Chicken and polenta with garlic, a simple Romanian recipe. This tender chicken in a light sauce served with soft polenta is an easy European home-cooked meal.
This braised chicken with polenta and garlic is a simple European home-cooked meal I make often. It's a traditional Romanian dish called pui cu usturoi și mămăligă, something I grew up eating and still cook the same way today.
It's made with just a few basic ingredients but has plenty of flavor, real comfort food! And it is the kind of everyday meal that doesn't need much planning and always turns out well. Bonus - kids love it!
The chicken simmers until tender in an aromatic garlic sauce and is served with soft polenta, also known as Romanian mămăligă, which soaks up the sauce.
Ingredients: 7 + oil, salt & pepper | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 40 minutes | Servings: 4 | Difficulty: Easy
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Pam: Made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! I used my regular polenta recipe but made the chicken following your directions. It was delicious - the sauce was amazing! Thank you for sharing. I will definitely make again.
Recipe ingredients
Chicken: Cut quarters at the joint or buy separated pieces, 4 thighs and 4 drumsticks. You can keep the skin on or remove it; your choice.
Garlic: Don't be skimpy with it; it adds incredible flavor. Add at the end so the flavor stays strong.
Polenta works best with medium or coarse cornmeal, similar to what is used in Polenta Cheese Balls. Check the packet for timing.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make chicken and polenta?
Step #1: Sear the seasoned chicken for 3 minutes on the skin side, flip, and sear for another 3 minutes.
Step #2: Add paprika and stir to coat. Add the stock so it nearly covers the meat without fully submerging it. Add ½ of the parsley and pepper.
Step #3: Cover and simmer gently for about 30 minutes, turning once, until cooked through. Add garlic and remaining parsley and cook 1 minute
Step #4: Make the polenta while the chicken cooks. Heat water in a pot, add salt, then slowly whisk in polenta while stirring. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat.
Tips: The sauce should reduce by about half. For a thicker sauce, remove the lid for the last 5 minutes. But keep it slightly runny for polenta.
Step #5: Cook covered loosely, stirring often, until thick (about 20 minutes, depending on the package). Stir in butter at the end.
Step #6: Divide the polenta between plates. Top each portion with one chicken thigh and one drumstick. Spoon the pan juices over the chicken and polenta before serving.
Tips
Add garlic only at the end.
Cook the polenta according to the packet instructions, as cooking times vary depending on whether you use medium, coarse, or instant. Instant polenta works if you are short on time, but medium or coarse cornmeal has better flavor.
- Polenta is also used in baked dishes like Polenta Loaf, where it becomes firm and sliceable.
Serve the polenta soft so it absorbs the sauce.
Store and reheat
The chicken keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the leftover chicken. Reheat gently with a splash of water or stock.
Polenta is best fresh. Once cold, slice and fry or grill.
What to serve with it?
Serve the polenta chicken with White Cabbage Salad, Stewed Cabbage, or pickles such as Green Tomato Pickles. These are classic Romanian sides that go very well with any polenta dish.
Do you like this recipe?
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Chicken and Polenta
Equipment
- Large Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed pan, Note 1
- Large pot
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 4 chicken quarters or 4 thighs and 4 drumsticks, Note 2
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock
- small bunch parsley
- 4 large garlic cloves
- fine sea salt and pepper
For the polenta:
- 1 â…” cup polenta Note 3
- 4 â…” cups water
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons butter optional
Instructions
- Prepare chicken: If you like, remove the skin from the chicken parts. Divide them at the joint, if not already split. Season well with salt and pepper.4 chicken quarters + fine sea salt and pepper
- Sear chicken: Heat the oil in a large pan. Place the chicken skin side down and sear for about 3 minutes. Turn and sear the other side for another 3 minutes.2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Add ingredients: Sprinkle over the paprika and stir to coat the chicken evenly. Pour in the chicken stock; it should almost cover the meat, but the chicken should not be fully submerged. Add half of the parsley and a little more pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika + 1 ½ cups chicken stock + bunch parsley + pepper
- Simmer: Bring to a boil, then lower the heat. Cover with a lid, leaving it slightly open, and simmer for about 30 minutes, turning the chicken once, until cooked through. By the end of cooking, the sauce should reduce by about half. If you prefer a thicker sauce, remove the lid for the last 5 minutes. I usually keep it a bit runnier so it can soak into the polenta.
- Start the polenta while the chicken cooks.
- Garlic sauce: Add the grated garlic to the pan together with the remaining parsley. Cook for 1 minute, remove from heat, and adjust seasoning.4 large garlic cloves + bunch parsley
Polenta:
- Heat the water in a large pot without letting it boil. Add the salt and stir to dissolve. Slowly whisk in the polenta while stirring continuously.4 â…” cups water+ 1 teaspoon fine sea salt + 1 â…” cup polenta
- Cook polenta: Bring to a boil, then lower the heat. Cover loosely and cook, stirring often, according to the packet instructions (about 20 minutes for mine, but this can vary). Stir in the butter once the polenta is thick and smooth.2 teaspoons butter
- Serve the chicken with the polenta right away. Divide the polenta between plates. Top each portion with one chicken thigh and one drumstick. Spoon the pan juices over the chicken and polenta before serving.
