Pollo con Tomate Recipe: Easy Spanish Chicken in Tomato Sauce 2026

Pollo con tomate is the kind of Spanish home cooking that turns an ordinary weeknight into something special without stretching the budget. Juicy chicken pieces are browned, then gently simmered in a sweet tomato sauce built on onion, garlic and bay leaf until everything is tender and fragrant.

The whole dish comes together in about 40 minutes, and most of that time the pot is doing the work while you get on with something else. It is a forgiving, family-friendly main that tastes even better with a side of rice, pasta or fried potatoes to soak up the sauce.

Ingredients for Pollo con Tomate

Serves 4

• 1.5 kg chicken, cut into pieces (4 bone-in chicken leg quarters, cut up)
• Salt
• 1 medium onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 750 g whole peeled pear tomatoes (fresh or canned)
• 150 ml mild olive oil
• 300 ml chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 bunch fresh aromatic herbs, to garnish (parsley, thyme and rosemary)

How to Make Pollo con Tomate Step by Step

1. Prep the chicken and aromatics

Remove the skin from the 1.5 kg of chicken pieces and season them with about 1 teaspoon of salt. Peel and finely chop the medium onion, then slice the 3 garlic cloves thinly.

2. Blend the tomatoes

Put the 750 g of whole peeled tomatoes in a blender and pulse until you have a smooth sauce. Canned whole peeled tomatoes work beautifully here and give a sweet, concentrated flavor.

3. Set the sauce aside

Pour the blended tomato sauce into a bowl and set it aside while you start on the chicken.

4. Brown the chicken

Heat the 150 ml of mild olive oil in a wide pot or cazuela over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and brown them on both sides, about two minutes per side. You only want to seal the meat, not cook it through.

5. Reserve the browned chicken

Lift the browned chicken out of the pot onto a plate and set it aside. Leave the flavored oil in the pot for the next step.

6. Build the tomato sauce

Let the oil in the pot heat up again, then brown the sliced garlic. Add the chopped onion and cook a few minutes until translucent, then stir in the blended tomato. If you like, this is the moment to splash in a little wine or brandy for extra depth.

7. Add stock and reduce

Stir everything together and let the sauce cook for a few minutes. Pour in the 300 ml of hot chicken stock and simmer until the sauce concentrates slightly.

8. Return the chicken to the pot

Nestle the reserved chicken back into the pot in a single layer so the pieces cook evenly without overlapping.

9. Season and simmer

Cover the pot and bring it back to a boil. Taste the sauce and adjust the salt if needed, then add the 2 bay leaves. Cook over medium heat for about half an hour; if it looks dry, or you prefer a looser sauce, add a little more stock.

10. Check doneness and add fresh herbs

After half an hour, check that the chicken is cooked through; if a knife slides in easily, take the pot off the heat. Scatter chopped fresh parsley, thyme and rosemary over the top for color and a fresh aroma.

11. Bring it to the table

Serve the chicken straight from the pot so it stays hot and everyone can help themselves to as much sauce as they like.

12. Plate with your favorite side

Spoon the chicken and sauce onto plates and pair it with whatever you enjoy: pasta, roasted vegetables, fried potatoes or plain white rice.

Tips for the Best Pollo con Tomate

Choose juicy chicken and sweet tomatoes

Use a juicy, flavorful cut of chicken and good, sweet tomatoes for the best result. Canned whole peeled tomatoes are a reliable choice and give the sauce a lovely sweetness.

Add wine or brandy for depth

This version keeps the sauce alcohol-free, but you can add a splash of wine or brandy when you stir in the tomato to bring a different layer of flavor to the sauce.

Keep the sauce balanced

During simmering, add extra stock if the pot looks dry or you want a lighter sauce. Always taste and adjust the salt before serving so the tomato flavor stays bright.

30 Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to lineup that covers cozy classics, well-known dishes from around the globe, and desserts that make everyone at the table happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting sweet sounds right, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I make.

Mornings and lighter meals call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a filling Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I rely on.

For small plates and Mediterranean cooking, I bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out when I want the meal to feel a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and snug evening dinners? I'm always pointing people toward this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I need something more substantial, out comes this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply soothing French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Whenever street food or party food is on my mind, I'll whip up this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, bold Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another one I serve as an easy starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole menu are needed for guests, I'll set dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this punchy Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like putting this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or closing things out with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on straightforward methods, dependable technique, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely come back to time and time again—whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for loved ones.

On the sweet side, the rich, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together easily. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a spot-on Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots around the world, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it's quick and still delivers terrific texture. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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