Braised Catalina Chicken (Printable version)
Tender chicken braised in Catalina dressing with vegetables creates a flavorful main dish.
# List of ingredients:
→ Poultry
01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 large onion, thinly sliced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
06 - 1 cup Catalina salad dressing
07 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
08 - 2 tbsp ketchup
09 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
11 - 1 tsp paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
→ Garnish
14 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika.
03 - Heat a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs, skin side down, and sear for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook another 2 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
04 - In the same pan, add onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
05 - In a bowl, mix Catalina dressing, chicken broth, ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined.
06 - Return chicken to the pan, arranging over the vegetables. Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken.
07 - Cover with lid or foil and transfer to preheated oven. Braise for 25 minutes.
08 - Uncover and cook for an additional 10 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and chicken to brown.
09 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce creates this incredibly sticky, sweet-and-tangy glaze that makes people ask for seconds
- Everything cooks in one pan so you get maximum flavor with minimum cleanup
02 -
- Don't skip the searing step. Those browned bits on the bottom of the pan are where all the depth of flavor comes from.
- The sauce will look thin going into the oven, but it reduces down into something glossy and perfect while it braises.
03 -
- Use a skillet that's at least 12 inches across so everything fits in a single layer without crowding
- If the sauce is too thick after braising, stir in a splash of broth before serving