This dish is the definition of homey and comforting. It’s inspired by the classic French comfort food dish chicken fricassee, which lands somewhere between a sauté and a stew. It’s typically a one pot dish in which chicken is simmered in a rich sauce with potatoes or noodles. This modern version uses barley instead, which amps up the fiber and texture. Peas and carrots offer lots of color and add sweetness to the meal. Make sure you take your time browning the chicken; the skin needs time to brown and get crispy in the skillet before you add broth.
How to Make It
Preheat oven to 425°F. Season chicken with pepper and ¾ teaspoon of the salt.
Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet. Working in 2 batches, add chicken thighs, skin side down. Cook, flipping once, until chicken is deeply browned and crisp, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining chicken thighs.
Add broth, barley, 1 tablespoon of the thyme, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt to skillet, stirring to submerge all barley. Bring to a boil. Return chicken to skillet, skin side up. Transfer to oven and bake until chicken is cooked through and barley is tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Transfer chicken to a plate and stir peas into barley. Return skillet to oven and cook until peas are bright green and tender, about 3 minutes.
Serve chicken over barley, topped with remaining 1 tablespoon thyme.