Chicken Scarpariello (Plus VIDEO)

Chicken Scarpariello is one of the most colorful chicken dinners, period. Thanks to juicy chicken thighs mingling with peppers, sweet Italian sausages, and potatoes, it’s also hearty and tasty. Try this Italian American specialty; you’ll so love it!

Contents… What is Chicken Scarpariello? What You Need for Chicken Scarpariello Alternative Ingredients Tips and Tricks Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What Goes with Chicken Scarpariello? More Fabulous Chicken Recipes to Try How to Make Chicken Scarpariello? Watch How To Make It

This Chicken Scarpariello recipe combines tender chicken and spicy sausage with a few herbs, spices, and other colorful add-ins. It provides a hearty weeknight meal that is a great easy dinner idea to add to your weekly meal rotation. 

What is Chicken Scarpariello?

It is also known as a chicken and sausage recipe. This deliciousness starts by seasoning chicken thighs and pan-searing them to golden perfection. Then we’ll cook the sausage in the same pan, and all those lovely juices left in the pan will become a mouthwatering sauce. It all comes together in the oven — how does that sound?

What You Need for Chicken Scarpariello

• Chicken – The star of the show. Use thighs and not breasts because they’re juicier. You also want to make sure your chicken thighs are thawed if using frozen instead of fresh. 
• Salt – This ultimate flavor enhancer is a must in every recipe. 
• Pepper – Freshly crushed black pepper also lifts the flavors in our chicken and sausage recipe. It gives a spicy but attractive feel, especially to the sauce. 
• Italian Seasoning – This combination of thyme, rosemary, and parsley is so incredible. However, some blends can have garlic powder and even colorful red pepper flakes. Yum! Try my homemade version for an even better herb mix.
• Olive Oil – What could be better in this Italian-inspired meal than olive oil? Use extra virgin olive oil for best results. 
• Sweet Italian Sausage – Here’s where things get interesting. Sweet Italian sausage is fatty, meaty, and spicy (but not hot). They contrast so well with the chicken’s mild flavor. 
• All-Purpose Flour – We’re using flour as a thickening agent. We want a rich, creamy sauce coating our chicken.
• Butter – Sautéing the onions, garlic, and herbs in butter is the first step to building our tasty sauce.
• Onion – Nicely caramelized and translucent, onions are a great way to add flavor depth to our chicken and sausage recipe.
• Garlic – What’s Italian food without garlic? This aromatic bulb gives warm flavors to the recipe and brings the sauce together. 
• Thyme – Fresh thyme is herbal and earthy; a little goes a long way and gives vibrance to the chicken scarpariello. Dried thyme will also work.
• Rosemary – Along with thyme, rosemary is an aromatic herb that goes great with any Mediterranean dish. 
• Pepper Flakes – This optional ingredient amps up the heat. Oh yeah!
• White Wine – A splash of white wine gives a fancy feel to the dish and makes it so Italian.
• Chicken Broth – This is the main ingredient for our sauce, and it brings all the flavors together. You can use low-sodium broth for a healthier meal. 
• Lemon Juice – This ingredient adds the perfect amount of acidity, the secret behind any successful meal. It balances sweet and salty flavors in the dish, so don’t skip it. 
• Red Bell Pepper – Chicken scarpariello is a colorful dish, and it’s thanks to a few red sweet bell pepper slices. This meaty fruit adds heartiness to the recipe as well. 
• Peppadew Peppers – These pickled grape-sized red peppers are briny and so addictively delicious. Just a few of these are enough to give color and a lovely tang to this Italian specialty. 
• Baby Potatoes – Optionally, roast a few potatoes for a wholesome meal to feed the entire family Italian-style. 

Alternative Ingredients

• Pork – Boneless pork ribs are a lovely substitute for chicken thighs. If using pork, make sure it’s not too lean!
• Herbs de Provence – This aromatic herb combination is more fragrant than Italian herbs, but they also work great for a French version of our chicken scarpariello recipe. 
• Spicy Italian Sausage – Hot Italian sausage amps up the heat for a more vibrant dish. 

