Tender, succulent pieces of chicken marinated in an unbelievably delicious sauce for a dish that will have you coming back for more!! Chicken Marbella makes a great meal warm OR cold, and I played with this popular recipe to make it healthier!
My good friend Jeneen turned me onto this recipe over ten years ago when food allergies where unheard of and massive amounts of sugar didn’t phase me a bit.
A famous recipe that originated in a cookbook called the The Silver Palate, this Chicken Marbella is well known and loved.
Unusual Ingredients Create Magic!
While there is an unusual combination of ingredients in this recipe, don’t be put off…this recipe is beloved for a reason.
A veritable party in your mouth of contrasting flavors and textures!
How to make a Healthier Chicken Marbella?
Some purists might balk at a tweaking of a good thing. But with 1 cup of brown sugar called for, and a very soupy sauce left in the bottom of the pan (my husband would lament that sauciness, and I aim to please), I knew I wanted to change some things for our family.
My original intention was to just reduce the sweetener and use palm sugar…but then I wondered: what would happen if I left it out altogether? After all prunes are super sweet in and of themselves…could I rely on them for that sweet and savory combination many of us love so well?
The end result of this luscious Chicken Marbella dish is succulent pieces of tender chicken with a perfect marriage of sweet and salty. Even better, the skin caramelizes in the pan without a bath of juice to sit in while baking!
Enjoy a super super easy, hands-off dinner that will please the masses.
Recipe tweaks?
- Incidentally, if any of you would like to add the last couple of ingredients for more sauce.. when you are ready to bake, sprinkle the marinated pieces with about 1/4 cup palm sugar, followed by 1/2 cup white wine and bake as directed.
- PS: I leave the olives out because I have never been able to get my taste buds around them. Forgive me, I am less than perfect!
- PSS: These chicken pieces are great hot OR cold!
Want some more dinner ideas that include chicken? I have a chicken tag with all my chicken recipes, or check out a couple of our Paleo | keto | whole30 compliant favorites:
- Paleo Pesto Spaghetti Squash w/ Crispy Bacon and Chicken
- Paleo Dairy Free Chicken Tikka Masala
- Simple Grilled Vietnamese Chicken
Paleo Chicken Marbella Recipe:
Chicken Marbella - Paleo | Whole30
Ingredients
- 4 pounds bone-in chicken pieces with skin ( I used drumsticks and thighs)
In a Blender:
Remaining Marinade Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup halved or quartered prunes
- 1/4 cup capers w/ juice
- 8 green olives - halved optional
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
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In a blender, puree the blender ingredients until smooth.
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Pour into a container large enough to hold all your chicken pieces (a Ziploc bag would work too).
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Add the remaining marinade ingredients and mix to blend together.
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Add your chicken pieces, and make sure all pieces are evenly coated and touched by the goodness! Massage away!
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Place in the fridge and marinate 24 HOURS!! No, a couple of hours is not the same, so RESIST!
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When you are ready to cook, remove the pieces and place them in a large roasting pan with all the marinade.
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Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
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Roast the chicken for 45-60 minutes until well cooked and the the skin in golden brown and crispy.
Recipe Notes
PLAN FOR MARINATE TIME!!
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Oh my, this one is a keeper! The flavor is amazing with the different ingredients blending together. It’s important to let the marinade work for 24+ hours. If you know a busy day is ahead, prepping the day before, gives you time to present a fabulous meal.
I love chicken marsala, and this recipe gives all the flavor while leaving out all of the bad stuff. I also love the use of bone in chicken. It makes it so much juicier!
This is one of my go-to recipes. A tweak I use – I blend all ingredients (except chicken and bay leaf) and it makes a kind of paste/spread. I marinate as in the recipe. When cooked, the paste caramelizes and for those who don’t like whole olives or prunes, you get the flavor but a lovely texture.
That is such a great idea! I’ll have to try that version next time for sure!
DROOL. I can tell how deliciously crispy that skin is! Love all those flavors.
I get this dish at Wholefoods Market, its one of my favorites. I made this recipe and it came out crazy delicious. Definitely marinate overnight, it makes the chicken so tender and juicy. I cut up a whole free range fresh chicken. the thighs and legs were definitely a lot more juicy than the breasts.
Thanks Melanie! I had no Idea Whole Foods did this one! I agree that marinating overnight is the way to go too! Have you ever eaten it cold….it is great that way too!
