Spain has plenty of delicious, healthy, and full of flavour chicken recipes that you will want to eat again and again.
If you love Mediterranean cuisine and you are looking for different ways to be more creative cooking with chicken, we’ve got you covered!
We have compiled 25 chicken dishes that you can easily recreate at home.
25 Spanish Chicken Recipes
1. Pollo al ajillo – Garlic chicken thighs
Pollo al ajillo, garlic chicken thighs is one of the most popular chicken dishes in Spain. It isn’t a surprise that it appears on most restaurant menus.
You can either find it as a tapa or a main dish accompanied by chips or a refreshing salad.
The recipe is straightforward as you only need to fry the chicken in olive oil and garlic. Although you can coat the chicken thighs in flour before frying them, it is optional.
Overall, this chicken recipe is simple, delicious, and loved by everyone.
2. Sopa de picadillo – (Andalusia)
One of the most traditional Christmas dishes in Andalusia is Sopa de picadillo which consists of a soup topped with different ingredients.
It is often served as a starter on Christmas Eve, however, you can do this delicious soup thorough all winter.
For this soup, first, you need to prepare a homemade chicken broth and then add vegetables like carrots, leeks, chicken, and short noodles.
Once it is finished, you can add toppings like serrano ham cubes, hard-boiled eggs, and croutons.
This soup is full of flavour and a great dish to commence your Christmas meal.
3. Pollo en pepitoria – Chicken in white wine with almonds
Pollo en pepitoria is not a common chicken recipe anymore. However, it is still considered a classic Spanish recipe.
This traditional recipe is made with chicken, eggs, almonds, onion, garlic, and white wine.
First, you need to fry the chicken in a pan with olive oil until it is golden and boil the eggs. Then, make a paste with bread, onion, garlic, and almonds and finally put all the ingredients together in a pot.
This chicken goes perfectly with some homemade chips and some bread to dip in the sauce.
4. Pollo en salsa de almendras – Chicken in almond sauce
A family’s favourite is pollo en salsa de almendras, a simple and delicious chicken recipe.
This recipe is made with vegetables like peppers, carrots, onions and garlic, a full chicken, almonds, and white wine.
It is the perfect chicken recipe to serve for a family dinner and it won’t take much of your time.
Pollo en salsa de Almendras is often served with homemade chips or an ensalada mixta, Spanish mixed salad, and bread to dip in the delicious almond sauce.
5. Croquetas de pollo – Chicken croquettes
Ham croquettes are much more popular than chicken croquettes, but chicken croquettes are delicious and ideal to make when you have cooked a stew with chicken because any remaining chicken can be used for croquetas.
However, you can either fry or boil chicken to make these croquetas.
The key to making good croquetas is preparing a homemade bechamel for which you will need butter, flour, and milk.
Then you add the chicken to the bechamel, let it rest in the fridge for at least 4 hours and then cut, coat with a beaten egg and breadcrumbs and fry.
They make a great starter on any occasion, but they can be also served as a main when you add chips.
6. Pollo al chilindrón – Chicken Chilindron recipe (Northern Spain)
Pollo al chilindrón is an easy traditional chicken recipe from Northern Spain, from places like the Basque Country and Aragon.
The preparation of this dish is easy and similar to other Spanish meat stews, but the flavours are incredible.
The key ingredients for this recipe are chicken thighs, Serrano ham, red peppers, onions, white wine, paprika and garlic.
The best way to serve pollo al chillindrón is with roasted potatoes, salad, or white rice.
7. Paella de pollo – Chicken paella (Valencia)
Paella de pollo is prepared using the same cooking method as any other paellas, however, you won’t use more than one protein, but only chicken.
Chicken paella is delicious and suitable for anyone who doesn’t eat red meat like pork and beef or has a seafood allergy.
The most important thing to do when cooking a chicken paella as well as any paella is to use arroz bomba (paella rice) as this makes a big difference.
