Inspired by the Italian tomato sauce with capers, olives, and garlic - Spaghetti alla Puttanesca - our version includes chicken and green beans cooked right in the sauce for a one pan meal that is largely hands-off. Smarts: You can keep the chicken in large pieces for serving or, if you’d prefer a more cohesive sauce, chop the chicken after cooking and stir it back into the sauce. Cooking methods: This recipe includes instructions for using the slow cooker or stovetop. Select your preferred method. If using the slow cooker, we recommend cooking it on low since cooking on high can sometimes dry out chicken breast.
Green beans - 12 oz , chopped into bite-sized pieces
Bell peppers, red - 1 , chopped
Shallots - 2 cloves , diced
Garlic - 2 cloves , chopped
Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless - 1 lb
Tomatoes, diced and preferably fire-roasted (14 oz / 397 g) - 1 can
Stock, any type - 1 cup
(sub water)
Tomato paste - 3 Tbsp
Olives, pitted Kalamata - 1/2 cup
(sub any olives)
Capers - 2 Tbsp , drained
Vinegar, balsamic - 1 Tbsp
Oregano, dried - 2 tsp
Soy sauce, low-sodium - 2 tsp
Cheese, parmesan (opt) - for serving
Spaghetti:
Pasta, spaghetti - 12 oz
Choose Cooking Method
Prep
Green beans / Bell peppers / Shallots / Garlic - Prep as directed and combine. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Chicken - Season chicken with some salt and pepper. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
Slow cook chicken - Combine green beans, bell peppers, shallots, garlic, tomatoes (including liquid), stock, tomato paste, olives, capers, vinegar, oregano, and soy sauce in the bowl of a slow cooker. Nestle chicken in sauce. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
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Heat a Dutch oven with some oil over medium heat. Add chicken and sear on both sides until golden brown but not cooked all the way through, 4 to 6 minutes total. Set aside.
Return pan to heat. If it looks dry, add some more oil. Add in green beans, bell peppers, shallots, and garlic. Saute everything together until the green beans and peppers are starting to soften, 6 to 8 minutes, seasoning with some salt as it cooks.
Pour tomatoes (including liquid), stock (this recipe was written for the slow cooker, so reduce liquid by about half to account for the shorter cook time on the stovetop), tomato paste, olives, capers, vinegar, oregano, and soy sauce over top. Stir everything to combine and bring to a simmer.
Nestle chicken back into the pan, spooning some of the sauce over top. Reduce heat to low-medium (it should be just barely simmering) and cover with a lid.
Cook chicken with the lid on for 20 minutes (reduce heat as needed so that it stays at a very low simmer) to let the flavors develop and the chicken cook through.
While chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions.
When chicken is done cooking, taste the sauce and season with some salt and pepper if needed.
You can leave the chicken whole or, if you prefer a more cohesive sauce, shred or chop the chicken and stir it into the sauce.
Serve chicken and sauce over pasta. Top with cheese if using. Enjoy!