Forktionary

Basque Chicken Recipe

Spice up your weeknight routine with this authentic Basque Chicken recipe! Tired of boring chicken dinners? This vibrant dish features tender chicken simmered in a rich tomato sauce with bell peppers, jalapeños, and smoky ham. A perfect blend of savory and spicy, it's a flavor explosion that will become your new go-to. Serve over fluffy rice for a complete and satisfying meal.

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 65 mins
Calories 1434.1 kcal
Protein 218g
Rating 1.5 (2 Reviews)
Basque Chicken 31

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Basque Chicken

  • 1.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium bell pepper (any color), chopped
  • 1 fresh jalapeño pepper, minced
  • 4 oz diced ham
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1.5 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • cooked white rice (for serving)

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How to Make Basque Chicken

  1. Rinse and pat dry 1.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks.
  2. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a wide, heavy Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken pieces in batches, ensuring they are lightly browned on all sides. Remove browned chicken to a plate.
  3. Remove all but 3 tablespoons of fat from the Dutch oven.
  4. Return the chicken to the Dutch oven.
  5. Add 1 medium bell pepper (any color), chopped; 1 jalapeño pepper, minced (remove seeds for less heat); 4 oz diced ham; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon salt to the pan.
  6. Place the pan over low to medium heat, cover tightly, and cook at a gentle simmer, stirring often, until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F) and the peppers are soft. This will take approximately 30-40 minutes.
  7. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce:
  8. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 medium onion, chopped, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  9. Stir in 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper.
  10. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium.
  11. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes.
  12. Serve the chicken over cooked white rice.
  13. Spoon the sauce generously over the chicken and rice.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

23 g

Sugar

78g

Fat

87g

Carbs

29g

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Weeknight Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Cuisine Preparation Main Dish Poultry French European Chicken Dietary Low Sodium Low Carb Low In Something Meat 4 Hours Or Less