This Chicken Scarpariello recipe is a tasty skillet dinner made with chicken, sausage, peppers and mushrooms. Prepared on the stovetop and then baked for 20 minutes, this chicken scarpariello recipe is a great Italian dish.
This post may contain affiliate links of which I may or may not be paid a small commission at no cost to you.
As of yesterday I’m not sure I had ever heard of Chicken Scarpariello, though I have heard of chicken with Italian sausage and peppers.
It appears that Chicken Scarpariello is a dish that contains chicken and hot peppers. Maybe mushrooms. Maybe wine. And some are with potatoes, similar to Chicken Vesuvio.
It is an Italian American dish and that’s about as far as I got. There are many versions of chicken scarpariello.
There is Rao’s chicken scarpariello and Giada’s chicken scarpariello and Mario Batali’s chicken scarpariello. There is even Carmine’s chicken scarpariello recipe. Well, you get the picture. And each recipe is a bit different than the next.
So now it’s time for Abbe’s chicken scarpariello!
Table of Contents
Scarpariello means “shoemaker” in Italian, but yet this is considered an Italian American dish and apparently not found in Italy.
Though I do not know how this dish got this name, I can tell you that this is a great meal to have after a long day at work. You can even prepare it ahead and then just pop it in the oven for 20 minutes when you get home.
Why I Love This Chicken Scarpariello Recipe
Chicken Scarpariello makes one tasty dinner.
And with chicken and sausage there is something that should please everyone.
It’s a recipe that’s easy to play around with.
Want to add potatoes? Be my guest?
More pepperoncini? For sure. Or add some spicy cherry peppers.
Want it saucier? Just add more liquid.
Get the picture? This tasty chicken Scarpariello recipe can be adapted in so many ways.
FAQ’s
What is Chicken Scarpariello?
Like I mentioned there are many versions of chicken scarpariello. Most contain chicken, sausage and peppers and after all these years, I’m seeing this made with potatoes, too.
Many contain some hot pepperoncini or spicy cherry peppers, which I also love. I added capers and mushrooms and a touch of tomato paste.
For simplicity, I make this recipe with boneless chicken breasts. One could also use boneless thighs. But bone-in chicken pieces work well, too, though cooking times will have to be adjusted.
What to serve with Chicken Scarpariello with sausage and peppers?
Since chicken scarpariello contains vegetables and lots of protein, I think I’d keep this simple. Some spaghetti tossed with olive oil and garlic would be perfect, but then again so would polenta or even mashed potatoes.
A green salad would offset the rich flavors of this dish and no one would turn up their nose at garlic bread. But bread is totally not necessary, I say with tongue in cheek.
Can chicken scarpariello be made ahead?
This chicken scarpariello recipe is easily made ahead. Just stop right before you need to pop it into the oven. Place it in the fridge, bring it back to room temperature while your oven preheats and then bake the chicken scarpariello for about 20 minutes.
Ingredients for Chicken Scarpariello Recipe with Sausage
My chicken scarpariello recipe is full of umami which makes this skillet dinner an amazing meal that will quickly become a family favorite. Seasonings vary from recipe to recipe. I’ve spied rosemary in some, but I used oregano in mine.
Pounded boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs or bone-in chicken parts of your choice
Flour and seasonings like oregano and garlic powder, salt and pepper- Lightly dredging in flour helps keep the chicken moist and gives a beautiful golden color
Butter and Olive oil- Butter adds extra flavor and olive oil helps increase the smoke-point of the two.
Chopped Garlic- Can’t have an Italian dish without garlic!
Mushrooms and Diced Peppers- Though many chicken scarpariello recipes use potatoes, I love the flavor and meatiness of the mushrooms.
Italian Sausages- 1 per person. I prefer Boulder spicy Italian sausage if you can find it.
Pepperoncini and capers-Many chicken scarpariello recipes use hot cherry peppers or peppadews. I always have pepperoncini on hand so that’s what I use. Capers add an extra dimension but are optional.
White wine and chicken stock, tomato paste- These make a great sauce and add flavor to the chicken. Red wine is allowable, too. Don’t forget to add some oregano and red pepper flakes to taste. Many chicken scarpariello recipes use rosemary instead of oregano.
How To Make this Chicken Scarpariello Recipe
In just a few simple steps this cicken scarpariello recipe is yours!
Begin by dredging the chicken of your choice in flour and seasonings.
Brown the chicken in the combination of olive oil and butter. Do not worry about cooking all the way through as it will finish baking in the oven. Remove from skillet and add sausages to brown also.
Saute the mushrooms and peppers, adding more oil if necessary. Remove and set aside.
Add the tomato paste and cook briefly until it is dark red. Add the broth and wine and deglaze the skillet. Add the pepperoncini and capers.
Now add back the chicken and sausage and mushrooms and peppers. Spoon a bit of sauce over the top and then place in preheated oven to finish baking.
I’ve been making a lot of chicken lately and can assure you this dish is a keeper. This chicken scarpariello recipe is loaded with a garlic, peppery taste. Not black pepper but more a tangy vinegar wine like taste from the pepperoncinis and the wine.