Is this made with dried prunes? I have made something similar with fresh Italian prune plumbs from my trees.
Thanks, Beth
Yes Beth, dried prunes…but slivers of a plum could be great too I imagine!!
This might be a weird question but can you use dates instead of prunes? What’s the difference? Thanks!
Sure Liv….just missing the tart note!
This is a great recipe! I’d love it if you would share it on my new corn-free link party. http://www.creatingsilverlinings.com/corn-free-everyday-feb-15-2015/
Jillian Hudson recently posted…Creamy Chicken Enchilada Casserole – CF, GF, DF
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a huge hit – really flavorful!!! Thanks for another winning recipe 🙂
-Cassidy
Cassidy @ Cassidy’s Craveable Creations recently posted…Paleo Tortillas {Gluten, Grain, Nut & Egg Free}
a flavor powerhouse for sure Cassidy! SO glad you and your family loved it…hopefully you had leftovers to enjoy it cold too!
I think leaving the sugar out completely was a great idea! I’m glad you mentioned the olives thing, because I want to try this, but yeah, green olives. >gag<
Thanks for sharing with Waste Not Want Not Wednesday!
This sounds really good. Could you freeze it at the marinade stage and cook later?
Do you guys know if it would do anything “weird” to the chicken if it was frozen in the marinade?
I’m hoping to adapt this to a once a month cooking plan 🙂
Thanks!
Kristin
most definitely Kristin!
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you are having a great week and enjoy your new Red Plate.
Miz Helen
Miz Helen recently posted…Full Plate Thursday 2-6-14
Looks amazing Tessa! You will be featured tomorrow on Simple Meals Friday. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe. It’s going on the menu plan.
Katie@SimpleFoody recently posted…Healing Diastasis Without Surgery {intro}
I love your adaptation of this classic recipe. I’ve printed it out to try myself. Thanks for linking up at the AIP Recipe Roundtable, Tessa.
Amazing! This would be perfect to make the house smell great and warm my belly on these winter evenings. Thanks for linking on Tuesday Greens!
Becky recently posted…Tuesday Greens #58
Your Paleo Chicken Marbella looks fabulous, I am getting hungry just looking at it! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week!
Miz Helen
Here is a recipe I hope you can help me “Healthify.” Cuban Chicken.
1/2 cup fresh orange juice 1 1/2cups chopped garnet yams
1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1 cup tomatoe sauce
1/4 cup minced garlic. 1 cup dry white wine
1 jalapeno pepper minced 1/3 cup caper drained
2 TBLS orange zest 1/2 cup seedless raisins
kosher salt 1/2 cup pitted green olives (I know)
4 lbs skinless chicken breasts and thighs
1/3 cup peanut oil 1 TBLS lime zest
4 cups chopped onions
1 1/2 cups chopped red bell pepper
Combine orange and lime juices, garlic, chili, 1 TBLS orange zest, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add chicken pieces, toss to coat, and marinate at least 2 hours or over night in the refrigerator.
Remove Chicken from marinade and pat dry on paper towels. Reserve marinade.
Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. heat the peanut oil in a heavy Dutch Oven over medium heat. Add chicken, in batches, and brown on both sides, Leave space around the chicken so that the chicken can brown without burning, Remove the chicken pieces to a platter as they are finished.
When all the chicken has been browned, add the onions, bell peppers, and potatoes to the Dutch Oven and saute until onions become translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Return the chicken to the pan. add the tomato sauce, wine, capers, raisins, olives, and reserved marinade. Reduce heat to low, cover pan, and simmer gently for 30 to 40 minutes. Season to taste and cut into largest piece of chicken to check doneness.
When chicken is done stir in the remaining orange zest and the lime zest. Let rest covered for 5 to 10 minutes.
Using the lid to hold back the solid pieces, pour off the cooking liquid into a small sauce pan; strain if necessary. Boil the cooking liquid over medium heat until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups. pour over the chicken in the pan. Transfer the chicken mixture to a serving platter. Garnish with parsley. from Secrets from a Caterer’s Kitchen. Nicole Aloni.
MINUS THE OIL, LOOKS PRETTY GOOD TO ME…WHAT ARE TRYING TO DO Chevin?
