Chicken, Chorizo and Chickpea Stew

4.32 from 58 votes

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This Spanish-style chicken stew with chorizo, olives and chickpeas is simply packed with flavor! Serve with couscous or rice and some crusty bread to mop up the delicious sauce.

Looking for more easy chicken recipes? Try my Creamy Chicken Pasta

Chicken stew with olives and chickpeas in a large shallow cast iron casserole

Since the success of my Chinese chicken and rice, I have embraced chicken thighs as my new favourite ingredient.

For one thing they are so much cheaper than chicken breasts and for another so much more flavorful and tender.

They really shine in this Spanish-style chicken, chorizo, olive and chickpea stew which you just need to make ASAP! Serve with rice or couscous to soak up the lovely sauce.

Chicken, chorizo, olive and chickpea stew served over rice in a rustic bowl

I also love cooking with chorizo, another ingredient that becomes the MVP of many a meal, no matter how sparingly it is used.

But even if you left both the chicken and chorizo out of this stew it would still taste pretty amazing – you could double up on the chickpeas and perhaps add some feta cheese for a meat-free version.

Make sure also to keep the liquid from the chickpeas (known as aquafaba) as it can be used to make amazing vegan desserts, from macarons to chocolate mousse.

close up on chicken stew

How to make Chicken Chorizo Stew

Full measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Please take a look at the steps and video before attempting this recipe!

  1. Mix all the spices and dried herbs together in a small bowl. Season the chicken on both sides with half the mix.
  2. Peel the casing off the chorizo and cut into small cubes. Heat a large lidded casserole dish and add the olive oil. Throw in the chorizo and cook over medium-high heat until it starts releasing some of its spicy oil.
  3. Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook until nicely browned on one side, about 2-3 minutes. Use tongs to flip over and cook the other side. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
pan frying chicken and chorizo
  1. Add a splash of sherry (or white wine or just water) to deglaze the pan and scrape any browned bits of chicken. Add the onion and garlic over medium-low heat for 2 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining spice mix and cook for a further 2 minutes.
frying onion, garlic and chorizo
  1. Stir in the chickpeas and tomatoes. Fill the empty tomato tin with water and add to the pan. Add the crumbled stock cube and honey, stir everything together and bring to a simmer. Return the chicken to the pan, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
making Spanish chicken stew collage
  1. Stir in the olives and cook, uncovered, for a further 5-10 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and liquid is reduced.
  2. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the dried chilli flakes and fresh thyme and serve with steamed brown rice or couscous.
Chicken in a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Instructions

This recipe is also suitable for the slow cooker, especially if you own one that has a browning function like my Greenpan 6QT slow cooker. Follow the recipe method as written but omit the water. Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 2-3 hours or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.


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4.32 from 58 votes

Chicken, chorizo, olive and chickpea stew

This Spanish-style chicken stew with chorizo, olives and chickpeas is simply packed with flavor! Serve with couscous or rice and some crusty bread to mop up the delicious sauce.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
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Video

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 100 g (3 ½ oz) chorizo diced
  • 6 chicken breasts or 8 chicken thighs (skin on)
  • 1 large onion peeled and roughly chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • splash sherry white wine or water to deglaze the pan
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp onion granules
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ chilli powder
  • 400 g (14oz) chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 400 g (14oz) tomatoes finely chopped or fire roasted
  • water see recipe
  • 1 chicken stock cube crumbled
  • 1-2 tbsp honey
  • 20 green pitted olives
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • ¼ tsp dried chilli flakes to serve
  • fresh thyme to garnish to serve

Instructions 

  • Mix all the spices and dried herbs together in a small bowl. Season the chicken on both sides with half the mix.
  • Peel the casing off the chorizo and cut into small cubes.
  • Heat a large lidded casserole dish and add the olive oil. Throw in the chorizo and cook over medium-high heat until it starts releasing some of its spicy oil.
  • Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook until nicely browned on one side, about 2-3 minutes. Use tongs to flip over and cook the other side. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
  • Add a splash of sherry (or white wine or just water) to deglaze the pan and scrape any browned bits of chicken.
  • Add the onion and garlic over medium-low heat for 2 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining spice mix and cook for a further 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the chickpeas and tomatoes. Fill the empty tomato tin with water and add to the pan.
  • Add the crumbled stock cube and honey, stir everything together and bring to a simmer.
  • Return the chicken to the pan, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
  • Stir in the olives and cook, uncovered, for a further 5-10 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and liquid is reduced.
  • Taste and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the dried chilli flakes and fresh thyme and serve with steamed brown rice or couscous.

Notes

To cook the recipe in a slow cooker with a sauté setting, follow the recipe as written but don’t add the water. Cover and cook on the low setting for 2-3 hours or until the chicken is cooked through. 

Nutrition

Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 692mg | Potassium: 409mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1.9mg

Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.

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4.32 from 58 votes (52 ratings without comment)

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33 Comments

  1. Eva says:

    Sounds delicous i would like to make. What kind of chorizo n where can i buy iy. Im mexican i only know mexican chorizo

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      In the UK you can purchase Spanish chorizo rings which need to be cooked before eating. I am sure Mexican chorizo would be a fine substitute

  2. Bev says:

    This recipe was delicious! I used chicken breast instead of thighs, as my husband won’t mess with bones in a casserole. The flavours are gorgeous, I will definitely make this again as it is so simple. I don’t usually leave comments for recipes but this was so good I felt I had to

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      Thanks for taking the trouble to comment Bev it is much appreciated 🙂 and glad you enjoyed the recipe

  3. Beth says:

    Can you freeze this? Looks really tasty!

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      I haven’t tried to be honest but I don’t see why not. As long as the chicken is fresh when you cook it it should be fine.

  4. Stacey says:

    1/4 c of chili powder” just says 1/4…

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      1/4 teaspoon – will amend

  5. Chris sturdy says:

    Hi-delicious with lots of flavour, we omitted the olives as not a fan and used chicken breasts instead of thighs -but lovely dish thanks

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      So glad you enjoyed it!

  6. Michelle says:

    This ranked a “10” with the hubby. I added a dash of cinnamon as well. He loved the medley of flavors, none of which were overpowering. I had some andouille laying around so I used that instead of chorizo but will definitely try that as well.

    1. Lucy Parissi says:

      Thanks for the comment Michelle am thrilled that you liked it! I never tried andouille sausage but sounds like it would be perfect

  7. Luci's Morsels says:

    This looks absolutely delicious! That chicken looks so tender and flavorful and I love that this recipe is simple enough for a week night. Thank you for sharing this one. Yummy! Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.

  8. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says:

    This stew looks incredible. I am really going to have to try an instant pot one of these days!

  9. Julie says:

    This recipe is right up my alley, I love chorizo and chick pea.
    Thanks for sharing
    Julie
    ThermoKitchen

  10. Janette@CulinaryGinger.com says:

    This a hearty and comforting dish. Chicken thighs are my new thing as well. I love how much flavor in in this dish.