Why You’ll Love This this Slow-Cooked Mediterranean Spanish Chicken
This slow cooker recipe practically does all the work for you, which means you can throw everything together in the morning and come home to a house that smells like a Mediterranean vacation.
The combination of Italian sausage and tender chicken creates this amazing protein duo that’s way more interesting than your typical weeknight dinner, plus those artichoke hearts and olives add that fancy touch that makes you feel like you’re dining at some charming little bistro.
I love how the tomatoes and bell peppers break down into this rich, saucy base that coats everything perfectly, and honestly, it’s the kind of meal that makes you look like a total kitchen genius even though you barely lifted a finger.
Ingredients List
You’ll need just a handful of simple ingredients to create this Mediterranean masterpiece that somehow manages to taste like you spent hours in the kitchen.
- 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 large red bell pepper, chopped (1 and 1/2 cups)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1/2-1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 lb turkey Italian sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 3/4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, quarters drained
- 1 (4 ounce) can sliced ripe olives, drained
- 3 cups hot cooked rice
Health-wise, this recipe hits some pretty solid notes that’ll make you feel good about what you’re serving:
- The turkey sausage keeps things leaner than traditional pork versions while still delivering that savory, seasoned flavor.
- Chicken breast provides high-quality protein without excess fat, plus it stays tender in the slow cooker.
- All those vegetables – onions, bell peppers, tomatoes – pack in vitamins and fiber without you even thinking about it.
- Artichoke hearts and olives bring healthy fats and antioxidants, though they do add some sodium, so keep that in mind if you’re watching your salt intake.
Step by Step Directions
The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting for this flavorful Mediterranean dish that comes together with minimal prep work.
- Spray the inside of a 3½ to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Mix together onion, garlic, red bell pepper, oregano, red pepper flakes, turkey sausage, chicken pieces, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low heat setting for 6-8 hours, or until sausages and chicken are no longer pink in center.
- Stir in artichoke hearts and olives during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Heat through until warmed.
- Serve over hot cooked rice.
For an even more authentic Mediterranean experience, consider using professional Mediterranean cookware when preparing your ingredients before adding them to the slow cooker.
Substitutions and Variations
• Mediterranean twist – Toss in some Kalamata olives instead of regular black ones, add a handful of sun-dried tomatoes, or finish with crumbled feta cheese for that Greek vacation atmosphere.
Additional Things to Serve With This Dish
This hearty Spanish chicken pairs beautifully with so many sides that you’ll have trouble choosing just one.
- Crusty bread – Because to be frank, you need something to soak up all that gorgeous tomato-based sauce, and a good baguette or sourdough does the job perfectly.
- Simple green salad – A light mix of greens with a basic vinaigrette cuts through the richness and makes you feel like you’re eating something healthy, even though you’re basically having a party in your mouth.
- Roasted vegetables – Zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers work wonderfully, especially if you toss them with olive oil and herbs that echo the Mediterranean flavors.
- Garlic bread – Yes, I know this is similar to crusty bread, but garlic bread deserves its own mention because it’s basically regular bread’s cooler, more popular sibling.
- Spanish rice or pilaf – If you want to double down on the rice situation, a seasoned version with saffron or herbs makes the whole meal feel more cohesive.
- Polenta – Creamy, comforting, and it soaks up sauce like nobody’s business, plus it makes you sound fancy when you tell people what you’re serving.
Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)
After making this dish more times than I care to count, I’ve picked up a few tricks that’ll save you from the kitchen disasters I’ve narrowly avoided.
- Don’t skip the cooking spray – Trust me on this one, because even though there’s plenty of liquid in the slow cooker, that tomato paste has a sneaky way of creating stubborn spots that’ll make you question your life choices when it’s time to clean up.
- Cut everything the same size – Your chicken and sausage pieces should be roughly the same 1-inch size so they cook evenly. Otherwise, you’ll end up with some pieces that are perfect and others that are either dried out or still pink in the middle.
- Layer strategically – Put the harder vegetables like onions and bell peppers on the bottom where they’ll get more heat, then add your proteins on top so they don’t overcook.
- Resist the urge to lift the lid – I know it smells amazing and you want to peek, but every time you lift that lid, you’re adding about 15-20 minutes to your cooking time, and nobody has patience for that.
- Add delicate ingredients last – Those artichoke hearts and olives go in during the final 15 minutes because they’re already tender and just need to warm through, not turn into mush.
- Taste and adjust – Before serving, give it a quick taste and add a pinch of salt or extra red pepper flakes if needed, because slow cooking can sometimes mellow flavors more than you expect.
Nutritional Facts
This Mediterranean Spanish Chicken recipe serves 6 and packs plenty of protein while keeping calories reasonable thanks to lean meats and vegetables.
- Calories per serving: Approximately 420 calories
- Protein: 38 grams – excellent source from chicken breast and turkey sausage
- Carbohydrates: 35 grams – primarily from rice and vegetables
- Fat: 14 grams – mostly from the turkey sausage and olives
- Fiber: 6 grams – contributed by bell peppers, tomatoes, and artichoke hearts
- Sodium: 890 mg – watch portion sizes if you’re monitoring salt intake
- Vitamin C: 85% daily value – thanks to the bell peppers and tomatoes
- Iron: 15% daily value – from the chicken and enriched rice
- Potassium: 780 mg – artichoke hearts and tomatoes are excellent sources
- Calcium: 8% daily value – from the vegetables and tomatoes
- Heart-healthy benefits: Contains lycopene from tomatoes and healthy fats from olives
- Low saturated fat: Only 4 grams per serving, making it heart-friendly
- Gluten-free: Naturally gluten-free when served over rice instead of pasta
Fun “Did You Know?”
Did you know that this recipe beautifully represents the collision of two distinct culinary worlds?
I’m fascinated by how it blends Mediterranean ingredients like artichoke hearts and olives with Spanish-inspired seasonings. The slow-cooking method actually mimics traditional Spanish paella preparation, where ingredients meld together over extended periods.
What’s particularly interesting is that artichokes were first cultivated by Arabs in Spain during the 8th century, making them authentically Spanish-Mediterranean.
I also love that using a slow cooker transforms this complex dish into something achievable for busy weeknights while maintaining those deep, traditional flavors that define Mediterranean cuisine.
