Lorraine Williamson
I’ve lived in Spain for years now, and one recipe that never fails in my household is Spanish chicken. It’s not fancy or complicated, but it’s comforting, full of flavour, and perfect for feeding the family without too much fuss.
I started making this dish when my daughter was small. It’s changed slightly over time, but the heart of it remains the same—chicken, peppers, onions, garlic, paprika, and tomatoes. If I have chorizo, I throw that in too. Sometimes I add olives, butter beans, or chickpeas depending on what’s in the cupboard.
What you need
This is what I usually use:
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6 chicken thighs (skin-on, bone-in) – fillets are also good
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1 large onion, sliced
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2 red peppers, sliced (today I am using mixed peppers)
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3 garlic cloves, crushed
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1 tsp smoked paprika
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400g tin of chopped tomatoes (or I prefer a jar of tomato frito and some chopped tomatoes)
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A splash of white wine or chicken stock
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Olive oil
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Salt and pepper
Optional extras: chorizo, black olives, butter beans, fresh parsley. I have fresh parsley in my garden.
How I make it
First, I season the chicken and brown it in olive oil in a large pan. Once it’s golden, I take it out and use the same pan to soften the onions and peppers. In goes the garlic and paprika, followed by the tomatoes and wine or stock.
Then I return the chicken to the pan, skin side up, cover it, and let it simmer gently for about 40 minutes. If I’ve got beans or olives, I add them near the end.
Sometimes I serve this with crusty bread. Other times with rice or even salad potatoes. Either way, it gets eaten fast.
Why it works
This recipe is flexible. It uses what I already have, doesn’t require fancy prep, and always tastes good. My family loves it—and I like that I can improvise it depending on what’s in the fridge.
Living in Spain, we are lucky to have great ingredients all year round. That helps, of course, but you could make this dish anywhere.
Honestly, Spanish chicken has become more than just dinner. It’s the recipe dish we return to time after time, and it´s also a favourite with our visitors.
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