Easy Tuscan Chicken Recipe: Michael Symon’s Cozy Italian Classic

Michael Symon’s tuscan chicken bursts with Mediterranean flavors that instantly transport you to the rolling hills of Italy.

Robust herbs and rich ingredients dance together in this spectacular dish, creating a sensory experience beyond ordinary meals.

Fragrant garlic and high-quality olive oil form the foundational essence of this culinary masterpiece.

Bright tomatoes and briny olives contribute depth and complexity to every succulent bite.

Tender chicken absorbs the intense seasonings, developing layers of mouthwatering taste that feel both rustic and refined.

The recipe balances simplicity with sophisticated techniques, making it accessible yet impressive for home cooks.

A perfect blend of traditional and contemporary cooking styles elevates this meal from ordinary to extraordinary: Get ready to savor an unforgettable dining adventure.

Reasons to Love Michael Symon’s Tuscan Chicken

• Grill-Infused Flavor Explosion: Michael Symon's Tuscan Chicken delivers an incredible smoky essence by cooking on both direct and indirect heat, creating depth and complexity that transforms ordinary chicken into a restaurant-worthy dish.
• Effortless Gourmet Technique: This recipe simplifies professional cooking methods by using a cast-iron pan on the grill, allowing home cooks to achieve restaurant-quality results with minimal technical skills and maximum deliciousness.
• Mediterranean-Inspired Ingredient Magic: The combination of vermouth, olives, tomatoes, and herb bundles creates a vibrant, rustic flavor profile that transports your taste buds directly to the beautiful Tuscan countryside with every single bite.
• Quick and Nutritious Weeknight Winner: Ready in just 40 minutes and packed with lean protein, this chicken dish offers a perfect balance of convenience and nutrition, making it an ideal meal for busy families seeking a delectable and wholesome dinner option.

Key Components for Michael Symon’s Tuscan Chicken

• Chicken: Succulent meat that serves as the star of the dish, best when skin-on for crispy texture and maximum flavor.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasoning to enhance the chicken's natural taste.
• Garlic: Adds aromatic depth and classic Mediterranean flavor to the dish.
• Herb Bundles: Provides fresh, earthy undertones that complement the chicken's richness.

• Olive Oil: Helps prevent sticking and adds a smooth, rich base for cooking.
• Vermouth: Adds a sophisticated, slightly sweet layer of complexity to the sauce.
• Chicken Stock: Creates a flavorful braising liquid that keeps the chicken moist.
• Butter: Adds a luxurious finish and helps create a silky, rich sauce at the end of cooking.

• Olives: Brings a salty, briny element that is typical of Tuscan cuisine.
• Tomatoes: Adds fresh, slightly acidic notes that balance the richness of the chicken.

Preparation Steps for Michael Symon Tuscan Chicken

Step 1: Prepare Grilling Setup

Set up a grill with both direct and indirect heat zones. For gas grills, activate only one side of burners. Place a large cast-iron skillet on the direct heat section to preheat.

• Cast-iron skillet
• Grill
• Heat-resistant tongs

Step 2: Season Chicken

Generously coat chicken pieces with salt and pepper on all surfaces. Ensure even coverage for maximum flavor absorption.

• Chicken pieces
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 3: Sear Chicken

Drizzle olive oil into the hot skillet. Carefully place chicken skin-side down, allowing 4 to 5 minutes for crispy golden browning. Flip chicken and add minced garlic for additional aroma.

• Olive oil
• Minced garlic
• Chicken pieces

Step 4: Add Liquid Ingredients

Pour vermouth into the skillet, sautéing briefly to enhance flavors and reduce excess liquid.

• Vermouth

Step 5: Incorporate Vegetables and Herbs

Scatter olives, tomatoes, and herb bundles around the chicken. Pour chicken stock and season with additional salt and pepper.

• Olives
• Tomatoes
• Herb bundles
• Chicken stock
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 6: Slow Cook

Move skillet to indirect heat zone. Close grill lid and cook for 13 to 20 minutes until chicken reaches 160°F internal temperature.

Step 7: Finish and Serve

Remove skillet from heat. Add butter all at once, creating a rich, glossy sauce. Let chicken rest for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.

Tips to Elevate Michael Symon’s Tuscan Chicken

• Control Heat Zones: Divide your grill into hot and cool regions for precision cooking, allowing chicken to develop deep flavors without burning.
• Marinade Magic: Let chicken soak in Tuscan-inspired blend at least 2 hours before grilling, allowing herbs and olive oil to penetrate deeply into meat's tender fibers.
• Moisture Lock Technique: Rest grilled chicken under loose foil for 5-7 minutes after cooking, trapping succulent juices and guaranteeing incredibly tender results.
• Temperature Triumph: Use instant-read thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches 165°F, eliminating guesswork and ensuring perfect food safety.
• Seasoning Strategy: Layer flavors by generously rubbing chicken with dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano before introducing any liquid marinades.

