Chicken and Bell Peppers Skillet is one of those dishes that will go into your family dinner rotation because it happens to please everyone. It’s seasoned with lots of spices, and it’s delicious. 

Chicken and Bell Peppers Skillet
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This is a delicious chicken dish with lots of flavors that is easy and quick to make and will please you and your family. Why? Have you looked at these crispy chicken thighs? So yummy! The skin is very crispy, and the meat is moist and tender. It’s everything we want in a chicken recipe!

Also, this chicken and bell peppers skillet is great for the busy weeknight dinnertime since it’s ready in less than 30 minutes.

I think it’s even better than classic fried chicken, and this chicken and bell peppers dish just happens to be Whole30, paleo, and low-carb. Wow, guilt-free, yet DELICIOUS!

What You’ll Need

Chicken thighs — I use bone-in, skin-on, free-range organic chicken. Got extra chicken thighs? You need to try my Baked Chicken Thighs! You can also make this recipe with skinless chicken thighs.

Seasoning — I use paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red chili flakes (or red pepper flakes).

Olive oil

Bell peppers — you can use whatever bell pepper you prefer, but I recommend red and orange as they are sweeter than green bell peppers. Got extra bell peppers? Try making my Shrimp, Bell Pepper and Onions Skillet. Cut into strips.

Medium onion — I like to use red onions, also cut into strips.

Garlic clove — minced

Fresh basil – garnish with basil or fresh parsley.

ingredients on the countertop to make chicken thighs and peppers.

How Can I Make Chicken and Bell Peppers?

For this recipe, you will use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, lots of spices, and a good cast iron skillet.

1. It all starts with you heating a large skillet over medium-high heat. It needs to be very hot before you pour olive oil and chicken. This step is important to give the chicken skin the brown look we’re going for.

2. Then, place chicken in a bowl and season with all your favorite spices. You can’t go wrong here. Add all the spices you prefer. I love using paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to taste.

3. Pour olive oil into the skillet and then add chicken to the skillet, skin side down, and cook 4-6 minutes or until browned. The time will depend on how hot your skillet is. Turn the chicken over and cook for 1 minute. Set aside. At this point, your chicken won’t be completely cooked.

left: raw chicken thighs seasoned inside of a white plate. Left: cooked chicken thighs inside of a white bowl.

4. Remove skillet from the heat, place on your countertop, and add all the ingredients for the peppers (red bell pepper, yellow or green bell pepper) and onion in the same skillet you cooked the chicken. Stir everything well to combine and bring the chicken back to the skillet on top of the peppers and onions.

5. Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake at 400°F for 15-25 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.

left: bell pepper and red onions in a cast iron skillet. right: cooked bell pepper, red onions and chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet.

What to serve with chicken and bell peppers?

One of the reasons you’ll love this recipe is that this easy Chicken and Bell Peppers Skillet goes well with almost everything. I mean, the list is endless.

·  Cauliflower rice

·  White rice

·  Mashed cauliflower, mashed butternut squash, or regular mashed potatoes

·  Quinoa or couscous

·

Expert Tips

Chicken thighs are cooked through once the internal temperature is 165°F. An instant-read thermometer is a very useful kitchen tool.

Make sure to cut onions and bell peppers into similar-sized pieces. This helps ensure they are cooked evenly.

I love cooking chicken with the bone in because it keeps the chicken moist, juicy and brings more flavor to the dish. But of course you can use a chicken breast if you prefer.

How To Store Leftovers

  • To Store: Store all your portions in an airtight container. I use glass containers as they don’t hold onto any smells and are easier to clean. Be sure to keep the meals refrigerated until you’re ready to eat. These chicken thighs and peppers will last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
  • To Freeze: While you can freeze this recipe (red pepper freezes wonderfully!), I would suggest not freezing this recipe since the skin on the chicken thighs won’t be as crispy once you thaw and reheat the meal.
  • To Reheat: I recommend reheating the chicken thighs in the oven or air fryer to keep the skin crispy, and the bell peppers and onions you can reheat in the microwave.

