20 Best Spanish Chicken Recipes (+ Easy Dinner Ideas)

These Spanish chicken recipes are bright, fresh, and bursting with incredible flavor.

I hope you’re hungry because each of these is better than the last.

The Spanish excel at turning a humble ingredient into a mouthwatering dish and you just can’t beat classics like arroz con pollo and paella.

Of course, you’ll find more than just easy rice recipes here.

From tapas to hearty stews, I know you’ll find more than one Spanish chicken to delight.

1. Spanish Garlic Chicken (Pollo Al Ajillo) 

The Spanish are renowned for their fabulous variety of tapas, including Spanish garlic chicken. 

Browned drumsticks cook in a fragrant mixture of garlic, rosemary, and thyme. They also have a splash of sherry to deglaze the pan. 

You can substitute red wine if you don’t have any sherry on hand. 

Serve this up with other tapas like patatas bravas or Spanish Tortilla for an authentic feast.  

2. Arroz Con Pollo (Rice with Chicken)

If you prefer rice with your chicken, you can’t go wrong with arroz con pollo. This recipe doctors up these two simple staples in the most amazing way.

The rice and juicy chicken thighs simmer in broth with a dollop of tomato paste and oregano. 

To make things even better, the chicken has a simple rub of paprika and a coating of flour to make it super crispy. 

Now that’s how you do chicken and rice!

3. Spanish Roast Chicken

Got some company coming over for dinner and not sure what to serve? Try this elegant chicken roast. 

You’ll take a whole chicken and rub it with a garlic parsley paste. Add a glug of white wine, then pop that bird into the oven. 

Although a summer favorite in Madrid, this will make a cozy winter dinner too.

4. Sheet Pan Spanish Chicken & Chorizo

For a quick weeknight dinner, I love making simple sheet pan chicken recipes. 

Aside from chicken and chorizo, you’ll add some complimentary veggies like red onions, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes to the pan. 

If you have some black olives, toss those in too for a little salty burst. 

It takes 10 minutes to prep while the oven does all the rest. So you can have dinner on the table with as little effort as possible. 

5. Pollo en Pepitoria (Chicken Braised in Saffron, Almond, and Egg Yolk Sauce)

Pollo en pepitoria is a unique chicken dish you have got to try. It’s the kind of comfort food that keeps you coming back for more.

You’ll take chicken thighs and simmer them in a picada thickened egg yolk sauce. 

If you’ve never had picada before, this is a Catalan creation that involves bread, saffron, nuts, and garlic. It not only makes the sauce super luscious, but it adds a complex layer of flavor too.

6. Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce (Pollo con Tomate) 

If the last recipe sounds like too much work, try this one instead. The list of ingredients is far shorter and it only takes about 15 minutes of prep time. 

The golden-brown chicken simmers in a garlicky tomato sauce that takes minimal effort to pull together. 

It’s a one-pot meal your family will love!

7. Whole30 Spanish Chicken And Cauliflower Rice

This recipe is a gem for those taking part in the Whole30 challenge. It’s also a terrific keto chicken recipe for those looking to cut down on sugar and carbs.

The chicken has a top-notch rub of paprika, cumin, and garlic. Keeping things bright, the cauliflower rice has a zip of lime and a sprinkle of cilantro. 

Eating healthy and going low-carb is simple with this recipe.

8. Pollo Guisado con Salsa de Tomate (Dominican Braised Chicken with Tomato Sauce) 

Tomato sauce gives this chicken dish a rich and hearty element that will make you want to cozy up on the couch.

And better yet, it takes just 30 minutes to pull together. 

The chicken turns out deliciously juicy while the tomato sauce is oozing with flavor. The olives and bell peppers also add the perfect touch and pops of color.

9. Spanish Chicken in White Wine and Garlic Sauce (Pollo en Salsa) 

This chicken recipe has a serious case of the yummies! 

It’s another recipe that manages to take minimal ingredients and create so much flavor. The key, of which, is the sauce. 