Tips and Tricks

The sauce is the most crucial element for stews like this one, so make sure you sear the chicken and cook the sausages in the same pan and deglaze it to create a flavorful base for the sauce. 

Roast the aromatic herbs, but don’t burn them! Adding thyme and rosemary to your garlic and onion as you sauté them is a fantastic idea, but dried herbs burn fast, so keep an eye on them.

Don’t overcook the chicken; that’s the only thing that could go wrong in this one. 25-30 minutes in the oven should be enough — use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 165°F/75℃.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve chicken scarpariello straight out of the oven while still steamy and bubbly. This dish is one you’ll want to enjoy freshly cooked — you can’t beat those aromas. A side of roasted potatoes is an excellent addition to the meal, and feel free to drizzle olive oil over the dish to give it a lustrous and rich feel. 

Store Chicken Scarpariello in a BPA-free plastic container with a lid in the refrigerator. Cool the leftovers down to room temperature before storing them. You can enjoy it for 3-4 days.

You can also freeze the chicken in serving-size portions in freezer bags for up to two months. 

To reheat, put the chicken in a baking dish, cover it with aluminum, and heat it for 10-15 minutes at 350°F/177℃. Add a dash of chicken stock to the sauce if too dry. 

You can also microwave individual portions. 

FAQs

What Goes with Chicken Scarpariello?

Chicken Scarpariello is a formidable dish on its own, but it is even tastier with a few veggie side dishes. 

• Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
• Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
• Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
• Candied Yams
• Tossed Salad

More Fabulous Chicken Recipes to Try

• Chicken Tagine
• Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
• Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
• Creamy Balsamic Chicken

How to Make Chicken Scarpariello?

Prepare the Chicken on the Stovetop

• Preheat – Preheat oven to 375℉/196℃.
• Prepare the Chicken – Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and place in a bowl. Rub the salt and pepper on both sides. Then rub them with Italian seasoning and set them aside. Doing this an hour or two before cooking will make for juicier chicken thighs.
• Sear the Chicken – Heat a little olive oil, and sear the chicken in a pan for about 5-6 minutes on each side or until slightly browned. It’s going to finish cooking in the oven. Set aside. Clean pan if any significant burns.

• Cook the Sausage – In the same skillet, add a little more oil, let it warm up, then add the sausage and cook until it browns, turning and tossing around the skillet, so it browns evenly. Remove and set aside—slice sausage in big chunks.
• Drain – Drain any excess oil or continue cooking with oil and omit butter.

• Sauté – Melt in butter, followed by onions, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and pepper flakes sauté for about 3-4 minutes.
• Deglaze – Pour in white wine, chicken broth, and lemon juice. As the liquid heats, scrape any brown bits from the bottom and sides of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in bell pepper and pickled peppers.

• Assemble – Return the chicken and sausage to the skillet and nestle the chicken and sausage into the onion mixture.
• Simmer – Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, turn off the heat, and place in the oven.

Ready for the Oven

• Bake – Bake uncovered, at 375°F/196℃ or until chicken is cooked through and your instant-read thermometer registers 165°F/75℃ when inserted into the thickest part of the thighs, about 25-30 minutes.
• Garnish – Remove, garnish with parsley and sliced lemon, if desired.
• Serve – Serve with pan-fried or roast potatoes.

The Pan-Fried Potatoes

• Boil – Add potatoes in a large saucepan salt and pour in water to fully cover. Bring to a boil and partially cook for about 10 minutes. Then remove from the heat and drain well.
• Pan Fry – Heat a large skillet with about two tablespoons or more oil. Add the potatoes and season them with rosemary, salt, and pepper. Allow them to cook undisturbed until they are golden and crusty underneath, 3-4 minutes. Flip — Flip potatoes and cook until golden on other sides, for about 3-4 minutes or more.
• Serve – Remove and serve with chicken.

Watch How To Make It

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