Notes
- The pan should be large enough to hold the chicken pieces in one layer.
- Chicken: You can divide the quarters at the joint or use 4 chicken thighs and 4 chicken drumsticks.
- Polenta: You can use coarse or medium polenta, but check the package instructions regarding the cooking time. If you are in a hurry, instant polenta works, too.Â
Mihaela says
Can I use chicken breast too? In my family only I and my son-in-law are eating chicken legs.
Adina says
Sure. Check it sooner, chicken breast cooks quicker.
Laura says
I can't wait to try this! My mom and mamaie always made the most delicious garlic chicken for me growing up, and I've never thought to try it myself until I was looking at the recipe for basic mamaliga and then saw this. Multumesc Adina! Pofta buna ?
Adina says
Cu placere, Laura!
Pam says
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! I used my regular polenta recipe but made the chicken following your directions. It was delicious—the sauce was amazing! Thank you for sharing. I will definitely make again.
Adina says
Hi Pam, I am so happy to hear it! Thank you for the feedback!
Dean @ Globe Scoffers says
Hi Adina, this dish looks yummy. We have polenta quite often and we make polenta chips. I've tried to make creamy polenta before but it just comes out like a solid lump, any tips?
Adina says
Hi Dean. When I want a creamier polenta I use more water than it is actually necessary, in this case about 1/2 cup water more. Sometimes I mix the water with milk. I hope this will work for you. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
Monica says
You sound the way I felt last year. I totally made things simpler this year and it does pay off...but no matter, that mix of delight and stress is definitely part of the holidays for adults/parents. : )
And this chicken dish is totally gorgeous!!
PS - I made Barcelona hot chocolate for x'mas morning and realized I'd left out the cocoa and sugar in the instructions...fixed it..but hope it wasn't too annoying for you when you were reading it...
Adina says
Thanks for the warning about the chocolate. I didn't even realize something was missing, I made the way it was written and I liked it. The sugar was optional anyway, I didn't add any to my cup, I never take sugar with coffee.
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
I am a totaly garlic junkie too, I don't believe that there is such a thing as "too much garlic" 🙂 The holidays can be stressful sometimes, I think your plan to keep it simple next year is a good one! Loving this simple and delicious chicken!
Adina says
Thank you, Meghan. And garlic rules!!! 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
This looks like total comfort food....total delicious comfort food! I love the frenzy of all the cooking around the holidays, but I also would like it a bit more relaxed....or maybe just find someone to clean up the kitchen after all my frenzied cooking!
Adina says
That would be great, wouldn't it, someone to clean the kitchen after the battle.
marcela says
lovely chicken! looks delicious! Can't wait to give your recipe a try!
Adina says
Thank you, tell me if you give it a try.
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
I am always looking for more chicken recipes. Also, can you believe that I have never tried polenta? On my to-do list for the new year 🙂
Adina says
Oh, polenta is so great. Our favorite way to eat it is with cheese and yogurt or sour cream, really mushy and delicious. You should definitely try it!
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table says
Haha, garlic junkie! This chicken seriously sounds so delicious though - easy and full of flavor! I like the idea of serving it with polenta too - I'm always forgetting how much I love polenta. And I'm with you on simplifying... it's so easy to get caught up and want to go overboard at the holidays. Better to slow down and spend that time with family. Next year we'll do better 😉 Cheers to a happy New Years!
Adina says
I have even told my husband he should remind me about keeping it simple next year, I am afraid I always forget that myself. 🙂 And we love polenta too, we eat it very often one way or another.
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
Could this chicken get any more comforting? That bed of creamy polenta is calling my name...
Adina says
I am glad you like it, Sue. 🙂
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
This looks like the perfect New Year's comfort food - especially in its cozy bed of polenta! Definitely putting on my must try in 2016 list. 🙂
Adina says
Thank you, Kate. It would be great if you tried this! 🙂
grace says
is it weird if my favorite aspect of this is the polenta? i like both garlic and chicken, don't get me wrong, but i LOVE me some polenta! 🙂
Adina says
Not weird at all, my son only ate a little bit of chicken after getting his tummy full with polenta and sauce.
Adina says
Sounds really relaxing just the two of you, I suppose relaxation is the only thing I missed this Christmas. 🙂 Happy New Year to you too.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
We didn't spend the X'mas with the family this year...just two of us with our cats :-))...so it's a really simple and relaxing holiday. Your garlic chicken with polenta looks super duper delicious and comforting, Alida.
Happy New Year to you and your whole family!
Angie