Description
This Chicken & Nduja Bake is a flavorful Italian dish featuring tender boneless chicken thighs cooked in a spicy, aromatic sauce made with nduja sausage, bell peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes. Oven-baked to perfection, the dish combines smoky paprika and garlic with fresh vegetables, resulting in a comforting, gluten-free one-pan meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sausage
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons nduja sausage
Vegetables
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 zucchini, sliced into half-moons
- 1 can (14 oz) cherry tomatoes or chopped tomatoes
Seasonings and Garnish
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the dish.
- Sauté the onion: Heat olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet or baking dish over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced red onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to release its aroma.
- Cook vegetables: Add the sliced red and yellow bell peppers along with the zucchini half-moons to the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften.
- Add seasonings and sauces: Stir in the smoked paprika, nduja sausage, and canned tomatoes. Mix well to combine all ingredients and bring out the flavors. Season with salt and black pepper according to your taste.
- Prepare chicken: Nestle the boneless chicken thighs into the vegetable and sauce mixture, spooning some sauce over the top of the chicken to keep it moist during baking.
- Bake the dish: Transfer the entire skillet or baking dish to the preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and the sauce is bubbling.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the dish from the oven and garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve hot, ideally with crusty bread, rice, or a green salad.
Notes
- Nduja is a spicy, spreadable pork sausage from Calabria, Italy. Adjust the amount used based on your preferred spice level.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with crusty bread to soak up the sauce, steamed rice, or a fresh green salad for a balanced meal.