I like to use a white wine that has a nice crisp flavor and some citrusy notes to match. So I usually go with Sauvignon blanc, but you can use your favorite. 

10. Chicken Milanesa

If you prefer your chicken with more crunch than sauce, whip up chicken Milanesa.

This is a simple and easy breaded chicken recipe that’s juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside. For serving, a lemon wedge will do. 

If you need a Spanish side dish to go along with it, I recommend Spanish rice or Spanish mashed potatoes.

11. Pollo Empanizado

Another scrumptious way to do breaded chicken is pollo empanizado.

Unlike the last recipe, this one uses more eggs and some pepper. I like to also add some paprika and garlic powder to the mix.

12. Spanish Chicken with Mushrooms (Pollo Con Champiñones) 

Got any mushroom lovers in the house? They’ll go crazy for this dish.

Mushrooms add a complimentary earthy and umami flavor that has a subtle bite of acidity from the white wine.

For even more depth, you can even caramelize the onions.

13. Spanish Chicken Bake with Kale and Manzanilla Olives

This succulent bake has got my mouth watering just thinking about it!

Spanish paprika makes the chicken slightly smoky and sweet. There’s even Spanish chorizo that makes it even more savory.

Then to top everything off it’s got a gorgeous mix of elegant veggies like olives, kale, and bell pepper.

I’d say this is great for special occasions or the holidays, but I can’t resist the urge to make it tonight.

14. Easy Spanish Chicken Stew

Some chicken stews can be a humdrum concoction of run-of-the-milled ingredients. However, that’s not the case with this Spanish chicken recipe. 

It’s got all kinds of tasty tidbits that build a complex stew. I’m talking about black olives, smoked paprika, garlic, and bell peppers – just to give you an idea. 

Then there’s a double dose of protein to make it even more satiating. 

15. Chicken Afritada

Chicken Afritada is a terrific Filipino chicken recipe that features Spanish inspiration. So I think it counts as a Spanish recipe.

It involves simmering chicken in a rich tomato sauce that has a handful of veggies to round it out. It’s sort of like a stew, except it calls for whole chicken thighs.

The secret is to fry the potatoes first. This adds another element of texture to the dish.

16. Spanish Chicken Kebabs 

Fire up the grill because it’s time for kebabs, Spanish style! 

Start with the fragrant and spicy marinade, then skewer and grill the chicken. 

This is the perfect recipe for a summer backyard get-together or a day at the beach.

17. Cheat’s Paella 

Paella is hands down one of the best Spanish recipes around. However, it can take some time to make, which is why I like this recipe.

It calls for veggie rice and frozen veggies so it only takes a mere 10 minutes to make. It also works well as a side or main course.

You’ll use cooked chicken to keep it quick, though if you have the time, it won’t take long to grill. Another option is to add cooked shrimp too!

18. Spanish Chicken in Bravas Sauce

Suffering from a lack of inspiration? I’ve got you covered with this incredible recipe.

Between the spicy bravas sauce and Spanish seasoned chicken thighs, this dish is on point. 

I highly recommend using Spanish paprika if you can. It has a smokiness that is divine in the sauce.

19. Spanish Chicken, Chorizo & Chickpea Stew

Another excellent way to make a hearty Spanish stew is like this. 

The trifecta of protein is incredibly filling and super flavorsome at that! Which only gets better with the white wine-infused tomato sauce.

Be sure to use Spanish chorizo and not the Mexican version. The difference is Spanish chorizo is sausage links whereas Mexican chorizo is ground.

20. One Pot Spanish Chicken and Potatoes

It’s incredible how this recipe takes two homely ingredients and transforms them into a decked-out dish. 

You’ll build a juicy eggplant tomato sauce, then simmer potatoes and chicken in it. It’s savory, tangy, tantalizing, and only takes one pot.

So if you’ve run out of tasty chicken dinner ideas, this Spanish chicken and potato dish is here to save the day.