Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce

Name: Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce (Pollo con Tomate) | Easy One-Pan Spanish Chicken Recipe
Uploaded: 2026-07-31T15:00:00+02:00
Duration: 4 min 22 s
Channel: Byron
Description: Discover one of Spain's favorite homestyle meals with this Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce, also known as Pollo con Tomate. This easy one-pan Spanish chicken recipe combines juicy chicken breast with a rich tomato sauce made from garlic, onion, sweet smoked paprika, olive oil, herbs, and a splash of white wine.

Pollo con Tomate

Written By: Byron | July 27, 2026

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A large pan of Spanish chicken with tomato sauce

Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce, known as Pollo con Tomate in Spain, is a comforting one-pan Spanish chicken recipe that’s packed with Mediterranean flavor. Tender chicken is lightly browned before being gently simmered in a rich tomato sauce flavored with Spanish sweet smoked paprika, garlic, onion, herbs, and a splash of white wine.

Inspired by the everyday cooking found in homes across Spain, this easy one-pan chicken dinner is a perfect example of how a handful of simple Mediterranean ingredients can create an incredibly flavorful meal.

Whether you know it as Chicken with Tomato Sauce, Spanish Chicken with Tomato, or Pechuga de Pollo en Salsa con Tomate, this classic homestyle dish is hearty, healthy, and ideal served with rice, crusty bread, roasted vegetables, or traditional Spanish potatoes.

Looking for more chicken recipes? We’ve got a dedicated Chicken Recipes section.

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Nutrition Information

FAQs

Serving:

Main for 4-6

Ready in:

50 minutes

Skill level:

Easy, One-Tray

Serve with:

Bread, rice, salad

Watch step-by-step recipe video

🎥 Prefer to watch? Check out the Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce Step-by-step video recipe guide here, or click on the thumbnail below to watch the video on our YouTube Channel.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✅ Authentic Spanish home cooking
✅ Easy one-pan chicken dinner
✅ Ready in around 50 minutes
✅ High in protein
✅ Family friendly
✅ Naturally Mediterranean Diet friendly
✅ Great for meal prep
✅ Uses everyday ingredients

Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce at a Glance

Ready in: 50 minutes
Serves: 4
Cuisine: Spanish
Course: Main
Difficulty: Easy
One-pan recipe ✔
Mediterranean Diet friendly ✔
High in protein ✔

Origin of Spanish Chicken with Tomato

Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce, known as Pollo con Tomate in Spain, is a comforting classic that’s quick and easy to prepare. It is often referred to as estilo casero (“homestyle”), reflecting the simple, everyday cooking found in homes across Spain rather than a recipe tied to one specific region.

The dish has its roots in traditional Spanish home cooking that became widespread during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when tomatoes—introduced to Europe from the Americas centuries earlier—had become a staple ingredient in Spanish kitchens. Combined with olive oil, garlic, onion, and sweet smoked paprika, tomatoes form the rich, flavorful sauce that defines many classic Spanish dishes.

Our recipe uses chicken breast, and here in Spain this version is often called Pechuga de Pollo en Salsa de Tomate. However, this dish is also commonly prepared with chicken drumsticks or bone-in chicken thighs, depending on the region and family tradition.

The star of the dish is the rich, paprika-infused tomato sauce that gently simmers the chicken until tender while developing deep Mediterranean flavor.

Across Spain, this dish is typically served as a hearty family meal alongside white rice, crusty bread for soaking up the sauce, roasted vegetables, or a vegetable pisto. It also pairs beautifully with classic Spanish potato dishes such as patatas a lo pobre (poor Man’s Potatoes) or patatas panaderas (Spanish bakery-style potatoes), making it an easy and satisfying meal any day of the week.

What Makes This Recipe Authentic?

Traditional Pollo con Tomate is all about simple ingredients cooked well. Spanish extra virgin olive oil, sweet smoked paprika (pimentón dulce), ripe tomatoes, garlic, onion, and slow simmering create the rich sauce that defines this classic Spanish chicken dish.

