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Easy One-Pot Italian Chicken: A Quick & Healthy Weeknight Dinner

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One-Pot Italian Chicken

By:

Julia Pacheco

This One-Pot Italian Chicken recipe is your new go-to for a quick, flavorful, and incredibly easy weeknight dinner. It combines tender chicken breasts with fresh garlic, aromatic Italian herbs, sweet grape tomatoes, and vibrant spinach, all simmered together in a single skillet. The result is a rustic, Italian-inspired meal that’s bursting with flavor and leaves you with minimal cleanup. Perfect for busy evenings when you crave a homemade, healthy dish without the fuss!

Prep:

10 minutes

Cook:

20 minutes

Total:

30 minutes

Servings:

4
servings

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Why You’ll Love This One-Pot Italian Chicken Recipe

If you’re searching for a dinner that delivers big on flavor without requiring a mountain of dishes, this One-Pot Italian Chicken is your answer. It’s incredibly versatile and adaptable, making it a fantastic choice for any skill level, from novice cooks to seasoned home chefs. Here’s why this recipe deserves a spot in your weekly rotation:

Effortless Cleanup: The “one-pot” aspect truly lives up to its name. All the cooking happens in a single skillet, dramatically cutting down on post-dinner cleanup.
Quick & Easy: With just 10 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cook time, you can have a gourmet-tasting meal on the table in under an hour. Perfect for those busy weeknights!
Bursting with Flavor: Fresh garlic, fragrant Italian seasoning, sweet grape tomatoes, and fresh basil infuse the tender chicken with authentic Mediterranean flavors that will transport your taste buds straight to Italy.
Healthy & Wholesome: Packed with lean protein from chicken, essential vitamins from spinach and tomatoes, and healthy fats from olive oil, this dish is as nutritious as it is delicious.
Family-Friendly: Its appealing flavors and simple ingredients make it a hit with both adults and children, ensuring everyone at the table will be satisfied.
Versatile: Easily customize it with your favorite vegetables or protein, making it a flexible meal that never gets boring.

Say goodbye to complicated recipes and hello to simple, delicious cooking. This One-Pot Italian Chicken is designed to make your life easier and your dinners more enjoyable!

Ingredients

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3 Tbs olive oil: A good quality extra virgin olive oil adds rich flavor and helps brown the chicken beautifully.
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1 ½ lbs chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are lean and cook quickly. You can slice them into cutlets or chunks for faster cooking, or use chicken thighs for a more robust flavor.
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2 cups grape tomatoes, halved: These small, sweet tomatoes burst when cooked, releasing a delicious, fresh sauce. Cherry tomatoes also work well.
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To taste salt and freshly ground black pepper: Essential for seasoning the chicken and enhancing all the other flavors. Adjust to your preference.
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½ cup yellow onion, chopped: Adds a foundational aromatic sweetness that mellows as it cooks.
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1 Tbs minced garlic: Freshly minced garlic is key to that unmistakable Italian aroma and flavor. Don’t skimp!
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½ tsp Italian seasoning: A convenient blend of dried herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary that instantly elevates the Italian profile.
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4 cups baby spinach: This leafy green adds a wonderful earthy flavor and a pop of color, wilting down significantly into the dish.
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¼ cup fresh basil, chopped: A final touch of fresh basil brightens the dish and brings an aromatic sweetness.
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¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese: Adds a salty, umami depth that perfectly complements the other Italian flavors. Freshly grated is always best!

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Instructions

Sear the Chicken: Begin by heating the 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add your chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces or thin cutlets, if desired, for quicker cooking). Season generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook the chicken for about 5-7 minutes, flipping occasionally, until it’s nicely browned on the outside and about 90% cooked through. It doesn’t need to be fully cooked at this stage, as it will finish cooking with the vegetables.
Sauté Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the chicken. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, for another 3-5 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent and softened. This allows the onion to release its sweetness and integrate well into the dish. Next, stir in the minced garlic and cook for just 1 minute more until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter.
Add Tomatoes: Stir in the halved grape tomatoes. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to soften slightly and release their juicy sweetness into the pan. This step is crucial for building the rustic sauce base of the dish.
Wilt the Greens: Next, add the fresh basil and baby spinach to the skillet. It might look like a lot of spinach, but it will quickly wilt down. Stir everything well, ensuring the spinach is evenly distributed and cooking in the residual heat and moisture from the pan. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, or until the spinach has fully wilted and turned vibrant green.
Finish and Serve: Finally, sprinkle the shredded Parmesan cheese over the chicken and vegetables. Stir gently until the cheese has melted into a creamy, savory coating. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately and enjoy your comforting, flavorful One-Pot Italian Chicken!

Tips for Perfect One-Pot Italian Chicken

Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Cook the chicken in batches if your skillet isn’t large enough to avoid steaming instead of searing. This ensures a beautiful golden-brown crust.
Adjust Heat: Keep an eye on your heat. Medium-high is great for searing chicken, but reduce it to medium when adding onions and garlic to prevent burning.
Fresh Ingredients Matter: While dried Italian seasoning is convenient, fresh basil makes a significant difference in flavor. If you can, use fresh!
Don’t Overcook Chicken: Chicken breasts can dry out quickly. Remove them from the pan if they’re cooked before the vegetables are ready, then add them back at the end to warm through.
Deglaze for Extra Flavor: If there are browned bits (fond) stuck to the bottom of your pan after searing chicken, you can add a splash of chicken broth or white wine after the onions to deglaze the pan and scrape up all that delicious flavor.

Serving Suggestions

This One-Pot Italian Chicken is a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides:

Serve it over a bed of al dente pasta, rice, or quinoa to soak up the delicious juices.
A simple side salad with a light vinaigrette makes for a refreshing complement.
Crusty bread or garlic bread is perfect for mopping up any leftover sauce.
Steamed green beans or roasted asparagus can add extra greens and texture.

Variations & Customizations

Feel free to get creative with this recipe and make it your own!

Add More Veggies: Sliced bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, or Kalamata olives would be fantastic additions. Add harder vegetables like peppers with the onion, and softer ones like mushrooms or zucchini with the tomatoes.
Different Protein: Chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless) are a great alternative for richer flavor; just adjust cooking time accordingly. Shrimp could also be added in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Spice it Up: A pinch of red pepper flakes added with the garlic will give it a nice kick.
Creamy Version: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of cream cheese along with the Parmesan for a richer, creamier sauce.
Lemon Zest: A little fresh lemon zest at the end can brighten all the flavors beautifully.

Storing & Reheating

This One-Pot Italian Chicken is excellent for meal prep or enjoying as leftovers:

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water if the sauce has thickened too much. You can also microwave it in 1-minute intervals until heated through.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used for a richer flavor profile. The cooking time might be slightly longer, approximately 7-10 minutes to sear and then another 5-7 minutes with the onions until fully cooked through. Adjust as needed to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

What if I don’t have fresh basil?

While fresh basil offers the best flavor, you can substitute it with dried basil. Use about 1 teaspoon of dried basil, adding it along with the Italian seasoning in step 1. Keep in mind that dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor than fresh, so less is needed.

Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

This dish is best enjoyed fresh, but it reheats beautifully. You can prepare it fully and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. It’s also a great option for weekly meal prepping!

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary based on ingredients and preparation methods.

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