France By Food Enthusiasts · 6 min read

National Dish France: Tarragon Chicken (Recipe)

Tarragon chicken in a creamy sauce garnished with fresh tarragon leaves

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Treat yourself to Tarragon Chicken, a French classic that turns a handful of simple ingredients into something genuinely special. Tender chicken simmers gently in a silky cream sauce, perfumed with the unmistakable, faintly aniseed note of fresh tarragon. Elegant enough for a festive table yet easy enough for a relaxed Sunday lunch, it is the sort of dish that quietly impresses without any fuss. Bring a little of France’s refined home cooking to your own kitchen.

About Tarragon Chicken

The French dish Tarragon Chicken is a real delight, winning admirers with its deep, layered flavours and its luxuriously creamy sauce. The heart of the dish is fresh tarragon, an aromatic herb prized in French cooking and far beyond. It lends the chicken a distinctive, slightly aniseed character while also bringing a number of health benefits to the table. Refined yet comforting, Tarragon Chicken is a wonderful choice for festive occasions or as a special Sunday lunch that is sure to impress your guests.

Ingredients (serves 1–2)

2 chicken breast fillets
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
200 ml double cream
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 bunch fresh tarragon
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Shopping for the ingredients

To make the best Tarragon Chicken, the ingredients should be as fresh and good quality as possible. Tarragon plays a central role, so buy fresh herbs whenever you can. Visit your local market or a well-stocked supermarket to find good-quality chicken breast fillets and fresh herbs. Where possible, reach for organic ingredients to bring out the very best flavour in the finished dish.

Preparing the dish

Before you start cooking the Tarragon Chicken, it helps to have everything ready and to hand. Take the chicken out of the fridge in good time so it can come up to room temperature, which makes for more even cooking. Finely chop the onion and garlic, and roughly chop the tarragon to release its fragrant oils. These small steps lay the groundwork for a harmonious, aromatic sauce that ties the whole dish together.

Step-by-step instructions

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and brown the chicken breast fillets on both sides until golden.
Lift the chicken out of the pan and set it aside.
Sauté the chopped onion and garlic in the remaining oil until soft and translucent.
Stir in the Dijon mustard and the cream, mixing everything together well.
Return the chicken to the pan and let it simmer in the sauce until cooked through.
Add the chopped tarragon and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Gluten-free / lactose-free version

Tarragon Chicken is easily adapted to be gluten-free or lactose-free. For the gluten-free version, simply check that your mustard is certified gluten-free, and look for a lactose-free alternative to the cream. Coconut milk or a plant-based cream are both excellent options that keep the sauce just as smooth and rich. These small swaps mean anyone with a food intolerance can still enjoy this delicious dish.

Tips for vegans and vegetarians

For a vegan take on Tarragon Chicken, swap the meat for tofu or seitan, marinated and cooked in the same fragrant sauce. These plant-based proteins soak up the flavours beautifully and deliver a similarly satisfying result. Be sure to replace the cream with a plant-based cream or coconut milk to keep that signature creaminess. The dish stays every bit as aromatic and rewarding — it just happens to be entirely plant-based.

More tips and tricks

To deepen the flavour of Tarragon Chicken even further, let the sauce simmer for a few extra minutes. This concentrates the aromas and gives you a thicker, more luxurious consistency. The dish also keeps well, so you can make it ahead — the flavours actually develop and intensify as it rests. Serve it with a fresh baguette or some rice to mop up every last drop of that wonderful sauce.

Adapting the recipe to your taste

Every recipe can be tweaked to suit personal preference. Add extra vegetables such as courgettes or carrots, for example, to make the dish more substantial. Different herbs like thyme or rosemary can also ring the changes. Just keep the flavours in balance so nothing overpowers the dish, and the rich, satisfying character of your Tarragon Chicken stays intact.

Ingredient substitutions

If you do not have every ingredient for Tarragon Chicken to hand, there are plenty of alternatives. In place of chicken you could use turkey, which has a similar flavour, much as the Poulet Basquaise welcomes the same easy swaps. For a vegan version, soya or oat cream make a fine stand-in for dairy cream. Experiment with different styles of mustard, too, to give the dish your own personal twist.

Drink pairing ideas

For a harmonious dinner alongside Tarragon Chicken, reach for an elegant white wine such as a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. These wines complement the creamy sauce and the fresh, herbaceous notes of the tarragon beautifully. Alternatively, a glass of cold sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon makes a refreshing contrast, much as it does with a comforting Fricassée de Poulet à l’Ancienne. Either way, your festive menu is rounded off perfectly.

Serving and presentation ideas

Thoughtful presentation can lift the whole Tarragon Chicken experience. Serve the dish in an attractive white bowl to let the colours shine through. A few fresh tarragon leaves scattered over the top make a lovely finishing touch. A side of rice or some home-baked baguette, elegantly arranged on the plate, completes the picture and gives you something to soak up the sauce.

A bit of history

The roots of Tarragon Chicken reach back to the 18th century and are closely tied to the great tradition of French gourmet cooking. Tarragon, originally from Asia, found its way into French kitchens and quickly became a staple of many classic recipes. This dish reflects France’s long-standing love of fine, considered cooking — the same spirit you find across the whole of French cuisine. Tarragon Chicken shows just how simple ingredients can be brought together into something truly luxurious.

More recipe ideas

Summary: Tarragon Chicken

Tarragon Chicken is a delicious French chicken dish made with fresh herbs and a velvety cream sauce. It marries refinement with genuinely simple preparation, which makes it ideal for special occasions or a relaxed weekend meal. With a few creative tweaks and a varied choice of ingredients, you can shape the recipe to your own taste and bring fresh variety to your kitchen. Enjoy a little slice of French culinary culture with this wonderful recipe.