Italian Restaurant Chicken
Here’s a healthful dish that’s a favorite with family and friends. While the chicken and sauce cook, I make pasta to serve with it. The moist, tender, richly seasoned chicken is something special!
Here’s a healthful dish that’s a favorite with family and friends. While the chicken and sauce cook, I make pasta to serve with it. The moist, tender, richly seasoned chicken is something special!
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
- 1 leaf
- 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosema crushed
- 1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
- 1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 pounds) cut up and skin removed
- 1/2 cup dry red wine or reduced-sodium chicken broth
- Carbohydrate 2.38478416800927 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 1.16935171942001 g
- Fiber 0.437316587337236 g
- Protein 0.380901119500678 g
- Saturated Fat 0.16696419611108 g
- Serving Size 1 1 servings. (26g)
- Sodium 3.76561339454498 mg
- Sugar 1.94746758067203 g
- Trans Fat 0.0406512600487129 g
- Calories 21 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.
- In an ovenproof Dutch oven, brown chicken in oil in batches. Remove and keep warm.
- In same pan, saute onion, celery, carrot and garlic in pan drippings until tender.
- Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan.
- Stir in tomatoes, bay leaf, rosemary and chicken; bring to a boil.
- Cover and bake 50-60 minutes or until juices run clear.
- Discard bay leaf; sprinkle with basil.
My Italian Restaurant Chicken: A Weeknight Winner
As a busy working mom, finding time to cook a delicious and healthy dinner can feel like a Herculean task. But sometimes, the simplest recipes are the most satisfying. This Italian Restaurant Chicken recipe is one of those gems – a dish that's both impressive and surprisingly easy to make, even on a weeknight. The flavors are rich and comforting, and the tender chicken practically melts in your mouth. It's become a staple in our family, and I'm excited to share it with you.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. There's no need for fancy ingredients or complicated techniques. I use readily available pantry staples – canned crushed tomatoes, herbs, and spices – to create a vibrant and flavorful sauce that coats the chicken perfectly. The process is straightforward: browning the chicken, sautéing the vegetables, and then letting the magic happen in the oven. The result is a succulent, juicy chicken dish that's bursting with aromatic herbs and the savory depth of red wine (or chicken broth for a lighter version). The aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water.
I often serve this chicken with a side of pasta, as the sauce is absolutely divine tossed with noodles. The combination of the tender chicken, the rich sauce, and the perfectly cooked pasta creates a satisfying and complete meal. It's the kind of dish that's perfect for a family dinner, a casual get-together with friends, or even a romantic dinner for two. The leftovers are equally delicious, making it a great choice for meal prepping.
What truly sets this dish apart is its versatility. You can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your preferences and what you have on hand. Feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices, adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat, or substituting the red wine with chicken broth for a lighter flavor. The beauty is that it's hard to go wrong with this recipe. Even a beginner cook can master it with ease.
Beyond the ease and deliciousness, this recipe also holds a special place in my heart. It reminds me of cozy nights spent with family, laughter filling the air, and the warmth of a home-cooked meal. It's a taste of comfort and tradition, a simple yet elegant dish that always brings a smile to everyone's face. It's more than just a dinner; it's a moment of connection and shared joy. And isn't that what cooking is all about?
So, if you're looking for a flavorful, satisfying, and easy-to-make chicken recipe, I highly recommend giving this Italian Restaurant Chicken a try. It’s a surefire way to impress your family and friends, and it’s bound to become a new favorite in your kitchen.
Tips and Variations:
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in a mixture of olive oil, herbs, and spices for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- Add some mushrooms or bell peppers to the vegetable sauté for added texture and flavor.
- Serve the chicken over polenta or mashed potatoes for a heartier meal.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese before serving for an extra touch of richness.
- If you don't have fresh herbs, you can substitute dried herbs. Just use about 1/3 the amount.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Let me know in the comments how it turned out. Happy cooking!
