Bold Michael Symon Tuscan Chicken Recipe with Rustic Flair
Tuscan chicken by michael symon ignites a flavor explosion that whisks you straight to sun-drenched Italian landscapes.
This culinary gem transforms ordinary poultry into a Mediterranean masterpiece with bold, zesty ingredients.
Aromatic herbs and golden olive oil weave magic into every tender morsel of chicken.
Vibrant tomatoes and salty olives create a symphony of tastes that dance across your palate.
Each bite tells a story of rustic charm and sophisticated cooking techniques.
The recipe marries simplicity with gourmet elegance, promising a meal that delights and surprises.
Grab your skillet and let’s turn dinner into an unforgettable journey through Tuscany’s rich culinary traditions.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Calories: 450 kcal
Servings: 4
Ingredients in Michael Symon’s Tuscan Chicken
For Grilling Setup:
Cast-Iron Skillet: Choose a well-seasoned, heavy-duty pan that retains heat evenly.
Grill: Opt for a reliable gas or charcoal grill with adjustable heat zones.
Heat-Resistant Tongs: Select sturdy, long-handled tongs for safe food handling.
For Protein and Seasoning:
Chicken Pieces: Pick fresh, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks for maximum flavor and juiciness.
Salt, Black Pepper: Use freshly ground sea salt and coarse black pepper for vibrant seasoning.
For Aromatic and Liquid Ingredients:
Olive Oil: Select extra virgin olive oil for rich, fruity undertones.
Minced Garlic: Use fresh garlic cloves for intense, authentic flavor.
Vermouth: Choose a dry white vermouth to add depth and complexity.
Chicken Stock: Use homemade or high-quality low-sodium stock for rich base notes.
For Vegetables and Herbs:
Olives, Tomatoes: Select ripe, briny olives and juicy, farm-fresh tomatoes.
Herb Bundles: Combine fresh thyme, rosemary, or oregano for aromatic complexity.
Salt, Black Pepper: Add a final seasoning layer to enhance overall taste.
For Finishing Touch:
Butter: Use high-quality unsalted butter to create a luxurious, glossy sauce.
Kitchen Essentials for Tuscan Chicken
Cast-iron skillet: Heavy-duty pan that delivers incredible heat retention and amazing flavor development.
Grill: Your outdoor cooking companion for creating delicious, smoky meals with perfect char.
Heat-resistant tongs: Essential tool for safely handling hot chicken and maneuvering food on the grill.
Sharp knife: For precise cutting and preparation of herbs and ingredients.
Meat thermometer: Guarantees chicken reaches safe internal temperature without guesswork.
Wooden spoon: Helps stir and mix ingredients smoothly during cooking process.
Cutting board: Clean surface for ingredient preparation and chicken handling.
How to Make Michael Symon’s Tuscan Chicken
Grill Chicken Provençal
Prep the Cooking Station Set up your grill with a hot zone and a cooler zone. Position a heavy cast-iron skillet on the direct heat to get it sizzling hot and ready for action.
Season Like a Pro Massage salt and pepper all over the chicken, making sure every nook and cranny gets some love. This is your flavor foundation.
Sear to Perfection Splash some olive oil into the screaming hot skillet. Drop the chicken skin-side down and let it develop a gorgeous golden crust. After a few minutes, flip and sprinkle in some fragrant garlic to wake up your taste buds.
Create the Flavor Bath Splash in some vermouth to deglaze the pan, lifting all those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
Build the Mediterranean Scene Scatter olives, juicy tomatoes, and fresh herb sprigs around the chicken. Pour in chicken stock and give everything a gentle seasoning boost.
Low and Slow Magic Slide the skillet to the cooler side of the grill. Close the lid and let the magic happen, allowing the chicken to cook through and soak up all those incredible flavors. You're looking for that perfect 160°F internal temperature.
Final Touch of Luxury Pull the skillet off the heat and swirl in a pat of butter. This creates a luxurious sauce that will make everyone's mouth water. Let the chicken rest briefly before serving to lock in all those delicious juices.
Cooking Tips for Michael Symon’s Chicken Dish
Elevate Your Grilling Game: Explore exciting techniques to transform this chicken recipe into a culinary masterpiece.