Preserving Michael Symon’s Tuscan Chicken

• Vacuum Seal Method: Extract all air from a heavy-duty freezer bag using a vacuum sealer. Press out excess air manually if no sealer is available, preventing freezer burn and maintaining chicken's original texture and flavor.
• Glass Container Preservation: Transfer cooled Tuscan Chicken into glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Glass prevents flavor absorption from other foods and allows easy reheating directly in the container, reducing dish cleanup.
• Temperature Control Strategy: Cool chicken completely before refrigerating or freezing, preventing bacterial growth and moisture condensation. Place container on the middle shelf of refrigerator away from door to maintain consistent temperature and extend food safety.

Different Approaches to Michael Symon Tuscan Chicken

• Rustic Herb Garden Chicken: Swap out the herb bundles with fresh rosemary, thyme, and oregano from your garden, creating a more aromatic and vibrant flavor profile that celebrates seasonal herbs.
• Mediterranean Seafood Swap: Replace chicken with firm white fish like halibut or sea bass, adjusting cooking time to ensure the delicate protein remains tender and flaky while absorbing the rich Tuscan-inspired sauce.
• Spicy Calabrian Kick: Incorporate chopped Calabrian chili peppers or red pepper flakes into the sauce, adding a bold heat that complements the olives and tomatoes while introducing a southern Italian culinary accent.
• Vegetarian Mediterranean Medley: Transform the recipe by substituting chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms or hearty eggplant slices, maintaining the robust cooking technique and preserving the authentic Mediterranean flavor combination.

Closing Thoughts on Michael Symon Tuscan Chicken

Michael Symon’s Tuscan chicken whisks Mediterranean charm straight to global grilling enthusiasts.

Classic ingredients mingle with smoky grill techniques, creating rustic culinary poetry.

Chicken sizzles alongside aromatic herbs, olives, and tomatoes, promising rich flavor landscapes.

Complex techniques merge simplicity with sophisticated grilling mastery.

Cast-iron pan techniques elevate home cooking into restaurant-quality experiences.

Passionate cooks can discover Mediterranean magic through these strategic grilling steps – share this delicious journey, comment with your grill adventures, and spread culinary inspiration across social platforms.

Michael Symon Tuscan Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Tuscan chicken brings Mediterranean flavors to your kitchen with creamy sun-dried tomato sauce and tender chicken. Rich herbs and parmesan create a luxurious dish you’ll savor from first bite to last.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1 whole chicken (6 pounds), cut into 8 pieces

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 2 beefsteak tomatoes, cut into eighths
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced
• ½ cup green olives, pitted

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 4 ounces (120 milliliters) dry vermouth
• 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons (30 grams) unsalted butter
• Kosher salt
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• Olive oil, for cooking

Herbs:

• 1 small bundle fresh oregano, tied with butcher’s twine
• Fresh basil, torn, for serving

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Instructions

1. Configure the grill for dual-zone cooking, establishing both direct and indirect heat regions using charcoal or gas methodology.
2. For gas grills, activate heating on one side exclusively. Position a robust cast-iron skillet on the direct-heat zone to achieve optimal temperature.
3. Liberally season chicken pieces with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring comprehensive coverage on all surfaces.
4. Drizzle a thin film of extra virgin olive oil into the preheated skillet, carefully placing chicken portions skin-side downward. Allow skin to develop a golden-brown crispy texture for approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
5. Rotate chicken pieces, introducing minced garlic to infuse aromatic complexity into the cooking environment.
6. Deglaze the skillet with dry vermouth, swirling to eliminate accumulated cooking liquids and concentrate flavor profiles.
7. Artfully distribute Kalamata olives, ripe cherry tomatoes, and fragrant herb bundles around the chicken pieces.
8. Pour chicken stock (approximately 1 cup or 240 milliliters) into the skillet, seasoning with additional salt and black pepper as desired.
9. Securely close the grill lid, transferring the cast-iron skillet to the indirect heat zone for controlled, even cooking.
10. Monitor chicken until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius), which typically requires 13 to 20 minutes of cooking time.
11. Remove skillet from heat source, immediately incorporating cold unsalted butter to create a luxurious, glossy finishing sauce.

Notes

• Marinate Magic Transforms Ordinary Chicken into a Flavor Explosion: Soaking the chicken in a blend of herbs, spices, and liquid gold (olive oil) for at least 30 minutes creates a tender, taste bud-awakening experience that elevates the entire dish.
• Seasoning Alchemy Unlocks Depth: Generously coat each chicken piece with a carefully crafted mix of salt, pepper, and aromatic herbs, ensuring every morsel bursts with complex, layered flavors that dance on your palate.
• Temperature Precision Guarantees Juicy Perfection: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, aiming for 165°F to lock in succulent juices and prevent any dry, disappointing bites.
• Resting Ritual Seals in Deliciousness: After cooking, let the chicken rest for 5-7 minutes, allowing the juices to redistribute and create a mouthwatering, tender texture that will have everyone asking for seconds.
• Cutting Technique Matters: Slice against the grain to maximize tenderness, creating picture-perfect pieces that are both visually appealing and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 8 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg