The first time we ate Chicken Vesuvio, Mike and I were in Chicago on tour with The King and I back in 1982 and we discovered this wonderfully fragrant and incredibly rich chicken dish in a little Italian restaurant on Rush Street. We were completely smitten and probably returned to indulge in Chicken Vesuvio a dozen times over two months! The chicken was incredibly rich and full of flavor, the potatoes roasted golden and there were soft pieces of garlic to slather on each bite. Heaven!
If you love garlic (married to an Italian I definitely do!) then this recipe is for you. It’s so easy and flavorful, it will likely become a staple in your kitchen. It’s become one of my favorite go-to recipes to make when company is coming because it feeds an army and you can prep it all the day before. In fact, it’s even better the next day! I think it’s a little gem of a recipe that’s easy and best of all, flexible. I hope you like it as much as we do. Oh, and it easily doubles or triples for a crowd. Just make it in a roasting pan instead of a dutch oven. You can even make this in a crock pot! Check Kate’s Tips for the how-to 🙂
Why I love this recipe:
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It’s truly delicious and loaded with flavor
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It’s a crowd pleaser
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You can make most of it the day before your event
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Kids love it
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It’s a garlic lover’s dream!!
Chicken Vesuvio
- Serves 4
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil, coconut oil, ghee or avocado oil
- 1 whole organic chicken cut up or 2 large breasts cut in half and 4 thighs and 4 legs.
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- ½ pound small, red-skinned potatoes, cut in half or russet potatoes cut into wedges
- 10 large, whole, peeled garlic cloves
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 8 ounces frozen peas or if you want to be fancy, frozen artichoke hearts
- Preheat the oven to 400.
- Over high heat, heat the oil in a large ovenproof pot or roasting pan. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken in batches until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken to a platter and set aside.
- Add the potatoes to the pot and cook them until golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms when the potatoes start to brown. Add the whole garlic cloves and saute until golden. When brown, remove the potatoes, mushrooms and garlic to a platter.
- Add the wine (I use Pinot Grigio) and stir to scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pot. Add the chicken broth, oregano and thyme, bring to a boil over medium-high heat and let it cook down and concentrate a bit.
- For the best flavor, make this up the day before serving.
- Now, add the chicken and potatoes back to the pot or roasting pan, cover and put in the oven and bake for about an hour or until a thermometer inserted into the chicken reads 165. During the last 15 minutes in the oven, add the thawed peas or artichoke hearts. Serve and don't forget to spread those soft, sweet cloves of garlic all over the chicken pieces as you eat them.
Kate’s Tips
- I use a combo of white and dark meat pieces but if your family favors one over the other, feel free to use it exclusively.
- I love chicken skin and it gets nice and brown when you cook it so I recommend leaving it on but you don’t have to.
- The peas and/or artichoke hearts are optional. I usually forget to add them so don’t worry if you don’t have any on hand.
- Don’t care for mushrooms? No problem, just leave them out.
- The recipe easily doubles or triples. Use a roasting pan instead of a dutch oven.
- I serve this with a big green salad, a veggie and crusty Italian bread. So good!
- Chicken Vesuvio is both Gluten Free and Paleo.
- You can easily do this recipe in a crockpot. After step 5, put everything into your crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Enjoy!
A few products I use in this recipe:
- Avocado Oil – I like using this when I’m sautéing over high heat.
- Oregano – I love using freeze-dried herbs when I can. They have great flavor!
- Thyme – ditto with thyme!
- In fact, there’s a whole set of freeze dried organic herbs that’s wonderful, I love them! They make a great housewarming gift!
Your kitchen will smell divine and your family will be so impressed with your culinary expertise! Serve with some crusty Italian bread and a green salad. Enjoy!
Perfect Pasta Salad
Hi! I have had this page pinned for years for the Chicken Princess recipe- it’s not here anymore! Could you send it to me?
Hi Sarah-I’m sending it right now!! I am going to reblog it soon. I’m so glad you like it!
Could I use boneless chicken breast and thighs for this recipe?
Hi Desiree–I think it would be fine! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
I love this dish! My wife Lynn and I used to get this at a tiny mom & pop Italian restaurant up in north Jersey. We make it at home adding italian sweet sausage along with the chicken. It’s a perfect autumn meal. Fuggedabouit! Thanks for sharing.
Well, I totally have to try adding the Italian sausage – what a great idea! Hugs to you and Lynn! 🙂