Customize Spice Levels: Replace black pepper with smoky paprika or cayenne for a fiery kick. Experiment with different spice blends to match your heat tolerance and flavor preferences.
Wine Swap Wisdom: Substitute vermouth with dry white wine, champagne, or even light beer for unique flavor profiles. Each liquid brings its own distinctive taste that complements the chicken's richness.
Vegetable Variations: Mix up the vegetable medley by adding roasted bell peppers, artichoke hearts, or caramelized pearl onions. Seasonal produce can dramatically transform the dish's character and nutritional value.
Herb Infusion Techniques: Blend fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano directly into the sauce. Alternatively, create an herb-infused olive oil drizzle to enhance the final presentation and add layers of aromatic complexity.
Plating Michael Symon’s Tuscan Chicken
Pair with Crusty Bread: Soak up the delicious vermouth and butter sauce with warm, crusty bread slices, perfect for capturing every last drop of flavor.
Create a Mediterranean Platter: Arrange the chicken alongside a colorful spread of marinated olives, fresh cucumber slices, and creamy tzatziki for a vibrant dining experience.
Elevate with Wine Pairing: Complement the dish's rich flavors with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Grigio, enhancing the vermouth's subtle notes.
Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle chopped parsley or basil over the chicken just before serving to add a burst of fresh brightness and aromatic appeal.
Planning and Storing Tuscan Chicken
Preserve Meal Freshness: Store cooked chicken in airtight containers within two hours of preparation. Refrigerate leftovers for up to four days, maintaining optimal taste and safety.
Quick Portion Control: Divide chicken into individual serving sizes before storing. This strategy helps streamline reheating and prevents unnecessary food waste.
Smart Reheating Technique: Warm refrigerated chicken in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of chicken stock. Cover and heat gently to retain moisture and prevent dryness.
Freezer-Friendly Options: Wrap cooled chicken tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bags. Frozen chicken remains delicious for three months when properly sealed, providing convenient meal prep for busy weeks.
Succulent Michael Symon Tuscan Chicken merges Mediterranean flavors with hearty ingredients. Rich creamy sauce and tender chicken create an irresistible dinner experience you’ll savor with each flavorful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
1 whole chicken (6 lbs/2.7 kg), cut into 8 pieces
2 beefsteak tomatoes, cut into eighths
3 cloves garlic, sliced
½ cup (75 g) green olives, pitted
4 oz (120 ml) dry vermouth
1 ½ cups (360 ml) chicken stock
2 tbsps (30 g) unsalted butter
Kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
Olive oil, for cooking
1 small bundle fresh oregano, tied with butcher’s twine
Fresh basil, torn, for serving
Instructions
Preparation: Configure the grill for dual-zone heating, establishing direct and indirect heat regions using charcoal or gas methodology.
Skillet Preheating: Position a robust cast-iron skillet on the direct-heat zone, drizzling a thin film of extra virgin olive oil and liberally seasoning chicken with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Initial Searing: Place chicken skin-side downward in the preheated skillet, developing a golden-brown crispy texture for 4-5 minutes while introducing minced garlic to infuse aromatic complexity.
Flavor Development: Deglaze the skillet with dry vermouth, swirling to concentrate flavors, then artfully distribute Kalamata olives, ripe cherry tomatoes, and fragrant herb bundles around the chicken pieces.
Controlled Cooking: Pour chicken stock into the skillet, close the grill lid, and transfer to the indirect heat zone, monitoring until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius), typically requiring 13-20 minutes.
Finishing Touch: Remove skillet from heat source and immediately incorporate cold unsalted butter to create a luxurious, glossy finishing sauce, ensuring a rich and vibrant Tuscan-inspired dish.
Notes
Prep Heat Zones: Dual-zone cooking ensures perfect chicken texture by providing direct intense heat and gentler indirect cooking areas.
Skin Sear Technique: Crisp chicken skin by starting skin-side down in hot cast-iron skillet, allowing golden-brown caramelization for maximum flavor development.
Deglazing Flavor Boost: Using dry vermouth instead of standard liquids adds sophisticated depth and helps release delicious browned bits from skillet surface.
Temperature Precision: Use meat thermometer to confirm 160°F internal temperature, preventing overcooking while guaranteeing food safety and juicy chicken results.
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.
Michael Thompson
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.