Recipe Substitutions

  • Want to swap the bone-on chicken thighs for boneless, skinless thighs? You can simply sear the chicken thighs, 5-6 minutes per side, and skip the baking.
  • Want to swap in boneless, skinless chicken breasts? Follow the instructions and use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness instead of baking for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • If you don’t have red onions, you can use a sweet yellow onion instead.
  • If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet like cast iron, try making my Baked Chicken Thighs and sauteeing the red onion and bell peppers separately on the stovetop.
  • If you’re a fan of mushrooms, just add them to the skillet too. Sauté for a few minutes. It will be delicious.
Headshot Chicken and Bell Peppers Skillet

Chicken and Bell Peppers Skillet

3.44 from 352 votes
Author: Olivia Ribas
Servings4 people
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Chicken and Bell Peppers Skillet is one of those dishes that will go into your family dinner rotation because it happens to please everyone. It’s seasoned with lots of spices, and it’s also low-carb, paleo, and Whole30-friendly.

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Ingredients 
 

For the chicken

For the bell peppers

Instructions 

  • Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat in the stove. Meanwhile, in a large bowl place chicken and all the seasonings for the chicken. Mix everything well to combine.
  • Add olive oil to skillet. Add chicken in skillet, skin side down, and cook 4-6 minutes or until browned. Turn chicken over and cook for 1 minute. Set aside (chicken won’t be totally cooked yet).
  • Remove skillet from the heat and add peppers, onion, garlic, paprika, red chili flakes and salt and peppers. Stir everything well to combine.
  • Arrange chicken on top of the peppers and onions and place the skillet in the pre-heat over. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes or until chicken gets the internal temperature of 165ºF. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Pat dry the chicken beforehand so the oil and seasoning will stick better.
  • I like using red and orange bell peppers because they’re sweeter than green bell peppers. 
  • An instant-read thermometer is a very useful kitchen tool as you can quickly check if the chicken is cooked through to 165F.
  • To store: Store the chicken and bell peppers in the fridge for up to 4 days in airtight containers.
  • To reheat: Reheat in the microwave until heated through.
  • To freeze: Freeze everything in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4, Calories: 258kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 80mg, Sodium: 758mg, Potassium: 266mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Olivia Ribas

Welcome

Hi, I'm Olivia


Happy to have you here! I’ve been creating and sharing tasty, easy-to-make recipes on Primavera Kitchen for over 10 years now! I’m all about simple, delicious recipes made with fresh, seasonal, and wholesome ingredients that your whole family will love.

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3.44 from 352 votes (335 ratings without comment)

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57 Comments

  1. Alenna Spiro says:

    Absolutely Delicious! I usually never leave reviews on recipes, but this dish is one I’m going to make regularly. It’s easy, delicious, and goes with almost anything. Thank you Olivia!

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      That’s awesome! I am so happy to know that you enjoyed this recipe!

  2. rex says:

    Simplest,most rewarding dish you’ve added to my GF repertoire. Second only to a Châteaubriand losing Wow-presentation points but it actually packs more mouth watering, jaw-dropping flavor that’s unbelievable.
    Sub: aji peppers for bells and omitted chili flake ‘cuz latin peppers brought the heat

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      Happy you liked it 😉

  3. Angel Mckneely says:

    What’s a good side?

  4. Becky says:

    Great recipe, I added crushed pineapple on top and a few jalapenos for seasoning. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      You’re so welcome!

  5. Cassandra Moran says:

    Fabulous! Far better than I thought it would be and pretty simple. And I’m not much of a cook at all. I did substitute shallots for onion and chicken breast as that’s what I had on hand. The only problem was it was so good I couldn’t stop eating it!

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      Thank you so much! I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed it, especially since you don’t cook often—that’s a huge compliment! Love the idea of using shallots and chicken breast; it’s always great when a recipe can work with what you have on hand. And hey, I totally get it… it’s hard to stop when it’s that tasty! 😊 Thanks for sharing your feedback!

  6. Trevor says:

    I make at least twice a month. Was one of the first things I learned how to cook and really enjoy this dish.

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      That’s amazing! It’s so special when a dish becomes a regular favorite. I’m thrilled that this recipe has been part of your cooking journey. Thank you for sharing! 😊

  7. julia says:

    Not as tasty as i was expecting unfortunately, maybe it was the use of chicken breast as theres no skin on these days. I would try again, with much more seasoning!

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      Thank you for your feedback! Using chicken breast can affect the flavor. This recipe is always flavorful every time I make it, and I think adding more seasoning will definitely enhance the taste to your liking. Hope it turns out even better next time! 😊

  8. Maureen says:

    I’m cooking this tonight. Will rate then.

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      Great! Let me know how it turned out!