This weather is perfect for a quick braised chicken recipe ! I have been absolutely enjoying this chilly soups and stews weather, it’s a real treat for us Californians. Who knows how long it’s actually going to last, so I simmer and braise away as many hearty meals as I can before the thermostat reads 80″F again.
Yesterday I made this simple, fall off the bone braised chicken recipe with lots of colorful bell peppers and some oranges from the garden. It is so flavorful but fresh at the same time because of the citrus addition. Great with some golden rustic baby potatoes or even over spaghetti squash.
I used boneless skinless chicken thighs, because they have been the favorite cut around here lately. But this braised orange chicken recipe is absolutely delicious with just bone in cut up chicken as well. Go for your favorite parts, I only post these recipes as a guide, so you can feel free to make it your own. That’s the most fun about cooking after all, being a little alchemist with your own pots and spice rack.
This is also really good reheated the next day with some charred bruschetta to soak up that delicious orange sauce. Forget about that take out orange chicken filled with nasty stuff. Orange braised chicken is the easy healthy way to go for a rustic weeknight dinner your body will thank you for. And if you liked my braised garlic chicken in white wine recipe , I’m sure you’ll love this one as well.
- 8 chicken thighs
- 1 yellow onion cut into eights
- 2 inch yellow carrots cut into 1 pieces
- 1 inch red bell pepper cut into 1 pieces
- 1 inch yellow bell pepper cut into 1 pieces
- 3 leaves bay
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes + more to taste
- Sea salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 10 peppercorns
- The juice from 1 organic orange
- The juice from 1/2 lemon
- Zest from 1 organic orange
- 2 strips of orange peel
- 1 orange sliced
- 2 c water
- Parsley for garnish
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and allow it to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. season it well with sea salt and black pepper on both sides.
- Add a lug of olive oil to a heavy cast iron pot and brown the chicken on medium high flame until nice and golden. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the pan and saute the onion and carrots until they start to get a little color. Stir in the bell peppers, bay leaves, orange peel, red pepper flakes, peppercorns and squeeze in the orange juice. Stir with a spatula trying to get any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the chicken back into the pot and cover it with the water. Bring to a gentle simmer,cover with a tight lid and cook for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and fork tender.
- Turn off the flame and stir in the lemon juice. Adjust seasonings to your taste with the sea salt. Ladle into bowls and serve with a nice drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, some of the orange slices on top and garnished with the parsley.
From Food Blogs :
Farmhouse Farro Salad from LoveandLemons.com
The Best Greek Chicken and Potatoes from HeatherChristo.com
Honey Mustard Chicken from FoodieCrush.com
MY VIDEOS
Another great way to use our abundance of oranges! My husband loves boneless, skinless thighs so that is what we’ll use, too. This will be Sunday’s dinner!
Yum, hearty and healthy! Thank you for this gorgeous recipe! Brings me back to my childhood in Montreal growing up beside a wonderful Italian family. The aromas coming out of Mrs. Cicciola’s kitchen were awesome and lucky for us, she shared 🙂 She spoke only Italian and a little French, but our hugs spoke volumes. It is because of her that Italian cuisine is at the top of my list and what I cook most nights.
Aww, I love those memories, and the way smells and food awaken them.
Love a one-pot meal!
It does look easy and the colors are great.
Florentina: Made this for dinner tonight. Used rooster drums (we’re in Crete, butchered this morning by our neighbor down the street), and this was delicious! Served with boiled beet greens dressed with vinegar and olive oil – such an awesome dinner. Thanks for the recipe!
So happy to hear ! It tickles my heart when someone makes one of the recipes I post here and brings their family together at the table.Thank you for taking the time to let me know you made this, It means so much to me and that is the ultimate reward for sharing my recipes here with you all. Much love to you and your family !