Description
This Braised Catalina Chicken is a simple yet flavorful dish where chicken is simmered in a tangy, slightly sweet Catalina dressing with a touch of spice and savory onion. It’s the perfect balance of sticky, tender, and satisfying — an easy weeknight meal that tastes restaurant-worthy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.2–1.6 kg chicken (bone-in thighs/drumsticks or boneless thighs)
- 1 tsp kosher salt + ½ tsp black pepper (to taste)
- 1–2 Tbsp neutral oil
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½–2 cups Catalina dressing (homemade or store-bought)
- ½ cup chicken stock or water (plus more as needed)
Instructions
- Preheat & prep. Heat the oven to 175°C / 350°F. Pat the chicken very dry and season on all sides with salt and pepper.
- Sear boldly. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high. Add chicken in a single layer; do not crowd. Sear until deep golden-brown, about 3–4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. (Sear in batches if needed.)
- Build the base. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion with a pinch of salt; cook until soft and translucent, scraping up fond. Stir in garlic and any dry spices (paprika/chili) and cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze & combine. Add stock (it will hiss). Scrape up browned bits. Stir in Catalina dressing plus Dijon/Worcestershire/soy (if using). Bring to a gentle simmer. Taste; adjust sweetness/tang now or later.
- Braise. Return chicken (and any juices) to the pot, skin-side up. Cover tightly and transfer to the oven. Braise 25–35 minutes for boneless thighs or 35–45 minutes for bone-in pieces, until tender.
- Glaze. Uncover and continue cooking 5–10 minutes, or set the pot half-covered on the stovetop to reduce the sauce to a shiny, spoon-coating glaze. Stir in a splash of cider vinegar or orange juice to brighten.
- Finish. Off heat, swirl in cold butter for extra sheen (optional). Check seasoning; add salt/pepper as needed.
- Serve. Spoon sauce over chicken. Garnish with parsley or chives. Serve hot over buttered rice, mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or couscous.
- Prep Time: PT10M
- Cook Time: PT45M
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Braised
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken piece with sauce
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg