Poulet à la Marengo (Napoleon's Chicken Marengo)

Poulet à la Marengo (Napoleon's Chicken Marengo) is a intermediate French recipe that serves 4. 480 calories per serving.

Prep: 20 min | Cook: 50 min | Total: 1 hr 20 min

Cost: $14.85 total, $3.71 per serving

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs Chicken legs and thighs (Bone-in, skin-on preferred; about 6-8 pieces)
  • 100 ml Olive oil (About 7 Tbsp; use a good quality for best flavor)
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 0.25 tsp Black pepper (Freshly ground preferred)
  • 2 whole Shallots (Peeled but left whole)
  • 1 clove Garlic (Peeled, left whole)
  • 1 whole Bay leaf
  • 1 sprig Fresh thyme
  • 1 bunch Fresh parsley (Small bunch, tied if possible)
  • 40 grams All-purpose flour (About 1/3 cup)
  • 500 ml Beef broth (About 2 cups; low sodium preferred)
  • 150 grams Mushrooms (optional) (Button or cremini; for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep the chicken and aromatics

    Pat chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Peel the shallots and garlic, leaving them whole. Tie parsley into a small bundle if desired.

    Time: PT5M

  2. Brown the chicken

    Add all the olive oil to a large sauté pan and heat over medium-high heat. Place chicken pieces in the pan, skin side down, ensuring they do not overlap.

    Time: PT2M

    Temperature: Medium-high heat

  3. Add aromatics and seasoning

    Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chicken. Add whole shallots, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, and parsley to the pan, nestling them among the chicken pieces.

    Time: PT2M

  4. Fry chicken covered (first side)

    Cover the pan with a lid. Fry chicken for 10 minutes without disturbing.

    Time: PT10M

    Temperature: Medium-high heat

  5. Turn chicken and fry (second side)

    Remove lid, turn chicken pieces over, replace lid, and fry for another 10 minutes.

    Time: PT10M

    Temperature: Medium-high heat

  6. Final fry uncovered

    Remove lid, turn chicken once more, and fry uncovered for 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through and golden.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: Medium-high heat

  7. Remove chicken and aromatics

    Transfer chicken to a platter and cover to keep warm. Remove shallots and large herb pieces; set aside for sauce.

    Time: PT2M

  8. Make the roux

    With oil still hot, add flour to the pan. Stir constantly to form a roux, cooking for 2 minutes.

    Time: PT2M

    Temperature: Medium heat

  9. Add aromatics back and cook roux

    Return shallots and herbs to the pan. Continue stirring and cook for another 2 minutes until roux is golden brown.

    Time: PT2M

    Temperature: Medium heat

  10. Deglaze and simmer sauce

    Pour in beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.

    Time: PT2M

    Temperature: Medium-high heat

  11. Simmer and thicken sauce

    Reduce heat to low and simmer sauce, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes until thickened.

    Time: PT10M

    Temperature: Low heat

  12. Strain the sauce

    Pour sauce through a fine mesh strainer or chinois into a bowl, discarding solids.

    Time: PT2M

  13. Optional: Sauté mushrooms

    If using, slice mushrooms and sauté in a small skillet with a little olive oil over medium-high heat until golden, about 5 minutes.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: Medium-high heat

  14. Assemble and serve

    Arrange chicken on a serving platter. Pour sauce over the chicken. Garnish with sautéed mushrooms if desired. Serve immediately.

    Time: PT1M

  15. Cleanup

    Wash all used pans, utensils, strainer, and serving dishes. Wipe down stovetop and counters.

    Time: PT10M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
480
Protein
32g
Carbohydrates
12g
Fat
32g
Fiber
2g

Dietary info: Nut-free, Dairy-free, low-carb, high-protein

Allergens: Wheat (flour), Possible cross-contamination with mushrooms

Last updated: April 6, 2026

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Poulet à la Marengo (Napoleon's Chicken Marengo)

A classic French dish of chicken braised in olive oil with shallots, garlic, herbs, and a rich, velvety sauce, inspired by the 19th-century recipe favored by Napoleon Bonaparte. Optionally garnished with sautéed mushrooms.

IntermediateFrenchServes 4

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
21m
Prep
49m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
1h 20m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$14.85
Total cost
$3.71
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Brown the chicken well without overcrowding the pan.
  • Do not burn the roux; stir constantly.
  • If sauce splits, add water and whisk over low heat to re-emulsify.
  • Simmer sauce until thickened, stirring frequently.

Safety Warnings

  • Hot oil can splatter; use caution when turning chicken.
  • Ensure chicken is cooked to at least 74°C (165°F) internal temperature.
  • Handle hot pans and sauce with care.
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