This one-pot chicken with chorizo and Nduja bake make such a beautiful family meal. Delicious and quick to make, perfect for the end of a long exhausting day. One of those days when you come home and you just want to have a delish comfort meal. A meal that is ready in no time and takes little prep to get to the table. I am always up for such dishes and I am sure you are too.
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❓What is Nduja sauce or paste?
Nduja (pronounced en-DOO-ya) is a Calabrian ( the toe of Italy's boot) specialty. The origins of this specialty are a little shadowy. It is believed it arrived in the area when Napoleon conquered Naples, to the north, in 1806, and since, it was a poor man's version of andouille sausage. Some were making this paste with pork fat and some odd animal bits like, ground lungs spiced very well with the local fiery chilies, making it into a sausage which was then aged or smoked.
Truthfully, the original recipe, whatever that was, is no longer followed and this is mainly I believe because the nduja paste was super spicy. The recipe nowadays varies from kitchen to kitchen. It is very good to find a good source for a nice and tasty nduja paste to use.
In the US, for example, Iowa's La Quercia makes its nduja paste a bit unconventionally, with prosciutto, speck, coppa, and chilies. Chicago's 'Nduja Artisans make their nduja from fatback, and pork shoulder and add chilies, a lot less than Calabrians do, so it is not so spicy.
🥘 Ingredients
- chicken legs cleaned and trimmed of all visible fat
- creme fraîche or heavy cream
- potato - small salad potatoes are the best otion to keep them whole and look nice
- mushrooms - I prefer chestnut or cremini for extra flavor
- chorizo - good quality is important
- chicken stock - ideally unsalted
- Nduja paste - a good quality one
- onion or leek
- garlic cloves
- fresh thyme
- salt and black pepper
🔪 How to make one-pot chicken and nduja
I started off cooking this on the stove and finished it in the oven to reduce the juices nicely and cook the chicken and the potatoes to perfection. It can, however, be made just on the stove or just in the oven, whatever you prefer.
I chose to make it using both means because I had time but if the time it’s not on your side, place it all in one pot and allow it to bake for approximately 45 min at 190°C or 375°F.
Step 1
Pre-heat the oven
Place the skillet on medium fire
Step 2
Cook the chicken legs on both sides, add the cubed/sliced chorizo. Remove the excess fat (see tips).
Add the potatoes (skin on), mushrooms, garlic, onion or leek.
Add the chicken stock mixed with the Nduja sauce or paste, the heavy cream (creme fraiche) and some of the thyme leaves.
Step 3
Place the skillet in the oven, cook a little more and the best part.... Serve!
💭 FAQs
Well, it really depends on where you are in the world. Look in the local shops, supermarkets, or some local artisan shops, especially the Italian ones, which most likely will have this.
Here in London, UK, we can find it in any supermarket, some brands make it, but I find that the best are the ones made by some Italian artisan shops (I have found a really good one in Hampstead) that have a very good and delicious Nduja paste. The best one I have tasted so far.
1) The Nduja paste and chicken combination works really well together. Nduja adds that spicy, smoky quality taste and flavor to the dish;
2) The creamy sauce adds that perfect creaminess and richness;
3) It takes under 60 minutes to make, meaning this could be that perfect weeknight meal;
4) It is a one-pot meal which means less washing up :).
One-pot meals, in general, are wonders, such as time savers and fuss-free cooking. This one-pot chicken, chorizo, and nduja bake is the perfect meal for any time of the year, particularly great for the cold season.
I have used chorizo not only for a nice flavor but also for a really nice deep red color.
🤹♂️Variations
Chorizo is a really nice ingredient to add to this dish. It gives a great flavor as well as color but if you do not like it or cannot eat chorizo, replace it with andouille or any opened sausage like this mici recipe if you like. You may want to add some paprika to achieve that nice deep red color.
or why not try this Thai-style roast chicken, absolutely delicious too.
🍽 How to serve this one-pot chicken dish?
This one-pot chicken, chorizo, and nduja bake is best served with couscous, coconut rice, or a nice crusty homemade flatbread. Absolutely delicious and what comfort food should be all about.
It is also delicious and served with nicely al-dente cooked pasta like fettuccine, fusilli, rigatoni, spaghetti, linguini (my favorite), pasta penne or orzo (kids' favorite).
Serve it with a nice rustic bread, with bulgur or couscous and with some nice boiled green beans, broccoli, asparagus or whatever greens you like or fancy. Enjoy!
📍Tips
- For more spice, add some Cajun seasoning or some red chilli fresh or dry flakes.
- Brown the chorizo first helps to add a rich flavor and color to the dish. Skip this if you are in a hurry, but I highly recommend doing it for the best colour and flavour.
- Remove excess fat released from cooking the chicken and the chorizo with one or two paper towels. It can be a little too oily otherwise.
- Use cast iron skillet to make this dish but if you don’t have a skillet you may use any tray or ovenproof dish the size you desire. I personally love cooking in cast iron dishes as I the food tastes clearly different and that’s a lot better I’d say.
🍗 More chicken dishes you may really enjoy:
- Easy BBQ Chicken Kebabs45 Minutes
- Easiest Chicken Thighs Recipe With Broccoli Salad30 Minutes
- Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan40 Minutes
- Teriyaki Chicken Egg Fried Rice With Vegetables45 Minutes
Let’s get cooking folks, apron on, chopping board out, spirits high, and get all the fun started.
One pot chicken, chorizo and nduja bake
Equipment
- skillet
- chopping board
- knife
- spatula
Ingredients
- 4 chicken legs cleaned and trimmed of excess fat
- 100 ml creme fraîche or heavy cream
- 400 g potato small salad potatoes
- 250 g mushrooms
- 200 g chorizo diced into small cubes
- 200 ml chicken stock
- 2-3 tbsp Nduja sauce or paste mixed into the chicken stock *
- 1 onion or leek roughly chopped
- 2-3 garlic cloves
- 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 tsp black Pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven at 190°C or 375°F.
- Place the skillet on medium fire and brown the chicken legs on both sides for about three minutes on each side. Add the chorizo, sliced or cubed. Cook, stirring occasionally for approximately 2-3 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove the excess fat (see tips above).
- Add the thoroughly washed potatoes (leave skin on), the sliced mushrooms and cook covered for about 5 minutes occasionally tossing these around.
- Add the garlic, onion or leek and cook for a further 2-3 minutes. You should have some oil from the chicken but the chorizo will also release some which you can reduce by absorbing some with a paper towel. See recipe notes.
- Add the chicken stock mixed with the Nduja sauce or paste, the heavy cream (creme fraiche) and some of the thyme leaves. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Leave some thyme sprigs for garnishing.
- Place the skillet in the oven and allow the stock to reduce for about 30-35 min.
- When juices are reduced to the desired level, take out of the oven and get ready to serve. See serving suggestions above for more ideas.
Bianca says
This is pure comfort food! Can not wait to make this again
Nancy says
Delicious and saucy recipe. One of my
Favs
Katie says
Lovely recipe! Will be making again!