Sicilian baked chicken is a rustic one-pan Mediterranean dish of tender chicken, cherry tomatoes, olives, capsicum and baby potatoes, baked slowly until the flavours meld and the juices become a rich sauce. This recipe draws on bold Sicilian flavours and simple ingredients, making it perfect for a family meal or relaxed dinner with friends.
My husband and I both come from large families (he is one of 6 kids and I am one of 5) so when we have family gatherings its not unusual for there to be over 30 people at them. This is the perfect dish for feeding a crowd as it scales up so well and is often featured at Christmas time at our house. If you enjoy simple Mediterranean cooking, you might also like my Mediterranean Swordfish — another recipe built around bold flavours and minimal fuss.
You just need a few quality ingredients and 5 minutes prep time and then you pop it in the oven for 1.5 hours. That’s it! no hands on work from you, leaving you free to enjoy the company of your loved ones as the delicious smells from your oven fill your home and make everyone’s mouths water in anticipation.
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Ingredients for Sicilian Baked Chicken
- Chicken drumsticks with the skin on (you could use thighs, or marylands too)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Capsicum (bell peppers)
- New potatoes (baby potatoes)
- Sicilian olives (the green ones)
- Red onion
- Garlic (lots!!!!!!!)
- Basil
- Sea salt flakes
- Pepper
- Olive oil
- Fresh crusty bread (to mop up all the juices)
Assembling the Dish
Assembling this one-pan Sicilian chicken dish only takes 5 minutes and is very easy. You want to make a base of all the ingredients that the chicken will sit on. This will create a delicious broth that will steam during the cooking process and ensure the chicken stays moist and doesn’t over cook. Then you lay the chicken (that has been rubbed with olive oil, salt and pepper) on top. This allows the skin of the chicken to go lovely, golden and a little crispy.
FAQ
Can I prepare Sicilian baked chicken ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble all the ingredients and cover the dish in the fridge for up to a day before baking. After baking, leftovers keep well in the fridge for 3–4 days and reheat beautifully in the oven or microwave.
And there you have it, everything you need for a meal is in the one pan (aside from the fresh crusty bread). So not only is this dish super easy and delicious it is a scrumptious Baked Sicilian Chicken with minimal clean up! I feel like we have ticked all the boxes with this one 😋.
Transport your taste buds to the sun-drenched shores of Sicily. With each bite, you’ll savour the tangy sweetness of cherry tomatoes, the briny bite of olives and the gorgeous scent of basil.
This dish is perfect for both weeknight dinners and special occasions, offering a taste of the Mediterranean right in your own kitchen. So, gather your ingredients, embrace the spirit of Sicilian cuisine, and treat yourself to a super yummy dinner. Buon appetito!
Sicilian Baked Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Large baking dish
Ingredients
- 3 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 capsicum (bell pepper) (finely sliced)
- 1 cup new potatoes (halved)
- ⅔ cup sicilian olives
- 1 red onion (finely sliced)
- 8 cloves of garlic (peeled) (yes 8)
- 1 cup basil (leaves picked)
- 2 tsp sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 8 chicken drumsticks
Instructions
- Pre heat a fan forced oven to 180℃
- Place tomatoes, capsicum, potatoes, olives, onion, garlic, basil, salt, pepper and two tablespoons of olive oil in the baking dish and toss with tongs so all ingredients are well combined.
- Place chicken on top and season with salt, pepper and olive oil.
- Pop baking dish in the oven for an hour and a half.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes in the tray before serving with fresh crusty bread.
Video
Nutrition
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Chicken can be dry sometimes but not this recipe I will be cooking this one again