Just a curious question-I am going to put this on my menu for dinner next week and planning what I need so what if have a family member that can’t eat prunes what can be a substitute? Thanks
Hi Hollie! This a perfect dinner for guest as you can marinate and have it ready to go before guest time! You can leave them out altogether or perhaps some raisins!
Thanks so much! I am going to try it. Will let you know how it turns out.
This must be amazing – I will definitely have to try it! Thanks so much for sharing with Healing With Food Friday! Come back again this week – we are LIVE now: http://peelingbacktheonionlayers.com/healing-with-food-friday-8/
Dawn @ Peeling Back the Onion Layers recently posted…Healing With Food Friday #8
This sounds amazing! Never would have thought to cook with prunes. Very interesting. I’m going to have to give this a try. Thanks!
Dawn @Transformed By Food recently posted…Deliciously Simple Paleo Applesauce
Ooh, this looks sooo good. I absolutely love capers, and don’t feel like they are in enough recipes. Definitely trying this one!
Thanks for linking up to Natural Living Monday!
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Hi Tessa,
I can’t wait to taste this recipe. Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Miz Helen recently posted…Whats For Dinner Next Week 10-27-13
Thank you for posting. This looks amazing 🙂
Marianne @ Ragdoll Kitchen recently posted…Carob Sesame Crackers
THis looks like it doesn’t lack ANY FLAVOR AT ALL! 😀
Delicious. My mom used to make the non-paleo version of this recipe as a kid. As much as I enjoyed this, I think the ratio of toppings (olives, capers, and prunes) to chicken is too low and I’d recommend tripling these toppings. Also add some chicken stock so the marinade can be large enough to penetrate all the chicken.
Thanks for posting!
Easy enough to add more of those things LBC….my husband wishes I’d leave out the prunes…but everyone has their preferences…and mine include the prunes! Thanks so much for the feedback, readers find it so helpful!
I’ve pinned this one, Tessa. It sounds SO good! I love the sweet/salty flavours and it is wonderful how you have made the recipe so much healthier. I like the addition of the prunes too.
Thanks April…I agree the sweet and salty is a great combo!
I like this recipe so much that I will be featuring it this week on Gluten-Free Monday at OneCreativeMommy.com. Please stop by and grab a featured button if you’d like. I hope you’ll be back to link up again on Monday.
Mmmm I am going to have to try this! We would exclude capers and olives because my husband is weird. 😉
Thanks for sharing on Simple Meals Friday!
I made this for dinner last night (after marinating for the required 24 hours!). My boyfriend and I loved it. I left out the capers because I didn’t have any, but I did add the green olives. Thanks for sharing!
http://www.naturallyminimalist.com
Awesome Zan, thank you for coming back and letting me know!
This sounds great!I would love to have you share this on Thursday at Tasty Traditions: myculturedpalate.com
Thanks for linking up at Gluten Free Fridays! I have this tweeted and pinned!
This looks soooo delicious! I’m definitely pinning this to make SOON.
Thanks for linking up to Thank Your Body Thursday!
http://www.thankyourbody.com
It sounds so delicious!!!
I’ll forgive you for leaving the olives out, I can always add them in. I love this healthified version! Beautiful as well Tessa.
You are so right about the marinade time! Salt pulls the water out of the chicken, making salt water. Then it all gets pulled back into the chicken together. If you take it out too soon, the chicken is dry!
Ok, enough marinade wonkiness. 🙂 This looks wonderful! I got some broiler chickens from a local farm and this would be a great recipe for one.
Bonnie
http://www.HungryChickenHomestead.com
But marinade science if helpful Bonnie! Thanks for your comment!
thank you for linking up with Kids in the Kitchen! love it – pinning and tweeting 🙂
Love the flavors in this dish Tessa! I imagine capers and chicken pair beautifully together.
How interesting–prunes and olives! I love olives, and the sweetness of the prunes would be great with them. Thanks for sharing!
Looks great! Did you cook it in your cast iron skillet? Is there a substitution for the capers? I don’t usually have those on hand.
Hi Linda! I have cooked it in my cast iron, and a roasting ban…a full recipe doesn’t fit in my cast iron! Since there are so many layers of flavor in the recipe, leave the capers out if you don’t have them. They add a great flavor, but it will be good without them too…nothing really mimics them…except for green olives which are in there anyways!
This looks wonderful. Pinning to make later! Yum.