How to Make Italian Chicken and Potatoes: Easy One Pan Family Dinner
This is the kind of dish my grandmother used to make for us growing up. It’s a simple, one-pan meal made with real ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen. My family had a farm in Sicily, which is why we ate this so often. It’s called Pollo alla Contadina, which means “Farmer” or “Country-style” chicken. In the countryside, you ate off the land, and that is exactly what authentic Italian home cooking is all about.
You won’t find this dish in a fancy restaurant; this is a true homestyle meal. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight dinner because you likely already have the carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes in your pantry—you just need to pick up some chicken! Whether you use all legs, all thighs, or a mix of both, this slow-simmered one-pot chicken dinner stays incredibly tender and juicy every time!
Ingredients
8 chicken legs (bone-in, skin-on)
2 lbs golden yukon potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 yellow onion, diced
3 carrots, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
1 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup water
1 knob of butter
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt & black pepper
Fresh basil
Instructions
1. In a large pot or deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken legs and sear until the skin is golden brown on all sides.
2. Add the diced onion, carrots, celery, and the knob of butter to the pot. Sauté until the vegetables soften and become aromatic.
3. Stir in the tomato paste and sauté for about a minute to caramelize it. Season generously with salt and pepper, then pour in 1 cup of water.
4. Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer gently for 30 minutes.
5. Add the cubed potatoes and peas to the pot. Stir gently to coat them in the sauce. Cover again and cook for another 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender and the chicken is falling off the bone.
6. Remove from heat and top with fresh basil leaves.
⭐ Instructions:
0:00 My Grandmother’s Chicken
0:32 Searing the Chicken for Golden Skin
1:07 Adding in the Vegetables
1:42 Adding in Tomato Paste and Seasoning
2:17 Adding in the liquid
2:35 The First Simmer (30 Minutes)
3:00 Adding Potatoes and Peas
3:50 Testing and Topping off with Basil
5:00 Previewing and Plating
5:56 Falling-off-the-bone Chicken
6:14 The Perfect Weeknight Meal and Giovanni
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
✅ Authentic Italian Countryside Flavor: Hearty, tender chicken and potatoes in a savory, slow-simmered sauce.
✅ One-Pan Dinner: Maximum flavor with zero cleanup struggle.
✅ Pantry Friendly: Made with simple, real ingredients you always have on hand.
Comment Below:
Every family has their own version of chicken and potatoes. Does your family add different herbs, or maybe a splash of wine? Let me know in the comments, I love reading your family traditions! 👇🇮🇹
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#chickenrecipe #chickendinner #italianfood
38 Comments
dude put like two whole basil plants in there
Thanks, Mr. Hair. Lol
Yummy 😋
So it’s chicken stew then.
I like this recipe because I can make it for one. Easy – 1 to 2 chicken thighs, the veges and potatoe. Definitely going to make this. It would be helpful if you can say if the meal can be frozen. I can't eat big meals and live alone.
Sco Ducks!
My favorite family dinner in our Italian family ! Simple and affordable taste great!
I’m so happy I found your channel. Your recipes look delicious and so healthy!
I don’t salt my food very much when cooking, but I add some after it’s fully cooked if needed. That’s the magic of salt!
Made this tonight, so good. Thank you, Giavanni. Your name was also my grandfathers name.😊
❤ excellent ideas
What happened to your hair
Rare that I watch a cooking video and have all the ingredients on hand.
This looks like my style of one pot wonder.
Any salt alternatives as some family can't have any added salt? 😅
I don't think i have yukon potatoes, would sweet potato, red/white royal or brushed white potatoes work too?
Last night's dinner – yummy!
Giovanni you really need to do a cook book. . No one has your style of Italian meals! ❤
Wicked Chef ,love the genuine presentation with out all the over the top B/S.🤜💥💪
I love your recipes. I’m half Sicilian and you make a lot of recipes that my grandmother used to make but I never bothered to learn how to cook myself so I’m learning how to recreate them from you! ❤
Even though I’m allergic to onions and my husband can’t have tomatoes, I can tell we would love this dish with minor modifications and omitting the tomato/onion.
Thank you! I love your recipes, and you make everything easy to follow, wholesome, and welcoming.
I made your pasta and white beans for lent and it was a major hit in our family!! Already planning on making it again this week.
Thank you for this – and for being you!
Buongiorno buon fine settimana. Grazie per il tuo video. Scusa mio poco l"Italiano.
Mi piace questo pollo. Mmm
Can't believe I hadn't seen this channel until the last couple days, these are fantastic straightforward recipes, exactly the way I like to cook and like you said I already have most of these things on hand at all times. Definitely gonna be making this and some other recipes of yours, cheers man.
I grew up in Sicily and my mother made this dish often, now I make it for my family! Thank you for sharing!
Just finished this dish for dinner – and it was absolutely outstanding. Everyone loved it. The tomato paste and basil add amazing flavor.
Here’s a recipe from another Italian at 72 . Learned from my great grandmother. Put chicken pieces with bone and sweet and hot sausage in a roasting pan slice sausage in half on slant . Quarter potatoes, quarter onions , add salt pepper fresh garlic olive oil on everything . Roast till everything browned and cooked . Delicious . We add peas at the end .
What induction burner? And cookware do you use? Recipe looks great!
Another wonderful recipe. Ty
Hi Giovanni! I've made this meal a while ago and I added oregano, it turned out perfect.
I am wondering if you have a printable recipe, so I can file it. Thank you!
Oh my gosh. I love these easy family dinners that don’t take a gazillion ingredients and the ingredients used are readily accessible.
Ci siamo fratelli siciliani! Nonna Daniela da Prizzi e nonno Francesco è palermitano. Questo piatto di famiglia è perfetto nel adesso dopo uscita da ospedale. Grazie per la inspirazione e per darci onore alla famiglia. Buon tutto, Ciao!
This reminds me of Chicken Vesuvio, a Chicago staple!
Wow looks yum 😋
Best regards to your grandma teach you this flavorful yummy chicken in a one pan easy and nice.. I ❤ it ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
Near the end as soon as you said, that’s it and showed the pan. I started cutting the potatoes and carrots before the video ended because a lot of times there’s so many more ingredients but yours is really simple. It looks fantastic. I haven’t tasted it yet but the only thing I didn’t have was a fresh basil so I had to substitute which is a pitywith the bottled basil not the same. I know the color really made a difference. I’m tempted to go get some as soon as I throw the potatoes in the pan. Thank you. I don’t know the total cost on this but it’s gotta be cheap plus not forgetting. It’s gonna feed my wife and I two or three meals into the equation.
1:55 I would rather remove the chicken legs, add my tomato paste, get it well mixed amongst the veggies, and then add my legs back in
Color=caramelization= flavor!👍
I made the dinner last week. Four legs and four thighs for four people. One change however…I used one cup of chicken broth and one cup of white wine instead of water.
Came out great! Everyone loved it!
This looks amazing. The better half will love this.