Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Vegetables

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400°F with oven rack in bottom third of oven. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large cast-iron skillet on stove-top over medium-high. Pat chicken dry with a paper towel; sprinkle evenly with 1 1⁄2 teaspoons of the salt and 1⁄2 teaspoon of the pepper.

Step 2

Place chicken, skin side down, in hot oil. Add lemon halves, cut sides down, to skillet. Cook until chicken skin is golden and crisp and lemons are charred, about 10 minutes. Transfer lemons to a rimmed baking sheet. Flip chicken, and continue cooking until golden on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer chicken to baking sheet with lemons. Pour drippings from skillet into a small bowl, and reserve. Add water to skillet, and stir to loosen browned bits on bottom with a wooden spoon. Discard liquid; wipe skillet clean.

Step 3

Heat remaining 3 tablespoons of the oil in skillet over medium-high. Add sweet potatoes, and cook 2 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts and shallots to skillet. Sprinkle vegetables with remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Cook until charred, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.

Step 4

Add grated garlic, whole-grain mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and juice of 2 of the charred lemon halves (about 1 tablespoon) to reserved drippings in bowl, and whisk to combine. Return charred lemon halves (including squeezed lemon halves) to skillet with vegetables. Place chicken, skin side up, on top. Pour the drippings mixture evenly over chicken.

Step 5

Place skillet in preheated oven, and bake until vegetables are tender and a thermometer inserted in thickest portion of chicken registers 160°F, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand 10 minutes (chicken temperature should rise to 165°F). Sprinkle with chopped rosemary and remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.