What to Serve with this Chicken Scarpariello Recipe
Keep it simple. This is my favorite Italian salad.
Garlic bread or garlic rolls made from pizza dough.
Serve over pasta or polenta.
Dessert? Perhaps another glass of wine, too.
Manservant, Mr. Technology Capitalist, declared it really good. Like when will I make it again good. Trust me. This will make any day great!
I know I told you what a simple Sunday it would be, well, it really wasn’t.
I made a recipe of macaroons and matzoh toffee to send to my daughter, did a load of laundry and then cut the caramels from the day before. I then started deciphering the chicken recipe for this dish and found it contained a cup of butter. OMG! Even I know that is not good for you, unless it is in the form of a cookie.
After starting my new original Abbe’s chicken scarpariello recipe, I ran over to the neighbor’s house to see their new black lab puppy, Ellie. If that dog ever disappears they will know where to look. Such a cute puppy and sooo smart.
Still needs to work on that house training thing, but she’s just 12 weeks old. After almost an hour and a half of feeding her doggie treats and having her lick my face and a few glasses of wine, I went home where my dogs totally inhaled me. They were surely upset that I didn’t bring them!
I then spent 2 hours wrapping caramels. I am not kidding. The caramels literally took 15 minutes to make AND clean up, but 2 hours to make them pretty with little purple bows. As long as she sells them to make money for her run, I’m OK.
By the time I finished it was 10:30. So no-it wasn’t a really simple Sunday. But I’ll keep working on it!
Hope you love this chicken scarpariello recipe as much as we do.
With the tangy sauce and both chicken and sausage, I’m not sure how you can go wrong!
More Chicken Recipes
I’d love to hear if you make this recipe! Please share a review or rate the recipe,
and be sure to tag me on social!
Chicken Scarpariello
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 20 Minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 2–4 Servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stove Top/Oven
- Cuisine: Italian American
Description
Chicken Scarpariello is an Italian American dish made with chicken and sausage and peppers. This is a winner!
Ingredients
- 2 pounded boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 T flour
- 1 T butter plus 1 T butter
- 1 T olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 c sliced mushrooms
- 1 yellow pepper diced
- 2 Italian link sausages (Mild or hot) about 1/4 lb
- 2 T sliced pepperoncini or chopped pepperoncinis ,drained
- 2 T capers drained
- 1/2 c white wine
- 1/2 c chicken stock
- 1 1/2 T tomato paste
- 1/2 t oregano plus more for seasoning chicken
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat 1 T butter and 1 T olive oil over medium heat in cast iron skillet. Add garlic and cook until slightly light gold.
- Season your pounded boneless chicken breasts with lots of dried oregano and salt and pepper. Lightly dust both sides with flour.
- Put into hot skillet and brown them on both sides. Add the sausages and brown. Remove from skillet.
- Add peppers and mushrooms and cook a few minutes. Remove from skillet.
- Add 1 T butter. Whisk in tomato paste. Melt and add pepperoncini and capers. Cook a few minutes and then add wine, stock, pinch of red pepper flakes and 1/2 t of oregano. Cook a few minutes and then add back chicken and sausage, mushrooms and peppers. Spoon a little sauce over chicken before putting in oven.
- Bake for about 20 minutes at 375. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve over pasta for a perfect dinner. Add a salad and garlic bread, if you’d like.
Notes
P.S. You can make this for more people if you’d like. I figured half of a chicken breast and one link of sausage per person. You do the math! Feel free to use spaghetti or a pasta of your choice to serve this over. Orzo would also work and I think it would also be great with polenta or mashed potatoes. Ummm. I think I’ll try that next!
Sandra Jennings
Monday 19th of August 2019
I've made this recipe several times and we love it. The last time I threw some homemade meatballs in to the skillet before I put it in the oven. Loved the meatball add on so much I will be doing it again.
Abbe Odenwalder
Monday 19th of August 2019
Thanks so much Sandra! I think the addition of meatballs sounds fabulous and I can't wait to try! Really appreciate you letting me know!
Susan
Tuesday 12th of March 2019
I've never heard of it either but I love your Abbe's version! I'll look forward to trying this soon!
sippitysup
Sunday 3rd of March 2019
Italian-American chicken and sausage is a real winner. GREG
Eha
Saturday 2nd of March 2019
Writing from outside the States methinks there are a number of dishes prepared there of which many of us have never heard :) ! 'Scarpariello' sounds so operatically dramatic: although I have not thought of melding chicken and sausage thus in the one dish - interesting and a 'must-try'! Would use chicken thighs and meant to add couscous until I saw Chgo John's comment from way back about using polenta . . and that it will be !! And reading John's comment made me look at the date and realize this has indeed been a firm favourite for quite a few years . . .
Abbe Odenwalder
Saturday 2nd of March 2019
I have been making this awhile! Even made it for dinner last night. Probably should ave taken new photos, but oh well! Chicken thighs would work well. Thanks Eha.
Liz
Saturday 2nd of March 2019
I made this years ago, but you've made me want to add it to the menu again ASAP! Your version is a winner!