A beloved Italian-American classic, Chicken Scarpariello (aka “shoemaker’s chicken”) is a tangy, savory dish of pan-seared chicken, sweet Italian sausage, and peppers all simmered in a garlicky white wine vinegar sauce. Bold, hearty, and deeply comforting!
🍴 Ingredients
- 2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup pickled cherry peppers (whole or halved), plus a splash of brine
🔥 Instructions
Brown the Chicken:
Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken skin-side down for 5–6 minutes per side, until golden. Remove and set aside.
Cook the Sausage:
In the same pan, add sausage pieces and cook until browned on all sides. Transfer to the plate with the chicken.
Sauté the Veggies:
Add onion and bell peppers to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Deglaze and Simmer:
Pour in white wine and scrape up the brown bits. Let it simmer for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, vinegar, rosemary, red pepper flakes (if using), and cherry peppers with a splash of brine.
Return and Simmer:
Return chicken and sausage to the pan. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30–35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
Serve:
Spoon the sausage, peppers, and sauce over the chicken. Serve hot with crusty bread or over polenta or roasted potatoes.
📦 Amazon Must-Haves to Help You Create the Best Chicken Scarpariello
- 🍳 Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven — Retains heat beautifully and goes from stovetop to oven with ease.
- 🔪 Chef’s Knife — Makes quick work of slicing peppers, onions, and sausage.
- 🍷 Wine Measuring Cup — Perfect for measuring out your wine and vinegar with precision.
- 🫙 Pickled Cherry Peppers — The signature ingredient that gives Scarpariello its sweet heat.
- 🍽️ Serving Platter with Lip — Great for catching all that flavorful sauce when you bring it to the table.
💡 Helpful Tip: If you like extra tang, add a little splash of cherry pepper brine at the end—it lifts all the flavors and brings that signature Scarpariello zing.
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