Baked Chicken with Olives and Capers

Introduction

Baked Chicken with Olives and Capers is a recipe that instantly elevates your weeknight dinner routine with a harmonious blend of briny, bright, and savory flavors. The combination of juicy chicken, tangy capers, and rich olives bakes to perfection, creating a dish with impressive taste and effortless preparation. This meal delivers restaurant-quality results without complicated techniques, making it the go-to choice for pleasing families and guests alike.

Why Baked Chicken with Olives and Capers is a Must-Try

Few chicken recipes offer such depth of flavor with minimal effort. The Mediterranean-inspired mix of lemon, garlic, briny olives, and floral herbs caramelizes in the oven, infusing every bite of tender chicken with bold, mouthwatering taste. It’s simple enough for busy weeknights, yet elegant enough for a Sunday dinner spread.

Building Balanced Mediterranean Flavors

The harmonious blend of olives and capers adds both saltiness and complexity, while fresh herbs and zesty lemon keep the dish bright. Roasted alongside juicy chicken thighs, the flavors meld seamlessly during baking—no need for extra sauces or lengthy marinades. Serve it with rice, couscous, or crusty bread to soak up every drop of the flavorful pan juices.

Step-by-Step Assembly for the Best Baked Chicken

Layering is key: arrange chicken in a single layer, scatter the olives and capers on top, then drizzle with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon for brightness. Garlic and herbs are tucked among the pieces, ensuring every forkful is as aromatic as it is juicy. A quick bake in a hot oven produces beautifully golden skin and deeply flavored pan juices.

Serving Suggestions for Baked Chicken with Olives and Capers

This dish pairs beautifully with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables. For a heartier plate, serve with buttered noodles or roasted potatoes. A generous scattering of fresh parsley just before serving adds freshness and color, making the presentation as enticing as the aroma.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe typically yields 4 generous servings. Baked Chicken with Olives and Capers is naturally low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Each serving contains approximately 320–370 calories, depending on the cut of chicken used and any accompanying sides. It’s a wholesome, well-balanced dish that fits into a variety of healthy eating plans.

Baked Chicken with Olives and Capers (Recap)

Briny, juicy olives and capers transform ordinary baked chicken into a boldly flavorful, crowd-pleasing meal. Effortless prep and universally appealing flavors make this a standout recipe for any home cook’s repertoire.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section. Perfect for streamlined grocery runs and zero forgotten items!

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer.
2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season generously on both sides with salt, pepper, and oregano.
3. Arrange chicken pieces skin-side up in the baking dish. Scatter olives, capers, lemon slices, and garlic evenly over the chicken.
4. Drizzle everything with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. If desired, pour in white wine or chicken broth for a saucier finish.
5. Bake, uncovered, for 30–40 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the skin is golden and crispy.
6. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Spoon some of the pan juices over the chicken before serving, and garnish with fresh parsley.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Mediterranean-inspired chicken is a meal prep dream—easy to prepare in advance, with flavors that only improve after a day in the fridge. Save and schedule this recipe to your weekly meal plan to automatically organize and consolidate shopping lists.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically totals ingredients across all recipes you schedule for the week—no more midweek store runs for missed items
• Divides grocery lists by store section for effortless navigation
• Helps reduce food waste by calculating exact quantities needed
• Makes batch cooking and meal prep hassle-free

Pro tip: When adding multiple weekly recipes, schedule your meals together to see where ingredients overlap—this recipe shares garlic, lemon, and olive oil with many Mediterranean classics for maximum efficiency!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes