Chicken in Tomato Sauce With Chickpeas and Kale Recipe

By
Yasmin Fahr
Yasmin Fahr: Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Yasmin Fahr
Yasmin Fahr is a food writer, recipe developer and author of the cookbook Keeping it Simple. She has a penchant for cheesy phrases, lemons, fresh herbs, feta and cumin.
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Updated Apr. 26, 2019
20140505-one-pot-wonders-chicken-chickpeas-kale.jpg
Chicken breasts simmered in a tomato sauce with kale and chickpeas make a delicious and easy one-pot dinner. Yasmin Fahr

In this quick, easy, and delicious one-pot dinner, chicken breasts are seared, then gently cooked in an herb-filled tomato sauce with chickpeas and hearty kale. Topped with crunchy, seasoned breadcrumbs, this rustic meal comes together in 45 minutes.

Why this recipe works:

  • Browning the chicken first adds both color and flavor to the outside
  • Stirring in the kale and chickpeas at the end prevents them from becoming too soft
  • Toasting the breadcrumbs in the pan before searing the chicken avoids the need to dirty other pots.

Recipe Facts

3.7

(3)

Active: 45 mins
Total: 45 mins
Serves: 4 servings

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup breadcrumbs

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried oregano, divided

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried thyme, divided

  • 1 medium garlic clove, minced or grated with a Microplane

  • 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced

  • Pinch of dried red chile flakes

  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes

  • 1 cup homemade chicken stock or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth

  • 1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

  • 2 cups lacinato (Tuscan) kale, stems removed and leaves cut into 2-inch ribbons

Directions

  1. Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the breadcrumbs and toast them, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon thyme, and the garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute longer. Transfer breadcrumbs to plate and set aside.

  2. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In the same skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken and sear on both sides until golden-brown, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.

  3. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add shallot and a pinch of salt and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add chili flakes and remaining 1 tablespoon each oregano and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, their liquid and the stock and bring to a simmer, breaking up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Simmer until sauce has thicken slightly, about 10 minutes. Add chicken and simmer until cooked through, about 5 minutes.

  4. Stir in chickpeas and kale and cook until chickpeas are warmed through and kale is wilted, about 2 minutes. Top with the breadcrumbs and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
541 Calories
18g Fat
53g Carbs
44g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 541
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 81mg 27%
Sodium 897mg 39%
Total Carbohydrate 53g 19%
Dietary Fiber 11g 40%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 44g
Vitamin C 57mg 284%
Calcium 216mg 17%
Iron 8mg 42%
Potassium 1234mg 26%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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