Why You’ll Love It
- Rich slow-simmered tomato and pepper sauce
- Tender chicken that practically falls off the bone
- One pot recipe with simple ingredients
- Perfect served over rice or crusty bread
- Packed with comforting Mediterranean-style flavours
- Sweet peppers and olives balance the rich sauce beautifully
- Great for meal prep because the flavour deepens overnight
What Is Chicken Basquaise?
Chicken Basquaise is a French-inspired stew traditionally made with chicken simmered in tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, and herbs.
This version keeps those comforting classic flavours while creating a richer, heartier sauce perfect for serving over rice.
The long simmer gives the sauce its deep colour and bold flavour while keeping the chicken incredibly juicy.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 6 chicken drumsticks
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Stew
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 can chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1/2 cup green olives
- Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
For Serving
Instructions
1. Season the Chicken
Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels.
Season all over with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
2. Brown the Chicken
Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add the chicken drumsticks and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until deeply golden brown. You’re not fully cooking the chicken yet, just building flavour and colour.
Transfer the chicken to a plate.
3. Cook the Vegetables
In the same pan, add the sliced onions and peppers.
Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until softened and lightly caramelised.
Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Build the Sauce
Add the tomato paste and stir for 1 minute to cook out the raw flavour.
Pour in the chopped tomatoes and chicken stock.
Add thyme, oregano, bay leaf, and chilli flakes.
Stir everything together and let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes so the flavours start developing.
5. Simmer Low and Slow
Return the chicken drumsticks to the pan along with any juices from the plate.
Spoon some sauce over the chicken.
Cover partially with a lid and simmer gently for 35 to 45 minutes until the chicken is tender and the sauce has thickened.
6. Finish the Stew
Stir in the green olives during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed.
Remove the bay leaf before serving.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley or thyme.
Tips For The Best Chicken Stew
- Browning the chicken first adds a huge amount of flavour
- Let the peppers soften properly so they become sweet and jammy
- Simmer gently instead of boiling to keep the chicken tender
- Bone-in drumsticks give the sauce much richer flavour
- Tomato paste helps deepen the colour and richness of the stew
- Green olives add the perfect salty contrast to the sweet peppers
What To Serve With It
This stew is especially good with fluffy white rice because it soaks up all the rich tomato sauce.
You can also serve it with:
- Crusty bread
- Buttered mashed potatoes
- Roasted potatoes
- Couscous
- Polenta
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
The flavour actually gets even better overnight as everything continues to develop.
Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave until hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken thighs instead?
Yes. Bone-in chicken thighs work beautifully and stay very juicy.
Can I make it spicy?
Absolutely. Add extra chilli flakes or a diced chilli pepper if you like more heat.
Can I freeze it?
Yes. Let the stew cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months.
Do I have to use olives?
No, but they add a really nice salty bite that balances the rich tomato sauce.
Final Thoughts
This Basquaise chicken stew is rich, rustic comfort food at its best.
Tender chicken simmered in a garlicky tomato and pepper sauce with herbs and olives creates a meal that feels cosy, hearty, and full of flavour.
Serve it over rice with plenty of sauce spooned on top and it’s the kind of dinner everyone goes back for seconds of.