Apart from the chicken and rice, the paella also includes vegetables like peppers and onions, but you can also add peas or artichoke.
8. Pollo a la naranja – Chicken in orange sauce
A less common but perfect combination is chicken and oranges, and these are the main ingredients to make pollo a la naranja.
It is a recipe you can put together in less than an hour and its flavours will surprise you.
The cooking method is quite simple too. You just need to fry the chicken, garlic, and onion until they are golden, add orange juice, and cook for 20 to 30 minutes.
9. Pollo relleno – Stuffed chicken
Stuffed chicken is a popular dish made during the Christmas period although you have it any other time.
There are many variations to make this recipe, however, some of the key ingredients you will need are a full chicken, ground pork or beef, white wine, garlic, and rosemary.
This stuffed chicken is perfect with a side of roasted potatoes and vegetables.
10. San Jacobos de pollo – Fried chicken stuffed with ham and cheese
San Jacobos de pollo is a recipe that you won’t probably find in restaurants, but it is often made at home. Children love this chicken recipe, and some people bring back old memories by eating this dish.
However, you will still find them in many supermarkets. Of course, the homemade san jacobos are always much better.
To make this recipe you will need to put ham and cheese in the middle of two chicken fillets. Then coat in egg and breadcrumbs, and finally fry.
It is a dish that you can batch, freeze, and have on a busy day.
11. Pollo a la jardinera – Braised chicken with vegetables
Healthy and full of flavours is this pollo a la jardinera, braised chicken with vegetables. It is a popular dish made at home, but you can also find them in some restaurants.
It consists of a meat stew made with chicken thighs, tomatoes, carrots, peas, onion, garlic and white wine.
This chicken recipe is ideal for lunch or any family gatherings.
12. Empanadillas de pollo – Chicken pastries (Galicia)
Empanadillas de pollo is one of the best chicken starters for any occasion.
They are made with puff pastry sheets and a delicious filling that contains chicken, red pepper, and onion. Once they are assembled, they are deep fried.
They are eaten on their own, but you can also dip them in a mayonnaise sauce.
13. Pollo a la sidra con manzana – Chicken in cider with apple (Asturias)
Pollo a la sidra con manzana is a traditional recipe from the region of Asturias. It is made with a few ingredients, but you will love the flavours coming through.
You will need chicken thighs, apples, cider, onions, and garlic. The key to making this chicken recipe is to use a good-quality cider.
If you love cider, you will certainly enjoy this traditional dish!
14. Pollo a la cerveza – Chicken in beer sauce
Chicken in beer sauce is similar to other chicken stew recipes but this one is made with a rich beer sauce.
Chicken, carrots, peppers, onions, garlic, olive oil and beer are the main ingredients to make this delicious recipe.
You don’t need any sides for this dish, but as always, you can add some chips or rice.
15. Pollo asado – Roast chicken
If you are looking for the easiest and yummiest chicken recipe, you will love pollo asado. This is a traditional Spanish dish that you can find in asadores de pollo, chicken rotisserie takeaways across the country.
Although the chicken from these takeaways is better because of the kitchen equipment they use to cook the chicken, you can also make this roast chicken at home.
For this recipe, you only need a full chicken, a lemon, olive oil, garlic, and rosemary. Put all the ingredients in a baking tray and cook in the oven until cooked and golden.
You can also roast some potatoes to go with the chicken or alternatively prepare a salad.
16. Fideúa de pollo – Chicken fideua (Valencia)
Fideúa is a traditional dish from Valencia, and the most popular one is the fish and seafood fideúa, however, you can also make it with chicken.
This chicken recipe is made with short pasta (called fideos in Spanish), chicken, peppers, green beans, and onions, and it’s often served with aioli sauce.
It’s a delicious and excellent dish to make for a family lunch.
17. Pollo en salsa – Spanish-style chicken in sauce
If you are looking for a classic chicken dish, pollo en salsa is the answer.
