Chicken and olives is an amazingly tasty combo, give me a loud YUM! An easy sweet and savory chicken dinner for two perfect for a weekend meal. This Mediterranean olive chicken recipe was inspired by Ina Garten’s Chicken Marabella recipe.
Use any leftover olives to make this tasty olive quiche for one. Tasty honey garlic chicken for one and and this single serving Tuscan chicken thighs are full of flavor.
Types of olives to use to make the olive chicken
The Spanish Olives used in this recipe are the same as Manzanilla Olives, which were originally from the Andalusia region of Spain. These green olives have a smoky flavor and pair well with chicken dishes.
Using Prunes in Olive Chicken
Prunes are flavorful, and a sweet prune with something spicy like a caper and adding a tangy olive really is incredibly flavorful. If you really don’t want to use Prunes, substitute dried Apricots.
Recipe Notes
Mix up the marinade and marinate the chicken overnight. The next day, arrange the remaining ingredients and cook. In about an hour, you have a stress-free and elegant dinner. The recipe can be doubled to feed four.
Because of the marinating time required, this is not a last-minute dish. A little planning and a little time make for a flavorful and tender meal.
Cooking with few ingredients means picking the right combinations to pack a flavor punch. I start with a Greek olive medley, purchased fresh from the supermarket olive bar, then select organic prunes from the USA and capers from Spain. Cost Plus or Trader Joe’s is a great place to find small jars of capers.
- The extra virgin olive oil you use should be of good quality. The wine used in the dish is the same wine I’ll pair with my meal.
- If you are more of a white wine person, then substitute white for red in the recipe. Whichever wine you use will change the flavor slightly; the wine imparts a delicate flavor. No wine, no problem; substitute chicken broth.
- Dried Oregano purchased in small quantities ensures it’s always at peak flavor.
- I really love garlic, and my recipes that include garlic will reflect that; feel free to cut back.
- Check the olive chicken to ensure it’s fully cooked; I use a Thermopro instant-read thermometer.
- Leftover potatoes can be easily heated up, eaten in a skillet with a few sauteed onions, and served with eggs for breakfast.
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Olive Chicken with Prunes and Capers for One
Ingredients
Method
- Marinade Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the garlic, oregano, olive oil, prunes, capers, and olives.
- Sprinkle the chicken quarters with salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken quarters and mix to coat the chicken pieces with the marinade. Cover and refrigerator overnight.
- Next Day
- Transfer chicken to a deep parchment-lined baking pan.
- Spoon the remaining marinade over the chicken pieces and sprinkle the brown sugar on top of the chicken and pour the wine on top.
- Bake for about 45 minutes checking after 35 minutes. Continue cooking if necessary until the chicken is fully cooked and has browned nicely.
- While chicken is cooking toss the potatoes with the balsamic vinegar and lightly sprinkle with salt, just enough to enhance the flavor
- After 20 minutes add baby potatoes to the chicken pan and roast until fully cooked.
- Transfer chicken to a serving platter or individual plates and spoon some the pan juices on top of the chicken.
Nutrition
Notes
Let the Chicken Rest: Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving, this allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.