Five

Continental Chicken

Recipes For Dinner, Ideal For Enjoying Match Nights At Home

Quick Summary

Match days call for chicken recipes for dinner that are fuss-free yet packed with flavour and juicy, that will keep you fuelled no matter what kind of match you might be watching – something that induces adrenaline rushes or a slow match. The less fussy your food, the more you can focus on the game, and these continental chicken recipes below deliver on that front, most being Mediterranean-inspired.

Deep Dive

Continental chicken recipes from the shores of the Mediterranean are the most rewarding dinner choice you can make on a match night, especially if you have an evening. The flavour is generous with barely any complicated technique involved, and almost all of them involve one pan and very little babysitting needed at the stove. What sets a Mediterranean chicken recipe apart is its reliance on fresh herbs, lemon juice, and olive oil, all Mediterranean cuisine staples that do the heavy lifting for you.

Whether you are feeding a crowd for your IPL match screenings, watching the Champions League final, or just settling in solo for the weekend fixture of matches, the chicken recipes for dinner below cover every mood, whether you want something hearty and slow-cooked, one-pot meals or a sheet pan chicken dish.

1. Greek Sheet Pan Chicken With Lemon And Potatoes

Best for: A crowd, first halves of big matches

One-pan dishes are best for game nights, as there are minimal dishes to be cleaned up afterwards after the highs and lows of a match. Greek chicken is also light on your digestive system and healthier.

Ingredients:

• Chicken (bone-in, skin-on)

• Potatoes

• Red onion

• Garlic

• Lemon (juice and zest)

• Olive oil

• Dried oregano

• Smoked paprika

• Salt and black pepper

• Fresh parsley

Method:

• Pat the chicken dry to get a golden-brown crust and get a juicy batch. Sear the chicken pieces in an oven-proof pan for 5 minutes until golden. Flip and sear the other side too.

• Preheat oven to 180°C. Place potatoes and onions in a large baking tray, arrange the chicken on top, pour the lemon-garlic-olive oil marinade and chicken stock.

• Bake for 20 minutes, then take the tray out of the oven, scatter cherry tomatoes, drizzle olive oil, and bake for another 30 minutes.

2. Moroccan Chicken Tagine

Best for: Match night hosting, indulgent chicken dinner

Chicken tagine is a traditional Moroccan dish of chicken pieces braised with spices, garlic, onion, olives, and preserved lemons. It sits comfortably at the intersection of the Mediterranean and North African cuisine and has the best of spices, lemons and garlic.

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)

• Onion

• Garlic

• Spices (cumin, coriander, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, paprika or ras el hanout)

• Lemon (juice and zest)

• Olives

• Dried apricots (optional)

• Chicken broth

• Olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• Fresh coriander and parsley

• Couscous or rice

Method:

• Soak dried apricots in boiling water for 30 minutes before starting. Season the chicken generously, then brown in a big and heavy pot over high heat, about 5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.

• Reduce the heat to medium. Sauté onions, then add the garlic and all spices, stirring until fragrant.

• Return chicken to the pot, add broth, lemon zest, and apricots. Cover and simmer over low heat for 40 minutes until the chicken is pull-apart tender.

• Add olives and lemon juice in the last 5 minutes of cooking.

3. Grilled Turmeric Chicken With Yoghurt And Herbs

Best for: Pre-match prep, outdoor grill sessions

This easy grilled chicken recipe involves marinating boneless, skinless chicken thighs in turmeric, oregano, parsley, paprika, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for a seasoned chicken with a beautiful colour and wonderful taste.

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)

• Turmeric

• Smoked paprika

• Dried oregano

• Fresh parsley

• Lemon juice

• Olive oil

• Garlic

• Salt and black pepper

For serving:

• Greek yoghurt

• Fresh herbs (mint or dill)

• Flatbread or pita

• Tomato and cucumber salad

Method:

• Combine all marinade ingredients in a bowl and toss the chicken thighs to coat, then marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator for a deeper flavour.

• Grill on a preheated griddle pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat for 5 minutes per side, until cooked through with good char marks.

• Rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving with sides.

4. Mediterranean Chicken And Orzo (One Pot)

Best for: Feeding a group, slow-cook meals and comfort food match nights

Creamy orzo, tomatoes, olives and feta, and tender chicken thighs in a one-pot Mediterranean chicken dish, that is ready in under an hour, is one of the perfect continental chicken dinner recipes.

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs (bone-in)

• Orzo pasta

• Cherry tomatoes

• Olives

• Feta cheese

• Garlic

• Dried oregano

• Chicken stock

• Honey

• Lemon juice

• Olive oil

• Salt, pepper, fresh parsley

Method:

• Pat chicken thighs dry, season well, and sear in olive oil over medium-high heat for 5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.

• Add garlic to the same pan, and saute. Add orzo and toast, then add stock, tomatoes, honey, lemon juice, oregano, and olives, and mix.

• Arrange the chicken thighs on top of the orzo, cover, and cook for 30 minutes until the orzo and chicken are tender. 

• Uncover, scatter over feta and parsley, and serve from the pot.

5. Dutch Oven Mediterranean Chicken Thighs

Best for: Balmy match nights, slow second halves

Few continental chicken recipes reward patience as generously as a Dutch oven braise. These Mediterranean chicken thighs are perfect for evenings when a rain shower cools everything down, and you need something warm and nourishing.

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)

• Onion

• Garlic

• Crushed tomatoes

• Chicken broth

• White wine

• Olives

• Dried oregano

• Smoked paprika

• Olive oil

• Salt, black pepper

• Fresh parsley

Method:

• Season chicken thighs well and sear skin-side down in the Dutch oven over high heat for 5 minutes until golden and crisp. Set aside.

• Reduce the heat to medium. Sauté the onion until translucent, then add garlic and cook 1 minute.

• Add tomatoes, wine, broth, paprika, and oregano. Return the chicken to the pot, skin-side up, so the skin stays above the braising liquid and stays crisp.

• Cover and braise over low heat for 40 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

• Finish with olives and fresh parsley.

Continental Chicken Dinner Recipes for Match Nights

Make match nights a pleasure to look forward to with these high-protein chicken dinner recipes, with ingredients from the Mediterranean. Pick chicken cuts as per the recipe, be it chicken breasts or chicken thighs and use them for these recipes above for a wholesome and healthy dinner experience.