Made with chicken thighs, peppers, carrots, leeks, onions, tomato sauce and white wine, this Spanish-style chicken in sauce is mouth-watering.
It is a very complete recipe, but it goes perfectly with white rice or homemade chips and bread.
18. Brochetas de pollo – Chicken skewers
Brochetas de pollo are a staple of any Spanish barbecue. These chicken skewers are perfect for parties and gatherings as they are straightforward to make and are loved by everyone.
To make the chicken skewers, you will need diced chicken breast and vegetables like peppers and onions. However, you can add any other vegetable you like courgette.
They are very healthy and easy to assemble before putting them on the barbecue when your guests arrive!
19. Albóndigas de pollo – Chicken meatballs
Who doesn’t love meatballs? This chicken recipe is a favourite for children and adults, so you will find them as tapas in many restaurants, but it is also a great recipe to make at home.
Chicken mince, flour, onions, egg, and parsley are the main ingredients to prepare homemade meatballs. Then you’ll only need to finish cooking the meatballs in tomato sauce and red wine (optional).
You can add these meatballs to pasta or have them with a side of chips or rice.
20. Puchero andaluz – Andalusian-style chickpea stew (Andalusia)
Puchero andaluz is a traditional Andalusian dish that is mostly cooked in the coldest months. It is a synonym for comfort food.
This Andalusian-style chickpea stew is made with chicken, beef, cured lard, chickpeas, potatoes, carrots, and leeks. All the ingredients are slowly cooked in a large pot until they are all tender.
Once it is ready, the soup with chickpeas, carrots and potatoes is served first, and then the meat with lard called pringá, which is accompanied by a few slices of bread.
21. Pollo con tomate – Chicken with tomato sauce
This chicken with tomato sauce is very straightforward, simple but full of flavour.
All you need is a diced full chicken, red wine, tomato sauce and spices like nutmeg, salt, and pepper. In addition to these ingredients, you can also add prunes, but it isn’t necessary.
The ingredients are slowly cooked for only 20 or 30 minutes, so you will have a delicious dish in no time.
You can serve this chicken recipe with some chips or white rice.
22. Campero de pollo – Chicken sandwich (Malaga)
If you visit Malaga, you can’t leave the city without trying its most popular sandwich called campero de pollo. This sandwich is delicious, juicy, and full of flavour.
However, if you aren’t planning a visit to this Andalusian city, you can still recreate this sandwich at home.
The sandwich is made with pan de campero, an oval shape bread typical of Malaga, and it is filled with grilled chicken breasts, a fried egg, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.
It is often accompanied by a portion of chips, but you don’t necessarily add them as the sandwich is very filling.
23. Pollo con champiñones – Chicken with mushrooms
Pollo con champiñones is a common chicken recipe prepared at home because it isn’t only easy but quick to cook too.
The recipe consists of chicken breast or thighs which have been cooked with mushrooms in a sauce made with chicken broth and white wine.
It is a great recipe to serve with homemade chips and bread to dip in this rich but delicious sauce.
24. Pastela de pollo – Chicken pastilla (Melilla)
Chicken pastilla is originally from Morocco, however, it is a very typical dish in Melilla due to its proximity to Morocco and influences.
Pastela de pollo is a delicious and full of flavour chicken recipe that you will want to eat again and again.
The dish consists of a filo pastry filled with chicken that has been cooked with a Moroccan spice blend. Then the pastry is sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.
Although it takes a while to prepare, the flavours coming through will amaze you and make it worth the hassle.
25. Pollo a la catalana – Catalan-style chicken (Catalonia)
As the name of this recipe suggests, pollo a la catalana is a traditional dish from the region of Catalonia.
For this recipe, you will need a full chicken, prunes, pine nuts, cinnamon, Pedro Ximenez wine and chicken broth. If you cannot find Pedro Ximenez wine, you can substitute it for brandy or cognac.
Pollo a la Catalana isn’t difficult to make but its flavours are complex and will surprise you and your friends and family.
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