Garlic Herb Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Glazed Carrots

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped)
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup chicken broth (optional, for deglazing)
• 1 tablespoon butter (optional, for finishing)

For the Mashed Potatoes:

• 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup milk (or cream for richer texture)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Glazed Carrots:

• 1 lb carrots, peeled and sliced into sticks
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar or honey
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Optional: pinch of cinnamon or fresh parsley for garnish

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the Mashed Potatoes

1. Boil cubed potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, about 15–20 minutes.
2. Drain and return to the pot.
3. Mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Keep warm.

2. Cook the Chicken

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary.
3. Add chicken to skillet and cook 5–6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
4. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
5. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
6. Optional: Deglaze the pan with chicken broth and stir in butter to make a quick pan sauce. Pour over chicken before serving.

3. Make the Glazed Carrots

1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
2. Add carrots and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add brown sugar or honey, salt, and pepper. Cook another 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender and glazed.
4. Optional: Sprinkle with cinnamon or chopped parsley.

4. Serve

1. Plate chicken breasts alongside a scoop of mashed potatoes and glazed carrots.
2. Drizzle any pan sauce over the chicken.

---

💡 Tips:

• For extra flavor, marinate chicken for 30 minutes in olive oil, garlic, and herbs before cooking.
• To make garlic mashed potatoes, add 2 cloves of roasted or sautéed garlic to the potatoes while mashing.
• Glazed carrots can be cooked faster in the microwave if short on time: 5–6 minutes covered, then toss with butter and sugar.