Description
Savory Chicken Puttanesca delivers bold Mediterranean flavors with tangy olives, capers, and rich tomato sauce. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a robust Italian-inspired dish perfect for quick weeknight dinners you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sauce Base:
- 1 can (14 ounces / 400 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 4 anchovy fillets, chopped (optional)
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
Instructions
- Generously season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and oregano, ensuring even coverage.
- Preheat a large skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken into the hot skillet, cooking for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a plate, keeping warm.
- In the same skillet, quickly sauté minced garlic for 30-45 seconds until aromatic, being careful not to burn.
- Add crushed tomatoes, kalamata olives, briny capers, optional anchovies, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, and a pinch of sugar to balance acidity.
- Stir sauce ingredients thoroughly, allowing them to incorporate and develop complex flavors during a 5-7 minute simmer.
- Gently nestle cooked chicken back into the bubbling sauce, spooning liquid over the meat to reheat and infuse with intense Mediterranean flavors.
- Simmer for an additional 3-4 minutes to ensure chicken is heated through and sauce reaches desired consistency.
- Plate the chicken, generously coating with sauce and garnishing with fresh basil or parsley and optional grated Parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately alongside al dente pasta or warm, crusty artisan bread to soak up the rich sauce.
Notes
- Reduce sodium by choosing low-salt capers and olives, perfect for those watching their salt intake.
- Swap chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version that maintains the rich, tangy flavor profile.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts for more moisture and deeper taste, preventing dry meat.
- Add a splash of white wine during sauce simmering to enhance the complexity and depth of the puttanesca sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg