Autumn Roasted Chicken and Butternut Squash Skillet

Name: Autumn Roasted Chicken and Butternut Squash Skillet
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4-6 chicken thighs (you can use boneless/skinless or with bone & skin); 1 Tablespoon butter (or sub for more avocado oil); 1 teaspoon avocado oil; 1 1/2 cups butternut squash, (peeled and cubed); 1 1/2 cups brussels sprouts (stems removed and halved); 1/2 cup fresh cranberries; salt & pepper to taste; 1/2 cup chicken broth; 2 Tablespoons dijon mustard; 3 garlic cloves; 1 Tablespoon maple syrup; 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried rosemary)

Updated: Nov 22nd, 2021

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This autumn chicken and butternut squash skillet will become your new favorite fall dinner! Tender roasted chicken with a simple dijon and rosemary sauce served alongside sweet roasted butternut squash, tart cranberries, and brussels sprouts. Simple delicious!

Looking for an easy fall dinner to make? Try this one pan-roasted chicken with roasted butternut squash. It’s easy, full of flavor, and a recipe that everyone will love! The chicken is flavored with a simple dijon mustard and rosemary sauce and the veggies are roasted with fresh cranberries for the perfect touch of tart flavor.

Serve this as a healthy weeknight meal for the family, or at your next holiday gathering! All the flavors are elegant and elevated, while the preparation is so simple. It’s a win-win situation all around!

Ingredients – What You Need

You’ll need a handful of ingredients to make this recipe happen, see below for the full list! You’ll also find helpful ingredient substitutions if you need them.

Chicken thighs: I used boneless & skinless thighs but you can also use bone-in with skin chicken thighs.
Oil: to brown the chicken in and for the roasted vegetables.
Butternut squash: for a colorful veggie. If you aren’t a fan of squash you can replace it with sweet potatoes or baby potatoes!
Brussels sprouts: for some green! If you don’t love brussels sprouts you could swap for string beans.
Cranberries: use fresh cranberries, not dried.
Rosemary: I love using fresh herbs for vibrant flavor but dried rosemary can be used too.
Dijon mustard: a must for flavorful chicken!
Garlic: use fresh garlic cloves to flavor the chicken and the sauce.
Chicken broth: the base for the sauce.
Honey: to sweeten the chicken sauce, you can also swap with maple syrup.

Step by Step Recipe Instructions

First, preheat the oven to 425F.

(1) Then mix the sauce ingredients together in a small jar.

(2) Toss the veggies in oil with a pinch of salt.

A small jar with rosemary sauce in it with a spoon. The jar is sitting on a dark gray background. — 1. Mix the sauce ingredients

A light blue bowl with diced butternut squash and halved brussels sprouts in it on a gray background. — 1. Mix the sauce ingredients

(3) Next up, brown the chicken for several minutes on each side with butter.

(4) After the chicken is browned, add the veggies and cranberries in with the chicken. Pour the sauce over the top of the chicken thighs and season with a pinch of salt and black pepper over the thighs. Bake for 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender then serve!

chicken thighs being browned in a black pan. — 3. Brown the chicken thighs

Chicken and butternut squash with veggies in a black pan before roasting. — 3. Brown the chicken thighs

Tips for Success

Switch up the veggies – the veggies in this dish can easily be customized to whatever you have on hand. Other vegetables that would work are baby potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, or green beans!

Best baking vessels for chicken – for this recipe you want to use a pan that is stovetop and oven safe because you will cook at both levels. I recommend using a cast iron or stainless steel pan always for baking chicken! It radiates a lot more heat than glass baking dishes and always bakes the chicken to perfection.

Best oil for cooking – Whenever I’m cooking vegetables or chicken in the oven at high heat, I use an oil like avocado instead of olive oil. Why? Because avocado oil can handle a high temperature without breaking down and releasing harmful chemicals. It also will deliver the best taste since it doesn’t burn at high temperatures. Use this oil for the best results!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs? This recipe works best with chicken thighs (bone-in or without bone/skin). I don’t recommend using chicken breasts or cutlets because they will dry out quicker – unless you use one with bone-in. Chicken thighs are super moist and can withstand a longer baking time without drying out, unlike the chicken breast cut!

Can I use dried cranberries instead of fresh ones? I do recommend using fresh cranberries if possible for this recipe. They will give the perfect touch of tart, sweet flavor with the chicken and veggies! If you want to use dried, you will not bake them but add them at the very end when serving.

What to Serve on the Side

This dish goes perfectly with rice or a nice hearty grain on the side! You can also serve it with a salad like our warm brussels sprout and farro salad or this apple pomegranate harvest salad. If you love bread on the side you can try our cinnamon raising bread or this cranberry walnut bread!

More Chicken Recipes to Try

15-Minute Lemon Chicken Piccata
Crispy Garlic & Herb Chicken Thighs
Roasted Lemon & Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes

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