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This Easy Chicken with Olives dish is a true showstopper when you’re looking for something with Mediterranean flare! The garlic and herb flavor and brininess from the olives and capers come together perfectly for a tender and succulent chicken dish.
Try this Easy Balsamic Chicken or Creamy Garlic Chicken + Mushrooms recipe next!
Why You’ll Love This Chicken and Olives Recipe
- Nutrition Packed: Chicken is an excellent source of lean protein, while garlic is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Olives add a boost of healthy fats, and the fresh herbs provide an extra dose of flavor and nutrition. To really bring out the best in this dish, be sure to use the freshest, highest-quality ingredients you can find.
- Bold Flavor: With a simple overnight marinade and an hour in the oven, this recipe is easy to make and packed with flavor and a super impressive presentation. I like to marinate the chicken overnight because WOW it’s so worth it, but it needs at least 4 hours…so plan ahead!
- Tender Meat: Using bone in chicken thighs and drumsticks means that this recipe turns out tender and full of flavor from the dark meat.
Are you ready to add more delicious and nutritious olives to your meals? Then you should try this Quinoa + Olive Herbed Salad, Lemony Chicken + Olives Skillet, or Lemony Chickpea + Olive Chopped Salad
Ingredients:
These are the ingredients that come together in this chicken with olives recipe to make it delicious and nutritious.
4 servings
- 3 lbs. bone-in chicken thighs and drums
- 8 fresh garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tbsps dried oregano
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup your favorite wine, red or white
- 2 Tbsps avocado oil or olive oil
- 3 whole bay leaves
- ½ cup black or kalamata olives
- ½ cup green olives
- ¼ cup capers with juice
How to make Chicken with Olives:
Step 1. Marinate your chicken. Pat chicken pieces dry on all sides using a paper towel. Place your chicken into a large bowl or container with lid. Add in your minced garlic, oregano, sea salt, pepper, wine, oil, and bay leaves. Toss to combine well, then cover and refrigerate overnight.
Step 2. Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking and preheat your oven to 350°F. Arrange your marinated chicken pieces in a large baking dish together with the juices from the marinade. Stir in the olives and capers. Cover with parchment paper, a lid, or foil.
Step 3. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Remove the cover, give it a little stir and bake for 30 minutes more, or until the meat thermometer inserted into the center of each piece of chicken shows 165 degrees f.
Step 4. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!
💚Rachel
Rachel’s Tips for Best Results
- Because we are using only a few simple ingredients here, I recommend using the absolute freshest, highest quality ingredients you can get your hands on…it makes all the difference.
- 🧄If you’re a garlic lover (like me!), then you’re really going to enjoy this dish! Don’t be shy with the garlic…add more to your heart’s desires.
- 🍷Do not use cooking wine. Use a decent to nicer quality wine that one would drink. You can use chicken or beef bone broth as a substitute for the wine if desired.
Serving Suggestions
This chicken, olive, caper recipe is delicious served over cauliflower rice, brown rice or quinoa since it bakes up with such a delicious sauciness from the marinade. Some other suggests I have are these side dishes, Pastaless Italian Salad, Mediterranean Inspired Quinoa Salad, and Garlic Parmesan Green Beans.
Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions
This dish is so delicious you are going to want to keep the leftovers so you can eat them later in the week. We recommend storing the olive chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
This dish also freezes well, so you could potentially make a little extra and freeze it for a completely different meal. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months!
Recipe FAQ’s
Do I have to add the capers to this dish?
If you don’t like capers, then it is fine to leave them out. You could add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to get that same brightness the capers bring to the dish.
Can you make chicken with olives with chicken breasts?
You can absolutely make this chicken and olives dish with chicken breast. We recommend using bone in and skin on for extra moist chicken with more flavor. You may need to adjust the bake time depending on the size of your chicken breasts.
Are you looking for more delicious chicken recipes? Then you may want to try Creamy Coconut Lime Chicken, Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers, or La Scala Chicken Salad next!
Easy Baked Chicken with Olives and Capers
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks
- 8 fresh garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tbsps dried oregano
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup your favorite wine, red or white
- 2 Tbsps avocado oil or olive oil
- 3 whole bay leaves
- ½ cup black or kalamata olives
- ½ cup green olives
- ¼ cup capers with juice
Instructions
- Pat chicken pieces dry on all sides using a paper towel.
- Place your chicken into a large bowl or container with lid.
- Add in your minced garlic, oregano, sea salt, pepper, wine, oil, and bay leaves. Toss to combine well, then cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees f.
- Arrange your marinated chicken pieces in a large baking dish together with the juices from the marinade. Stir in the olives and capers. Cover with parchment paper, a lid, or foil.
- Bake at 350 degrees f. for 30 minutes.
- Remove the cover, give it a little stir and bake for 30 minutes more, or until the meat thermometer inserted into the center of each piece of chicken shows 165 degrees f.
- Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
