Piquant Chicken

Name: Piquant Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 16 min
Total time: 26 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 680 g Chicken thigh fillets; 28 g Olive oil; 12 g Garlic cloves; 400 g Tomatoes; 2 g Basil, dried; 30 g Capers; 12 g Brown sugar; 30 ml Balsamic vinegar; 5 g Salt; 2 g Black pepper

Piquant Chicken · ready in 26 min · 4 servings · 420 kcal per serving · easy · 10 ingredients

Juicy chicken thighs simmered in a tangy tomato and caper sauce with garlic and basil, finished with a hint of sweetness for a bold, savory dish that balances richness with brightness.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 16 min
Total: 26 min
Serves: 4
kcal: 420
Difficulty: easy

Italian Mediterranean Main dishes Quick (30 min or less)Gluten-free Dairy-free High-protein (25 g+)Low-carb (20 g or less)

A QiMeal recipe · Updated 3 October 2026

Ingredients · 4 servings

680 gChicken thigh fillets
28 gOlive oil
12 gGarlic cloves
400 gTomatoes
2 gBasil, dried
30 gCapers
12 gBrown sugar
30 mlBalsamic vinegar
5 gSalt
2 gBlack pepper

Equipment

stovetop, chef knife, cutting board, measuring spoons, serving spoon, skillet, tongs, wooden spoon

Instructions

Prep ingredients
Measure the olive oil, mince the garlic cloves, and have the chicken thigh fillets, tomatoes, dried basil, capers, and brown sugar ready near the stovetop. · 5 min
What to look for: garlic fragrant but not browned
Sauté garlic
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, add the minced garlic, and cook briefly until fragrant without browning. · 1 min
What to look for: fragrant and lightly sizzling
Brown chicken
Add the chicken thigh fillets to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning once, until lightly browned on the outside. · 5 min
When it is done: Chicken should be opaque on the outside; it will finish cooking later.
Simmer sauce
Add the tomatoes, dried basil, capers, and balsamic vinegar, bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a low simmer and cook uncovered. · 8 min
When it is done: Chicken is done when the thickest piece reaches 74°C and juices run clear.
Sweeten and serve
Stir in the brown sugar, season with salt and pepper, remove from the heat, and serve the piquant chicken hot. · 1 min
What to look for: glossy, well-combined sauce

Nutrition (per serving)

kcal	420
Protein	32 g
Carbohydrates	14 g
of which sugars	8 g
Fat	24 g
of which saturated	5 g
Fibre	3 g
Sodium	720 mg

Nutri-ScoreC

Allergens

None of the 14 major allergens, per our data.

May contain: nightshades, fodmap high

Storage and reheating

Fridge: up to 3 days
Freezer: yes, up to 2 months

Ingredient substitutions

Chicken thigh fillets

chicken breast fillets: Reduce cooking time slightly to avoid dryness.
boneless turkey thigh: Adds leaner protein with similar richness.

Olive oil

avocado oil: High smoke point, neutral taste.
sunflower oil: Good for high heat sautéing.

Garlic cloves

garlic paste: Stir in with oil to prevent burning.

Tomatoes

canned chopped tomatoes: Drain excess liquid if watery.
cherry tomatoes: Halve before adding.

Basil

dried oregano: Gives a slightly earthier flavor.

Capers

green olives: Chop finely for even distribution.