mix with the juice of 1 lemon and olive oil.
- Add chicken and coat thoroughly.
- Heat a large 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken thighs, skin-side down, and cook until the skin is brown and crispy.
- Remove from the pan, add the mushrooms and potatoes, and drizzle with any remaining chicken marinade and juice from the remaining lemon.
- Top with chicken, skin side up.
- Add rosemary sprigs and squeezed lemon halves to skillet and roast, uncovered, until skin is crisp and chicken is cooked all the way through, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I had some problems with this dish. I put chicken in skin down like you said. I took them out when the skin was crisp and brown. I then put potatoes, mushrooms, etc back in skillet, but there was no way to continue cooking the chicken by putting it on top of the potatoes. The potatoes were hard to turn and keep from burning, and the skin on the chicken wasn’t as crisp because of steam from cooking potatoes. The flavors were good, and it looked delicious…..just needs some tweaking!
OMG this was so good! I’m a relative cast iron newbie and found your recipe via Pinterest. Thank you thank you. Crispy chicken, tender potatoes, just the right amount of pucker. Seriously, I could double, no triple the mushrooms! Delish!!!
Could I use a Dutch oven in place of a cast iron skillet or would that totally ruin the recipe?
Not at all! The chicken might not get as crispy around the edges but I think it would still work if you cooked them uncovered 🙂
Great! Thanks. I will put this on my list for next week 🙂
I plan on making this dish over the weekend. However the directions are a little confusing but it never actually specifies that you put the removed chicken back in the skillet. It’s almost as if a small paragraph is missing. I can only assume when you put the chicken back in you put it in cooked side up.
Regardless this sounds heavenly and I can’t wait to make it!
Hi Nicole! I went into the system and worded the directions so they are a bit more clear. I hope you love the dish!
If cut up the potatoes small enough wouldn’t they just roast that last 25 minutes instead of pre-boiling first?
Hi Kerry! You could definitely try it that way but I think the pre-boiling just insures they will all be soft and fully cooked. If you try it your way let me know 🙂
I made this tonight in the cast iron skillet I got for Christmas. Everyone loved it!!! I just wanted to say thank you because I’ve never been able to get the skin as crispy as I want, but it was crispy AND flavorful! Thanks again!
My family and I LOVED this. There are so many layers of different flavors from the crispiness of the chicken skin, to the meaty mushrooms, the rosemary infused potatoes. Everything had a wonderful citrus, rosemary, and garlic flavor! I cook ALOT, I try new recipes each week and this is by far one of my favorites in the last 6 months! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
Hi Melissa! Thank you so much for letting me know your family enjoyed the dish. I’m so happy 🙂 This is definitely a favorite in our house as well!
This is one of my favorite recipes. I found it years ago and have made it many many times. I plan to make it for brunch but I wanted to omit the potatoes and mushrooms and just do the chicken (we have other side dishes). Do you think it will be okay to bake the chicken directly on the cast iron pan or should i just cook a few potatoes for the sake of propping the chicken up? Any advice is welcomed!!
Hi Melissa! I’m so sorry it took me so long to reply! Yes, you can totally just cook it right in the pan. The bottom will get a little browned as well but that is ok.
I made this on Sunday. I used one lemon, just for my taste preference. And even though my rosemary dicing skills are sorely lacking, the dish turned out AMAZING!!! My skeptical hubby and fast-food-junkie teen both loved it! This is definitely a keeper.