Cast Iron Skillet Chicken with Olives

Name: Cast Iron Skillet Chicken with Olives
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 6 chicken thighs (with skin and bones); salt and pepper; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 cup seedless grapes; 1 cup kalamata olives; 2 small shallots (thinly sliced); 1 tablespoon rosemary

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Quick and easy dinners don’t have to be boring. Salty Kalamta olives and sweet grapes compliment each other in this cast iron skillet chicken with olives dish that you can prepare in just 10 minutes. A healthy and delicious combination that’s ideal for busy weeknights.

A cast iron skillet with chicken thighs next to a bowl of olives.

There are nights during the week when my brain does not want to have to come up with something to fix for dinner. It’s so easy to pick up something already prepared and warm it up. It’s not just coming up with something, but then just the effort of making it and cleaning up afterwards when I just want to veg out in front of the TV.

If you’re having one of those nights, just tell yourself, I can make a fabulous dinner that kids and adults will love and it will only take me 10 minutes, 1 pan and you just have to chop a shallot. Hello to cast iron skillet chicken with olives and grapes!

This recipe is so simple but the combination of sweet grapes and salty olives with roasted chicken thighs is brilliant. What’s even better is that grapes are always available in the grocery so winter or summer, you’ll have a dinner you can make without wasting any brain power.

If you enjoy fruit with chicken, then you might like chicken with pears.

Why you’ll love it

This dish comes together quickly with very little effort
This is a pretty healthy dish
Prepare the meal in one pan from stovetop to oven
The sweet and salty combination with roasted chicken is amazing!

What you’ll need

Ingredients for roasted chicken with olives.

Chicken thighs with skin and bones – chicken breasts won’t work in this recipe. If you don’t want to eat the skin, just remove it at the end. Cooking with the skin keeps it moist and tender.
Seedless grapes – where I’m located, red grapes tend to be a little sweeter. For this dish, you can use whatever you have on hand.
Kalamata olives – a delicious salty addition, make sure you use pitted olives.
Shallots – adds a savory flavor
Rosemary – use fresh if you can get it, if not use 1 teaspoon of dried.
Olive oil, salt and pepper

How do you make chicken with olives and grapes

Step 1

Brown the chicken skin side down in a a cast iron or oven proof skillet.

Chicken thighs that have been browned in a skillet.

Step 2

Add grapes, Kalamata olives and some fresh rosemary and put it in the oven to bake for 20 minutes.

Chicken in a skillet before being baked in the oven.

That’s it, winner winner chicken dinner and you only spent 10 minutes! I don’t count the time it’s in the oven because that’s time when I can enjoy a glass of wine and relax while the oven does all the work.

Recipe notes

Allow your chicken thighs to sit out at room temperature for about 10 minutes before cooking.
Add a ½ cup dry white wine to the pan after you achieve that crispy skin and place it in the oven to meld the flavors together.
Try squeezing a bit of fresh lemon over the plate right before serving for a great citrus burst.

What to serve with roasted chicken thighs recipe

Choose a side with a kick! Spicy roasted cauliflower pairs perfectly
Enjoy a slice of Irish soda bread to lap up some of the sweet and salty flavors
Try this healthy, colorful couscous salad
Green beans with bacon and onions are always a good choice
Creamy au gratin potatoes would be an excellent side

Next time when you’ve had a long day, skip the rotisserie chicken from the grocery and treat yourself and your family to a dinner everyone will love, with very minimal effort.

If you find yourself cooking with chicken a lot and want to know for sure that your chicken is cooked thoroughly, head to my informational page on ways to make sure your chicken is cooked all the way but still remains juicy and delicious.

FAQs and tips

What are kalamata olives?

Kalamata olives are long, oval and purple shaped olives and are grown specifically in Kalamata, an area in Greece.

What is the difference between black olives and Kalamata olives?

Kalamata olives are classified as a black olive, but are not the black olives you commonly think of.

Black olives are grown many places and are smaller in size and appear darker than Kalamatas, which are grown in one area of Greece. Black olives have a salty bite to them and are a little chewier.

The taste of a Kalamata olive is still tangy like other olives yet slightly fruity. They are soft and come away from the stone easily, almost falling apart before you bite into them. .

What temperature should chicken thighs be cooked to?

Chicken thighs should be cooked to 165º to 175º. A meat thermometer is helpful for making sure it is cooked throughout.

Can you cook this dish only in the oven?

You can cook this entirely in the oven, but it will be harder to get a crispy skin without burning the olives and grapes.

Enjoy more chicken dinner recipes

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