1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This step is crucial to ensure that your chicken and potatoes cook evenly and get that beautiful golden color.

2. Prepare the Chicken and Potatoes

• Season the Chicken: In a large bowl, season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides. You want to be generous here to enhance the flavor.
• Prep the Potatoes: Halve the baby potatoes and add them to the same bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and toss until everything is well coated.

3. Sear the Chicken

• Heat the Pan: In an oven-safe skillet (cast iron works wonderfully here), heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.
• Sear the Chicken: Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned chicken thighs to the pan. Sear for about 5-7 minutes on each side until they are golden brown. You don’t need to cook them through at this point, as they will finish cooking in the oven.
• Remove and Set Aside: Once browned, remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.

4. Cook the Potatoes

• Add Potatoes to the Pan: In the same pan, add the halved potatoes. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to turn golden.
• Optional Garlic Addition: If you’re using garlic, add it to the pan and sauté for another minute until fragrant.

5. Make the Dijon Cream Sauce

• Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, heavy cream, and thyme. Pour this mixture over the potatoes in the skillet.
• Combine with Potatoes: Stir to ensure all the potatoes are coated in the sauce.

6. Return the Chicken to the Pan

• Nestle Chicken: Place the seared chicken thighs back into the skillet on top of the potatoes. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken to ensure it’s well coated.

7. Bake

• Transfer to Oven: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (165°F internal temperature) and the potatoes are tender.
• Broil for Extra Color: If you want a little extra color on top, you can switch to broil for the last 2-3 minutes. Just keep an eye on it to avoid burning!

8. Serve

• Garnish and Enjoy: Once done, remove the skillet from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.