While every family has its own variation, the focus is always on letting the tomato sauce slowly develop its flavor before serving with plenty of bread to soak up every last drop.

Spices in a terracotta bowl with paprika and cumin, surrounded by fresh tomatoes, garlic, and peppers on a wooden board.

How to Make Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce (Step-by-Step)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For the chicken

2 large chicken breasts (600 grams / 21 oz.)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp La Dalia Spanish sweet smoked paprika (pimentón dulce)
Pinch of salt and pepper (to taste)
1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

For the tomato sauce

4 large tomatoes, diced or grated (or one 400 g / 14 oz) can of diced tomatoes)
1 onion, finely diced (1 cup)
2 green or red peppers, diced (2 cups)
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp Spanish sweet smoked paprika (pimentón dulce)
2 bay leaves
1 cup white wine (optional- or use chicken broth or water)
Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Equipment

vegetables and spices next to some wine, garlic cloves, and bay leaves

Instructions

Step 1 – Prepare and Cook Chicken

Cut chicken breasts into large pieces, around 2-3 inches / 6-7.5 cm.
Season chicken on all sides with the garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Heat some extra virgin olive oil over a medium-high heat.
Once the pan is hot, add the chicken and cook on each side for 3 minutes, or until golden in color.
Remove chicken from the pan and set aside for use later.

Step 2 – Prepare the Tomato Sauce

To the same pan that cooked the chicken, add around half of the wine to deglaze the pan.
Add the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes until browned. Add the diced pepper and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the pepper is softened.
Add the garlic and season to taste with some salt and pepper. Cook the garlic with the onion until fragrant.
Add the sweet smoked paprika and remaining wine and stir through.
Cook for 2-3 minutes, then reduce heat to a simmer.
NOTE: The alcohol cooks off during simmering, leaving behind a richer, deeper flavor. If preferred, substitute chicken stock for an alcohol-free version.
Add the diced tomatoes and 2 bay leaves, mix, and cover. Simmer for around 10-15 minutes or until everything softens.

Step 3 – Add chicken

Add the cooked chicken pieces and stir into the sauce. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Use a meat thermometer to check the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 74°C / 165°F.
Serve while hot and cover the chicken with the rich tomato sauce.

pieces of cooked chicken are spooned onto a plate

Expert Tips:

Grill the chicken for extra flavor and color: Grill the chicken until you see perfect grill lines (around 4-5 minutes per side). Baste the chicken with a little sauce while grilling to bring up the color.

Don’t rush browning the chicken. Browning creates caramelized flavor that enriches the tomato sauce once the chicken is returned to the pan.

Cook the sauce slow and low for extra flavor. A slow gentle simmer will help bring out the extra flavor in the tomatoes and other ingredients.

Use ripe tomatoes: Tomatoes that are ripe or slightly over-ripe work best. They have loads of sugar and will be full of flavor. Canned diced tomatoes are also a convenient option, just check the salt content before adding extra seasoning.

Use a meat thermometer to check the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 74°C / 165°F.

Best Cut of Chicken to Use For An Authentic Spanish Chicken With Tomato

This recipe is very versatile and can be made with any cut of chicken. We’ve used chicken breast cut into large pieces, but chicken drumsticks, chicken thighs, or chicken quarters will also work well.

Chicken breast meat works well as it cooks quickly and absorbs plenty of the sauce. It’s also easier to eat, and is less messy than bone-in chicken.

Bone-in chicken cuts such as chicken thighs, drumsticks, chicken quarters are also great for this recipe, although they do take a little longer to cook. I’d suggest using skin-on chicken thighs or quarters and pan-frying the chicken first until the skin begins to crisp up. Then submerge the chicken in the sauce and cook for around 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.

