Delicious Weeknight Chicken and Lentils Recipe
- Katy Stroud
- May 7, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 1
Weeknight Chicken and Lentils recipe
Ingredients
Onion: 1 large, diced
Garlic cloves: 4, smashed and roughly chopped
Olive oil: for cooking
Chicken (thighs & breasts): deboned, skin removed, cut into 1” pieces
Lentils: 2 cups, precooked
Coriander: 2 tsp
Paprika: 1 tbsp
Ground fennel: 1 tsp
Oregano: 2 or 3 sprigs, leaves removed from stem and chopped
Canned tomatoes: 2 cups, pureed
Water: 1 cup
Kalamata olives: ½ cup, roughly chopped
Salt and pepper: to taste
Garnish
Feta cheese: 2 tbsp per serving
Parsley
Olive oil
Substitutions
You can substitute chicken for pork, lamb, or even goat. Prefer a vegetarian dish? Lentils, navy beans, or chickpeas are all excellent choices for plant-based protein.
Instructions
Precook lentils to al dente. These can be cooked in advance.
Rinse lentils and remove any small stones (lentils sometimes have stones in the packaging).
Cook the lentils in 3 cups of water until tender (season with salt while cooking).
Set aside to cool.
Cut chicken into small bite-sized pieces. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, fennel, and coriander. Set aside until ready.
Sweat onion and garlic in olive oil until clear and aromatic.
Add chicken to the onions and cook until the chicken is tender.
Stir in the precooked lentils, tomatoes, oregano, and kalamata olives.
Cook until the liquid is reduced by ¼.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Prepare Garnishes
Roughly chop a good handful of parsley.
Crumble feta cheese.
Assembly
Place chicken and lentils into a wide bowl.
Top with a generous amount of parsley. The more, the better! Parsley is packed with vitamin C.
Crumble feta cheese on top and drizzle the entire dish with olive oil.
Serve with fresh sourdough.
Enjoy Your Meal!
Most importantly, ENJOY! This weeknight chicken and lentils recipe is not just a meal; it's an experience. The combination of flavors and textures will leave you satisfied. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or sharing with loved ones, this dish is sure to impress.
Feel free to explore variations and make it your own. Cooking should be fun and enjoyable. So, gather your ingredients and get started on this delightful recipe. Happy cooking!
Comments