Chicken Agrodolce

Chicken agrodolce, also known as sweet and sour chicken, is full of texture, and true to its name, sweet and sour flavor.  Roasted eggplant and zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and green olives are simmered with chicken in a sugar-vinegar sauce and topped with fresh mint.  Have some crusty bread handy to mop up the delicious sauce!

We are big fans of sweet and sour flavor combos in our home with zucchini agrodolce and eggplant caponata being some of our favorites.

Our chicken agrodolce has much in common with caponata and is essentially chicken with caponata plus a few extras, like zucchini. 

The depth of flavor in chicken agrodolce is over the top from the roasted eggplant and zucchini, the sweet raisins, the salty olives, and the fresh mint.

The chicken takes on all of these flavors ensuring that with every bite, you’re getting something special.

Pair this with rice, a bit of pasta, or some crusty bread and you’re all set!

How to make it

Each number corresponds to the numbered written steps below.

1. Cube 2 medium-sized zucchini and 1 medium-sized eggplant.  Slice 3 cloves of garlic and a 1/2 cup pitted Sicilian olives.  Chop 3 tablespoons of mint. 
2. Preheat the oven to 425f and set the rack to the middle level.  Toss the zucchini and eggplant with 1/4 cup of olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste.  Spread them out on parchment paper-lined baking sheets and roast for 20-25 minutes or until well browned and set aside.

3. Meanwhile, pat the chicken thighs dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
4. Heat a large pan to medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the chicken. If you’re using a smaller pan, you may need to work in batches to not overcrowd the pan.
5. Sear the chicken until browned (about 4-5 minutes per side), then set aside on a plate tented with foil
6. Add the remaining olive oil to the same pan along with the garlic and cook the garlic until golden (about 2 minutes).

7. Add 24 ounces of cherry tomatoes and a pinch of salt.  
8. Once the tomatoes begin to burst (about 5-7 minutes), add 1 cup of low sodium chicken broth, 1/4 cup raisins, the sliced olives, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of sugar.  
9. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook for 2 minutes until it reduces slightly.
10. Turn the heat down to medium-low and return the chicken to the pan along with the roasted zucchini and eggplant.  

11. Continue to cook over a low simmer partially covered for about 10-15 minutes or until the chicken thighs reach at least 175f internal temperature.
12. Taste test the sauce and season with salt and pepper if needed.  Sprinkle the fresh mint on top right before serving.  Serve with crusty bread to mop up the sauce and enjoy!

Top tips for awesome agrodolce chicken

• The sweet.  We used a combination of raisins and sugar for the “dolce”, or sweet part of this dish.  We realize that not everyone loves raisins.  If you’re not a fan of raisins, you can omit them and replace them with more sugar until you’re satisfied with the sweet to sour ratio.
• The sour.  Red wine vinegar was used to create the sour aspect of this dish.  You can use white vinegar as well.  
• The olives.  We used Sicilian green olives for our chicken agrodolce but this would also be great with kalamata olives, oil-cured olives, or a combination of olives.  If you can, try and buy pitted olives to save you the work of removing the pits yourself.
• The chicken.  Boneless, skinless chicken thighs were used for our recipe but you can also use chicken pieces.  Note:  this dish is better with dark meat and is less likely to dry out than with white meat.

More Italian chicken thigh recipes you’ll love

• Chicken thighs with fennel and cherry tomatoes – braised chicken thighs with burst cherry tomatoes and fennel.
• Chicken Vesuvio – Whole chicken (but can use just thighs) with potatoes and peas in a lemon white wine sauce.
• Chicken and peppers – Roman-style chicken thighs and peppers in a white wine sauce.
• Chicken fra diavolo – Chicken thighs in a garlicky spicy tomato sauce.

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