Note: cooking times will vary for different cuts of chicken. The overall weight of each cut will also make a difference. Always use a meat thermometer to check the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 74°C / 165°F.

No matter which cut of chicken you use, they will all pair wonderfully with the rich paprika-infused tomato sauce.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve Spanish chicken with tomato sauce alongside rice or crusty bread for a deliciously simple dinner, and to mop up all of the rich sauce. You can also serve it with a number of side dishes to turn it into a feast.

Serve alongside:

Storage and Meal Prep

Storage:

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They will last up to 3 days.
Spanish chicken with tomatoes can be frozen. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag, and it will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
To reheat, thaw and then heat over a medium heat in a large pan. Alternatively, it can be reheated in the microwave (approx 2 minutes per plate/serving on high setting).

Meal Prep and Make Ahead Tips:

This is a great recipe for meal prepping and can easily be made in large batches and stored for easy, reheatable weeknight dinners.

The tomato sauce can also be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge for use later.

Cooking with Spanish Smoked Paprika

No spice is more closely associated with Spanish cooking than smoked paprika (Pimentón de la Vera being the most famous and commonly used brand). Produced in the La Vera region of Extremadura, the peppers are traditionally slow-smoked over oak wood before being dried and ground into a rich, fragrant powder.

The result is a deep smoky flavour that’s become a cornerstone of countless Spanish recipes, from paella and rice dishes to patatas bravas to stews to marinades.

For this recipe, we recommend using sweet smoked paprika (Pimentón Dulce), which adds warmth, colour, and a subtle smokiness without overwhelming the chicken. If you enjoy a little heat, you can swap some of the sweet paprika for Pimentón Picante, while Pimentón Agridulce offers a pleasant balance between the two.

Want to learn more? Check out our complete guide to the differences between hot, sweet, and smoked paprika, including how to use each variety in Spanish cooking.

A heaped teaspoon of La Vera Smoked Paprika.

LA ESPAÑOLA First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil

24 oz.

Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil

A good-quality Spanish olive oil is one of the simplest ways to elevate this dish, and I always suggest using an extra virgin olive oil. It helps the chicken skin turn irresistibly crisp while coating the vegetables in rich Mediterranean flavour as they roast.

Combined with the juices released by the tomatoes and onions, the olive oil creates a light, silky sauce that’s perfect for spooning over the chicken or mopping up with plenty of crusty bread.

Spain is the world’s largest producer of olive oil, with regions such as Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura producing some of the finest extra virgin olive oils available.

What Wine Pairs Best with Spanish Chicken with Tomato?

The smoky paprika and tomato-rich sauce pair wonderfully with medium-bodied Spanish reds.

Try serving this dish with:

Rioja Crianza
Garnacha (Grenache)

If you prefer white wine, an unoaked Verdejo offers enough freshness to balance the spices without overpowering the dish.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value*
Calories	335 kcal	17%
Protein	39 g	78%
Total Fat	12 g	15%
Saturated Fat	2 g	10%
Carbohydrates	13 g	5%
Fiber	3 g	11%
Total Sugars	8 g	—
Cholesterol	105 mg	35%
Sodium	470 mg	20%
Potassium	980 mg	21%
Vitamin A	1450 IU	29%
Vitamin C	52 mg	58%
Calcium	62 mg	5%
Iron	2.2 mg	12%

*Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce (Pollo con Tomate) | Easy One-Pan Spanish Chicken Recipe 🇪🇸

Byron

Spanish Chicken with Tomato Sauce, known as Pollo con Tomate in Spain, is a comforting one-pan Spanish chicken recipe that's packed with Mediterranean flavor. Tender chicken is lightly browned before being gently simmered in a rich tomato sauce flavored with Spanish sweet smoked paprika, garlic, onion, herbs, and a splash of white wine.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 45

Total Time 50

Course Chicken, dinner, Main Course, meat

Cuisine Mediterranean, Spain

Servings 4 Main

Calories 335 kcal