Slow-Simmered Chicken and Chickpea Stew with Saffron

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-01 · Updated 2026-06-01

A hearty Spanish stew combining tender chicken thighs with chickpeas and saffron, simmered slowly to develop deep, aromatic flavors perfect for a comforting meal. This Spanish-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, canned chickpeas, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 (about 1.5 lbs), skin removed bone-in chicken thighs
• 1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed canned chickpeas
• 1 medium, diced onion
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp, soaked in 2 tbsp warm water saffron threads
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp, chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 4 bone-in chicken thighs without skin and sear for 4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove chicken and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 diced medium onion and 4 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 cup diced tomatoes, and 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme, cooking for 2 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
4. Step 4: Add back the chicken thighs, 1 can (15 oz) drained chickpeas, 3 cups chicken broth, and saffron threads soaked in 2 tbsp warm water. Season with 1 tsp sea salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
5. Step 5: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently, covered, for 45 minutes until chicken is tender and flavors meld.
6. Step 6: Adjust seasoning if needed before serving warm.