Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 3 votes

Chicken Creole

A zesty and flavorful one-skillet dinner that everyone at the table will love!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 335 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American , Cajun , Creole

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 4 lices bacon, chopped
  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning or Cajun seasoning
  • ½ cup diced celery
  • ½ cup diced green bell pepper
  • ½ cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, not drained
  • ½ cup chili sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • hot sauce, to taste
  • For serving: cooked rice; chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook bacon in the butter over medium heat until crisp and browned (about 3-5 minutes). Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  2. Pat chicken dry with a paper towel and season with Creole seasoning. Increase heat to medium-high; sear chicken in the butter/bacon fat until browned on all sides (about 5 minutes) – it does not need to be cooked through at this point. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  3. Add celery, bell pepper, onion, and garlic to the drippings in the pan. Cook over medium-high heat, just until the vegetables soften, about 3-4 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and hot sauce. Reduce the heat to low; simmer until thick, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Add the chicken back to the pan along with any accumulated juices on the plate and cook until the chicken is no longer pink, about 3-4 more minutes.
  4. Discard the bay leaf. Serve over rice and garnish with the cooked bacon, chopped fresh parsley, and sliced green onions.

Notes

  • Both chicken breasts and chicken thighs will work in this dish. The dark meat thighs have a higher fat content, and therefore stay juicier when cooked. If you prefer to use chicken breasts, just be careful not to overcook the meat or it can become tough and dry.
  • Pat the chicken dry before browning it in the skillet. It's also important to use a big skillet (about 12-14 inches) so that the chicken can spread out nicely. These two things will help the chicken achieve that great sear.
  • For a thinner sauce, add a splash of chicken broth, chicken stock, or water to the skillet as it simmers.
  • Stir the sauce regularly as it simmers to avoid scorching on the bottom of the pan.
  • Wine pairing: when pairing wine with spicy Creole food, it’s usually best to look for dry, sweet, or bubbly white wines, which help balance the flavors in the food. Rosé and blush wines are great because they’re typically lower in alcohol content, which means that they don’t create a spicy burn in your mouth when paired with a spicy meal. Dry white wines like Sauvignon blanc and chardonnay are also good options to cut down on the spicy palate.
  • Garnish the dish with fresh parsley, fresh thyme, sliced scallions, or fresh chives, as well as the cooked, chopped bacon. These add the perfect finishing touches! A squeeze of fresh lemon juice is also nice.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/4 of the recipe Calories 335kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 19g (6%) Protein 28g (56%) Fat 17g (26%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 6g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 130mg (43%) Sodium 1475mg (61%) Potassium 875mg (25%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 11g (22%) Vitamin A 917IU (18%) Vitamin C 33mg (37%) Calcium 74mg (7%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 335

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/4 of the recipe
Calories 335kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 19g 6%
Protein 28g 56%
Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 6g 30%
Trans Fat 0.2g 10%
Cholesterol 130mg 43%
Sodium 1475mg 61%
Potassium 875mg 19%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 11g 22%
Vitamin A 917IU 18%
Vitamin C 33mg 37%
Calcium 74mg 7%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.