This 30-minute one-pot Italian chicken skillet with chickpeas, tomatoes and peppers is easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner!
I’ve been making this simple Italian chicken skillet dinner since back when we lived in a small one-bedroom apartment in Washington, D.C., which is where I met my husband.
We were introduced on a Friday night by one of my brand-new roommates, one week after I’d moved to the city in September. I hadn’t even started my first job yet (that would come the following Monday).
He likes to say he “got me off the boat.” 😂
I was a bright-eyed new college graduate, excited to be living in the capital and just getting to know my way around. And here comes this cute guy in the bar, who later bought us drinks to celebrate my roommate’s boyfriend’s birthday, and apparently, to saddle up next to me.
Fast-forward 11 years and here we are, living in North Carolina with two kids, a chocolate lab and a whole house.
No shared walls, no hiking up and down the stairs to do laundry, no looking for parking, no hauling groceries through a lobby and down a 500-foot hallway.
We lived at the very end of the building, overlooking the park. It was wonderful except when we’d have done a grocery or Target run and my hands ached from trying to get all the bags in one trip because there was no way in hell I was going all the way back down and outside to the parking area or up the street to get the rest.
So I've got a bigger kitchen, but I'm still making many of the same dishes.
Like this Italian chicken skillet dinner, adapted from Cooking Light. It’s easy, flavorful and gives me big Italian flavors with light and healthy ingredients that don't weigh me down. (Sorry pasta and cream sauce, but I'm looking at you.)
It’s also a one-pot, 30-minute meal, which makes it great for busy weeknights.
And since we do a “I cook, you clean” arrangement, I’m pretty sure the one-pan quality is part of the reason my husband has always loved this dish so much!
This meal is budget-friendly, too, which was much needed for a recent college graduate trying to make rent in D.C., with a little left over for happy hour. 😉 And even now, I love that this Italian chicken skillet features simple ingredients that I almost always have on hand. #winning
Whether you’re just starting out or are happily settled, I hope you gives this quick and easy dinner a try and make it part of your regular rotation. Paired with wine, of course.
Salute!
XO,
Kathryn
Italian chicken skillet with chickpeas, tomatoes and peppers
This 30-minute one-pot Italian chicken skillet makes a great weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into long strips, seasoned with salt, pepper
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 medium green pepper, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil (or ¼ cup chopped fresh basil)
- Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and peppers and saute for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and sauté another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add seasoned chicken breast strips to the middle of the pan. Brown on both sides (about 3-4 minutes on each side).
- Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, oregano and dried basil, if using. Stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
- Serve hot (sprinkle with fresh basil, if using) and pass Parmesan cheese at the table.
Notes
Leftovers are great reheated for lunch the next day!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 356Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 609mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 7gSugar: 6gProtein: 43g
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food
I love one pot meals! It's always great to have favourite dishes that you can turn to, especially when they are this light and delicious. I bet this would even be fantastic for a dinner party with a nice green salad. And, like you said, paired with wine 😉 Have a great week, Kathryn!
Kathryn
Me too, Dawn - they are such a sanity saver! This would make a lovely meal for company, with plenty of salad, maybe some crusty bread and of course, plenty of vino 😉
Michelle | The Secret Ingredient Is
Such a cute story! Laughing about the grocery/target runs and making it all in one trip because I am the exact same way (still.) I can't get enough one-pot meals these days, this one looks delicious and light, and I love the excuse to throw chickpeas into any and everything!
Kathryn
Glad I'm not the only one with indents on their hands and wrists from carrying a bajillion heavy bags at once 😉 And yes, one-pot meals are such a life saver!!
Adina
I liked reading about the way you met your husband. I met mine the second day after he arrived in my hometown in Romania, he wanted to be there for a week, stayed for 4 months and now we have been together for almost 14 years.
Kathryn
Aw, Adina, that's so sweet! You got him off the boat, too 😉
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Awww! So cute how you met your husband!! Love that he got you fresh off the boat (<-- made me giggle). I can see why you have been making this dish for years because it looks and sounds delicious, Kathryn! All the ingredients you used I love, so I just know this dish tastes amazing! Plus only 30 minutes to throw toghether?! Yes Please! Totally need to make this soon! Cheers, friend!
Kathryn
Can't beat fresh, fast and easy, right?!
Kim | Low Carb Maven
I love hearing "how we met" stories - very cute. My husband is a "one trip-er" so I can totally imagine you loaded down with bags in each hand struggling to get them up to your apartment. Made me chuckle. I love one pot meals. too and we are beginning to rely on them more and more - mostly because I'm not in to making a couple of sides to go with dinner. It's just easier this way - and i love how all of the flavors meld together to make something more. I love this dish - and chickpeas. It's a winner!
Kathryn
Thanks Kim! One-pot meals are such a sigh of relief at the end of a long day 🙂
Frugal Hausfrau
It was fun to hear your story - and oh do I remember those apartment days! Thank goodness I was young when I lived in one...
This looks like a lovely dish and I like that it's not dripping in cheese sauce! Thanks for bringing this by Throwback Thursday! We're already looking forward to what you'll bring next week! 🙂
Mollie
Kathryn
I'm glad those days are behind me, too! Thanks Mollie!
Helen Fern
This looks great!! Thanks for sharing on the "what's for dinner" linky!
Kathryn
Thanks Helen!