This oven-baked chicken and bell pepper recipe features gorgeous crispy-skinned chicken thighs, colorful bell peppers, and creamy mashed chickpeas. The combination creates a delightful meal that tastes as good as it looks.
Ingredients You'll Need
The ingredients we need for this recipe are easy to prepare and super simple to work with. Let’s take a look!
- Chicken
We opt for skin-on bone-in chicken thighs. These cuts have a deliciously juicy texture as well as deeply rich flavors.
To season, we toss the thighs in a mixture of Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, paprika, ground black pepper, and Cajun seasoning for a pungent and savory kick.
We then give them a quick pan-sear with olive oil to give the skin a nice golden-brown color and crispy edges before baking them in the oven.
- Bell Peppers
We went with red and yellow bell peppers as these varieties have a mildly sweet and citrusy flavor, which pairs wonderfully well with our savory chicken. We stir-fry the bell peppers with minced garlic for an aromatic boost before placing them with the chicken in the oven.
- Mashed Chickpeas
Give your main course a low-carb twist with mashed chickpeas. It’s super easy: You’ll only need chickpeas and milk to whip up a creamy and buttery mixture that tastes just as good as the classic mashed potatoes.
- Garnish and Toppings
Add some sprinkles of fresh parsley and dried red pepper flakes to give the dish a pop of color.
Is This Oven-baked Chicken and Bell Pepper Recipe Healthy?
Yes, our recipe with chicken and bell peppers makes for a nutritious meal that’s high in protein and loaded with vitamins.
Thanks to the chicken, our dish is packed with protein. For each serving, you will have a considerable 29.3 grams of protein—enough to give you a filling and satisfying meal.
Then, the red and yellow bell peppers make an impressive contribution to the amount of vitamins in our dish, especially that of vitamin C, with one serving accounting for 150% of the daily recommended intake.
On top of that, the mashed chickpeas add to the fiber content of the dish and give it a boost of healthy fats.
How to Store and Reheat the Leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you want to eat it again, simply reheat it in a microwave for 1-2 minutes or in a preheated oven for about 5 minutes.
What to Serve With
Here are some recommended sides to serve with our chicken and bell pepper:
Flavorful Chicken Dishes You Don't Want to Miss
This chicken Francese recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, but the gorgeous chicken breasts and exquisite lemon-butter sauce make it special enough for occasions—with family or friends. Serve it up with blanched green beans and potato mash for a well-rounded meal.
This colorful chicken and pepper skillet, which also goes well on top of cooked rice, can make an easy and quick dinner for you. The sticky, sweet sauce binds everything together and is extremely addictive.
Oven-baked Chicken and Bell Pepper Recipe
As simple as it may sound, this oven-baked chicken and bell pepper recipe will surprise your taste buds with a gorgeous mixture of savory and sweet flavors. It features crispy-skinned chicken thighs baked with colorful bell peppers, served with creamy mashed chickpeas.
- cook TIME 35 mins
- prep TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 45 mins
- COURSE Main Dish
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 505 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 18 oz skin-on bone-in chicken thighs (scored)
- 6 oz red bell pepper (sliced)
- 6 oz yellow bell pepper (sliced)
- 2 oz red onion (cut into wedges)
- 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tbsp garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 1/2 tsp salt (divided)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 18 oz canned chickpeas
- 2 tbsp parsley (chopped)
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep:
Score the chicken thighs.
Slice the bell peppers: Cut away the top and bottom of the bell pepper, and slice it open. Hold the knife horizontal to the cutting board and carefully slice away the white part as well as the seeds. Cut the rectangular piece of pepper into thin strips.
Cut the onion into wedges: Half the onion lengthwise and slice off the root and head. Lay one half flat and cut vertically right through the center into two large wedges. Flip the large wedges and cut them into four small wedges.
Peel and mince the garlic: Remove the root of each garlic clove and mash them down with a knife to remove the peel with ease. Mince the peeled cloves.
Finely chop the parsley.
Cook:
Microwave the chickpeas and milk: Add 18 oz canned chickpeas and 1/2 cup milk to a microwave-safe medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, then microwave for 5 minutes.
Mash the chickpeas: Put chickpeas into an immersion blender and blend until smooth.
Season the chicken: In a medium bowl/plate, add 18 oz skin-on bone-in chicken thighs, 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning. Dry-rub the spices onto the chicken until evenly coated.
Pan-sear the chicken: In a skillet over medium heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Place the chicken skin-side down and pan-sear for 5 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the heat, then set aside on a different plate.
Sauté the garlic in olive oil: In the same skillet over medium heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds.
Add the red onions and bell peppers: Add 2 oz red onion, 6 oz red bell pepper, 6 oz yellow bell pepper, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp ground black pepper. Stir well for 1 minute.
Add the chicken into the skillet again and turn off the heat
Bake everything in the oven: Place the entire skillet with chicken and bell peppers in a preheated oven and bake at 400 °F for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat.
Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped parsley and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes.
Transfer onto serving plates and serve with the mashed chickpeas.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary Consultant
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
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