Braised Catalina Chicken

Braised Catalina Chicken That’ll Steal Your Heart (and Dinner Table)

Let’s be honest—weeknight dinners can feel like a chore. Between juggling work, laundry, and making sure your kids aren’t sneaking snacks before dinner (again), the last thing you want is a complicated recipe with 42 steps and ingredients you can’t pronounce. Enter: Braised Catalina Chicken.

This savory-sweet, comfort-food classic is everything you want in a meal. It’s warm, cozy, and loaded with flavor thanks to a bold sauce that’s tangy, smoky, and just a little sweet. Oh, and did I mention it all comes together in one dish you can pop right into the oven? Yep—easy cleanup, too. 🙌

Whether you’re feeding picky eaters, hosting your book club gals, or just craving something nostalgic and delicious, this one’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Why You’ll Love This Braised Catalina Chicken

🍗 It’s simple but impressive. That sweet and tangy sauce tastes like something out of a fancy restaurant—without the fuss.
🧄 Packed with flavor. Between the paprika, Worcestershire, and the punch of vinegar, every bite is bold and balanced.
⏱ Make-ahead friendly. This dish only gets better the next day, making leftovers a total blessing.
👩‍👧‍👦 Kid-approved. That Catalina-style sweetness goes over very well with the littles.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Grab your apron, queen—here’s what’s going in:

• Skinless, boneless chicken breasts (or thighs if you’re team dark meat)
• Extra-virgin olive oil – for browning
• Unsalted butter – for those golden mushrooms
• Mushrooms – white button, quartered
• Red bell peppers – sliced into strips
• Yellow or white onion – your pick!
• Chicken broth
• Ketchup – trust the process
• Tomato paste
• Honey – for that Catalina-style sweetness
• White wine vinegar
• Worcestershire sauce
• Smoked paprika
• Chili powder (or crushed red pepper flakes if you’re spicy like that)

Step-by-Step: How to Make Braised Catalina Chicken

Step 1 : Brown the Chicken

Pat those chicken breasts dry like you mean it (moisture = no golden crust). Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and let it sizzle without turning—about 5 minutes per side—until gloriously golden. Then pop the browned chicken into a baking dish.

Step 2 : Sauté the Veggies

In the same skillet, melt butter and toss in your mushrooms. Sauté until they’re golden and smelling divine—just a couple minutes. Layer them over the chicken.

Next, throw on your red bell pepper strips for color and sweetness.

Add a splash of olive oil to the skillet and sauté the onions until they’re soft and just starting to caramelize. That’s your flavor base right there.

Step 3 : Whisk Up the Sauce

In a bowl, whisk together:

• Chicken broth
• Ketchup
• Tomato paste
• Honey
• White wine vinegar
• Worcestershire sauce
• Paprika
• Chili powder (or flakes, if you’re feelin’ fiery)

Now, sprinkle a bit of flour over the onions in the skillet, stir for a minute, then slowly pour in your sauce mixture. Let it simmer until it thickens a bit—it should coat the back of a spoon like a dream.

Step 4 : Bake to Perfection

Pour that gorgeous sauce over the chicken, cover the baking dish with foil, and bake at 375°F for 35 to 45 minutes. Baste it halfway through to keep everything juicy and happy.

Remove the foil, baste one more time (extra love never hurts), and let it bake another few minutes until those peppers start to caramelize.

Aneta’s Magic Tip ✨

Don’t stress if your sauce looks a little “rustic” going into the oven. It all melts together beautifully while it bakes. Think of it like lasagna—messy before magic.

Also, if you’re making this ahead, store the sauce separately and pour it on right before baking. This keeps everything from getting mushy overnight.

A Little Backstory (Because Food is Love)

I first made Braised Catalina Chicken during one of those chaotic weeks when everything was going sideways—school pickups, late meetings, zero time to breathe. I needed something comforting but hands-off. This dish saved the day… and got my kids to ask for seconds. That sweet-savory sauce? Pure dinner magic.

Now it’s on regular rotation. Whether I’m feeding a hungry crowd or just craving something homey, this chicken always delivers.

FAQs About Braised Catalina Chicken

Conclusion

This Braised Catalina Chicken is your answer to “what’s for dinner?” on those wild, no-time-to-think days. It’s comforting, flavorful, and easy enough to make even when the kids are melting down and you’ve just stepped on a LEGO.

Give it a try, and don’t be surprised if it becomes your new weeknight hero. 💫

Looking for more cozy chicken ideas? Come hang out at Chicken Magic Recipes—where chicken is always the star, and dinner never has to be boring.

Happy cooking!

Discover More Chicken Magic You’ll Love

If you loved the bold flavors and comforting vibe of Braised Catalina Chicken, you’re in for a treat! At Chicken Magic Recipes, I’ve got plenty more crave-worthy dishes that bring the same sweet, savory, and satisfying flair to your dinner table. Whether you’re in the mood for something creamy, crispy, or a little spicy, here are a few hand-picked favorites to explore next:

• Craving more sweet and tangy goodness? Don’t miss this Catalina Chicken—an oven-baked spin that’s just as bold and family-friendly.
• If you’re into rich, garlicky comfort food (who isn’t?), you’ll love the Crispy Parmesan Chicken with a Rich Garlic Sauce for a crispy finish and creamy indulgence.
• For a casserole that feels like a warm hug, try the Creamy Dijon Chicken and Potatoes—it’s simple, filling, and oh-so-satisfying.
• Feeling a little adventurous? Spice things up with the bold and fragrant Spicy Ginger Chicken Recipe, perfect when you want something with a kick.

These recipes keep the magic going while fitting seamlessly into your weekly meal plans—easy, flavorful, and totally doable, even on the busiest nights. Go ahead, pick your next favorite!

Braised Catalina Chicken

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• Author: Aneta
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

Braised Catalina Chicken is a comforting, flavor-packed dish featuring tender chicken baked in a sweet and tangy sauce with peppers, onions, and mushrooms. It’s an easy, family-friendly recipe perfect for busy weeknights or cozy Sunday dinners.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (or thighs)

• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

• 8 oz white button mushrooms, quartered

• 1 large sweet red bell pepper, sliced

• 1 medium yellow or white onion, sliced

• 1 cup chicken broth

• 1/4 cup ketchup

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• 2 tbsp honey

• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp chili powder (or crushed red pepper flakes, optional)

• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour

• Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Brown the Chicken
   Preheat oven to 375°F. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on each side for about 5 minutes until golden. Transfer to a baking dish.

2. Sauté Mushrooms & Onions
   In the same skillet, melt butter. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden, about 2–3 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to the baking dish with chicken. Add bell pepper strips over the top. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and cook the onions until tender.

3. Make the Sauce
   In a bowl, whisk together chicken broth, ketchup, tomato paste, honey, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and chili powder. Sprinkle flour over sautéed onions, stir for 1 minute, then gradually add the sauce mixture. Cook until slightly thickened.

4. Bake
   Pour the sauce over the chicken and veggies. Cover with foil and bake for 35–45 minutes, basting once halfway through. Remove foil, baste again, and bake another 5–10 minutes until bell peppers begin to caramelize.

Notes

Chicken thighs can be used for juicier results—adjust bake time if bone-in.
Leftovers taste even better the next day and can be refrigerated up to 3 days.
Great served with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread for dipping.

• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins
• Category: Main course
• Method: oven-Baked
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 380 kcal
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 590 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 110 mg