Chicken Marbella
Get ready to discover your new dinner party superstar! This Mediterranean-inspired chicken dish combines sweet, briny, and savory flavors in a way that’ll make your taste buds dance. Trust me, the combination of prunes, olives, and capers might sound unusual, but it creates pure magic on the plate.
The beauty of Chicken Marbella lies in its make-ahead genius. As the chicken marinates overnight, it soaks up an intoxicating blend of garlic, herbs, and wine. When it emerges from the oven, you’ll have tender, juicy chicken with a perfectly caramelized exterior that’s equally impressive served hot or at room temperature.
Ingredients
For the Marinade:
- 2 chickens (2½ pounds each, quartered, bone-in, skin-on)
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 2¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ cup pitted prunes
- ¼ cup Spanish green olives
- ¼ cup capers, with juice
- 3 bay leaves
For Baking:
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup white wine
- 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped
Steps
- Combine the marinade ingredients in a large bowl: Add the garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers with juice, and bay leaves. Mix well. Add chicken pieces and thoroughly coat with marinade, paying special attention to getting it under the skin where flavor really counts. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours or overnight.
- Position two racks in the center of your oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C). This ensures even cooking throughout.
- Transfer the marinated chicken to two 9×13-inch baking dishes, arranging in a single layer. Pour all marinade ingredients over the chicken evenly. Sprinkle brown sugar over each piece and pour white wine around (not over) the chicken to preserve the sugar coating.
- Bake for 1 hour, basting every 20 minutes with pan juices. Check doneness by piercing the thickest part of a thigh – juice should run clear yellow, not pink. If using a meat thermometer, internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken and garnishes to a serving platter, discarding bay leaves. For crispier skin (optional): Place chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil 5 inches from heat for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Finish by spooning some pan juices over the chicken and garnishing with fresh parsley. Serve remaining sauce separately. Can be enjoyed hot or at room temperature (flavors are actually more pronounced at room temp).
Smart Swaps
- Use dried apricots instead of prunes (same amount)
- Replace white wine with chicken broth plus 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- Substitute boneless thighs for whole chicken pieces (reduce cooking time to 35-40 minutes)
Make It Diabetes-Friendly
- Replace brown sugar with ¼ cup monk fruit sweetener
- Use sugar-free dried plums instead of regular prunes
- Reduce prune quantity to ¼ cup to lower carb content
- Serve with cauliflower rice to reduce glycemic impact
- Per serving carb reduction: approximately 18g
Pro Tips
- Marinate for up to 24 hours for even more flavor
- Pat chicken skin dry before baking for better browning
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving to retain juices
- Save extra pan sauce – it’s fantastic on roasted potatoes