Italian Braised Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives
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This Italian braised chicken is a flavorful, comforting dish that comes together quickly. The chicken thighs are seared to give them a crispy skin, then baked in a rich tomato and olive sauce. Serve it with your favorite pasta, some rice, or a crusty slice of Italian bread for a satisfying weeknight dinner that's ready in just an hour!
For more delicious Italian-inspired chicken recipes, try our Italian dressing chicken and Italian seasoning chicken.
This simple one-skillet Italian braised chicken is a hearty dish with lots of briny flavor. Just pan-sear the chicken until it's browned, make an easy tomato sauce, and bake the chicken in the sauce until it's tender and bubbly. It's a warming meal that's perfect for weeknights, but it's equally fancy enough for a special occasion and pairs well with a glass of red wine!
Ingredients notes
This delicious braised Italian chicken recipe is made with simple ingredients you're likely to have in your fridge and pantry.
- Bone-in chicken thighs: bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs is what we use for this recipe but you can use chicken breasts as well. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time because the breasts take less time to cook.
- Olives: you can really use any variety of olive you like, such as kalamata olives or green olives. We recommend using pitted olives for easier eating.
- Capers: capers are like tiny flavor bombs that add texture and tanginess.
- Balsamic vinegar: balsamic vinegar is a secret ingredient we often add to tomato sauce for added flavor, and a bit of sweetness.
Other ingredients you'll need are: sea salt, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, diced onion, garlic cloves, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, fresh rosemary and oregano, red pepper flakes, and honey.
How to make Italian braised chicken
This Italian braised chicken thighs recipe is one of those low-effort, high-reward meals you'll want to memorize. It's so delicious, and it's easy to make by following a few easy instructions!
- While your oven preheats, season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
- In a skillet, sear the chicken until it's crispy, cooking skin-side down first.
- Using the same pan, start the sauce by sautƩing the onion, garlic, then tomato paste. Gently simmer and stir this mixture until it darkens and becomes fragrant.
- Add all the other ingredients to the pan, nestle the chicken on top, and pop it in the oven to finish cooking. That's it!
READ MORE: Favorite Italian Seasoning
What is braised chicken?
Braising is a term used to describe the combination of cooking techniques where you brown your meat, then finish cooking it in some type of sauce or liquid. It's a slower cooking method that creates tender, flavorful meat.
What to serve with Italian braised chicken
Turn these Italian braised chicken thighs into a delicious dinner with your favorite pasta like spaghetti or linguine. It also tastes great with our garlic butter rice and a side of roasted asparagus,Ā or a big spring mix salad. Don't forget some thick slices of crusty Italian bread for sopping up the irresistible sauce, so nothing gets left behind!
Recipe FAQs
How long do leftovers keep?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze it?
Yes! This Italian braised chicken recipe is easy to freeze. When it's done cooking and cooled completely, transfer it to an airtight container or reusable silicone bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months! Thaw it in the fridge, and warm it in the oven or on the stovetop.
What are the best kinds of olives to use?
You can really use any variety of Italian olives that you like. We use a mix of kalamata olives and castelvetrano olives, but the big green cerignolo olives and smaller arbequina ones work, too.
Italian Braised Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in chicken thighs (skin on or off, your choice)
- Ā½ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion (finely minced)
- 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup coarsely chopped olives
- 2 tablespoons EACH: capers and balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon EACH: chopped rosemary and oregano
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.8 bone-in chicken thighs, Ā½ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- Heat the oil in a large, ovenproof pan over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs to the pan, skin side up, and brown them for 3-4 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook until the skin is brown and crispy, about 5-6 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan. (While the chicken is cooking, prep the rest of the ingredients.)2 tablespoons olive oil
- Pour out all but about 2 tablespoons of the oil from the pan. Add the onion to the pan and let it cook until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the tomato paste to the pan and let it cook until it has darkenedĀ slightly and is fragrant smelling, about 3 minutes.1 medium onion, 4 cloves garlic, 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- Add all the remaining ingredients to the pan and stir well. Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper. Nestle the chicken back into the pan, skin side up. Pop the chicken into the oven and let it cook for 40 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and serve it right away.28 ounce can diced tomatoes, 1 cup coarsely chopped olives, 2 tablespoons EACH: capers and balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon EACH: chopped rosemary and oregano, 1 pinch red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon honey
Notes
Ā
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our dinner ideas!