Weʼre giving seared chicken a lift with a rich pan sauce, made with sweet maple syrup and tangy sherry vinegar. Itʼs the perfect accompaniment for creamy mashed potatoes and roasted carrots, dressed with a bit more maple syrup.
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven, then preheat to 450°F. Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel the carrots; quarter lengthwise, then halve crosswise. Large dice the potatoes.
Place the sliced carrots on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Arrange in an even layer. Roast 15 to 17 minutes, or until lightly browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Carefully transfer to a large bowl. Add half the maple syrup; stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Loosely cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
While the carrots roast, add the diced potatoes to the pot of boiling water; cook 14 to 16 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot. Add the crème fraîche and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Using a fork, mash to your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover to keep warm.
While the potatoes cook, pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. In a medium pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken and cook 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a cutting board.
Add the vinegar and remaining maple syrup to the pan of reserved fond (be careful, as the liquid may splatter). Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly and scraping up any fond, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Turn off the heat. Stir in the butter until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Slice the cooked chicken crosswise. Serve the sliced chicken with the mashed potatoes and glazed carrots. Top the chicken with the pan sauce. Enjoy!