Spanish Chicken in Bravas Sauce

Try my Spanish Chicken recipe and add a touch of Mediterranean flare to your dinners! Spanish paprika flavoured chicken thighs are braised in a rich and tangy tomato sauce along with white beans and olives. Serve with rice and a simple salad. 

Or take a look at another reader favourite with similar flavours. Spanish Baked Chicken Thighs and Potatoes is a recipe that delivers the taste of Spain in a convenient one pan meal. 

Spain is the country I think of when I’m in need of sunshine and happiness. Some of our most memorable family holidays were spent there. 

We also love the food so much that we try to incorporate the Spanish flavours into our weekly dinners back home. This recipe for chicken thighs, braised in a rich tomato sauce with white beans and olives, is one inspired by our favourite holiday destination. 

Spanish Chicken Recipe

This recipe is not an authentic recipe so perhaps I should call it Spanish-style chicken. But it does incorporate tons of gorgeous ingredients used in Spain. Do they ever come together in a recipe like this? I have no idea as it is my own creation.

The chicken thighs are rubbed with salt and smoky Spanish paprika, then browned for a crispy exterior. 

As soon as the chicken is browned, we make the tomato sauce. Then I mix in green and black olives, which add a delicious briny flavour to the sauce.

I also like to add beans to my braises. They add more substance and fibre to the meals. Beans are also a very authentic and frequent ingredient in the Spanish cuisine. 

For the final step, the chicken thighs are braised in the sauce in the oven until they are crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth tender on the inside. 

Bravas Sauce 

Now let’s talk about the sauce, which is the real deal. And it comes from an iconic Spanish recipe called Patatas Bravas. 

Bravas in Spanish means “fierce”, which will immediately give you an idea of the nature of this sauce. Nothing shy or understated. At first glance Bravas sauce will remind you of its Italian cousin, Marinara sauce as it’s called North America. 

Although they are both tomato based, they are nothing alike. I am utterly in love with the bravas’ tangy, salty, sweet and spicy taste.

Patatas Bravas is a tapa that accompanies drinks in Spain. Essentially, they are deep fried potatoes, which are served drizzled with the sauce. Sometimes garlic aioli is added as well. 

The sauce is so delicious, it’s a shame to only use it with potatoes. I decided to pair it with everyone’s favourite meat chicken. Braising chicken thighs in this tangy tomato sauce produces magical results. 

Chicken with crispy skin and tender flesh that is falling of the bones. The sauce, mixed with olives and white beans, is deeply savoury and incredibly satisfying. 

This delicious chicken recipe is a cross between a braise and a stew, and it’s so much better for it!

Serving suggestions

With all that lovely sauce, you’re going to want to serve it over something to soak up all that lovely flavour. Often that is white rice, but I also love using air fryer or roast potatoes. A chunk of crusty bread is also perfect for this recipe.

I also love to serve a vegetable side dish next to a hearty main like this. For that, I’d go with lemon butter green beans, roasted cauliflower or a simple garden salad.

A sprinkling of fresh parsley can be pleasant touch, if completely optional, to add colour and freshness to the dish. Add it just before serving.

Storage and leftovers

Leftover Spanish chicken can be stored in an This is an affiliate link.airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you want to keep it for longer, it will store in the freezer for 3-4 months.

Reheat on the stove top or in the oven with a splash of water to loosen the sauce and prevent it drying out. A microwave can be used in a pinch, but it can lead to a tough or rubbery texture so it’s not an option that I recommend.

Make sure your reheated chicken and bravas sauce has reached a food safe temperature before serving.

More recipes with Spanish flavours

• Easy Spanish Rice with Chicken and Shrimp (Paella)
• Mediterranean Sausage Casserole
• Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Chorizo and Eggs
• Spanish Meatballs (Albondigas)