This lighter Boneless Chicken Vesuvio recipe is packed with flavor, red potatoes, peas, and a vibrant homemade sauce. Come find out the secret to cutting fat and calories without cutting flavor!

Chicken Vesuvio recipe

Chicken Vesuvio

I am sure you are just like me when it comes to busy weeknights. Every day is full of after-school activities that keep us going in many directions.

When it comes to dinner, I want something that tastes good and does not take a lot of time. Because let’s be honest, who has a lot of time to spare in the late afternoon? That’s why this Chicken Vesuvio is on rotation in my menu plan. 

Skillet Chicken Vesuvio

Chicken Vesuvio is a one-pot meal (Yay for fewer dishes, am I right?!) and tastes delicious. You get your protein, side, and veggie all in one pot. Your family will think you have spent all day in the kitchen preparing this meal.

Mine often begs me to make this Chicken Vesuvio recipe for them again and again. When this happens, I smile and agree, knowing that I’ll always have the time to make this boneless Chicken Vesuvio recipe for them! 

Chicken Breast Vesuvio

I made this recipe for dinner recently, and everyone (including my picky 5-year-old) loved it! It tasted fresh and light yet filling at the same time. The best part of the whole dish is that each serving has only 433 calories and 12 grams of fat!

If you’re looking for healthier Italian main dishes, then try these: 

  1. Healthier Chicken Cacciatore 
  2. Skinnier Stuffed Shells
  3. Skinnier Lasagna Roll-Ups with Mushrooms and Spinach
  4. Healthy Italian Lentil Chopped Salad
  5. Garlic Parmesan Air Fried Shrimp Recipe

Traditional Chicken Vesuvio calls for bone-in chicken parts, but boneless skinless chicken breasts make more sense for this easier and healthier recipe. Below you will find some common Chicken Vesuvio questions answered! 

 

How do you make Chicken Vesuvio?

After drying and seasoning the chicken, place the chicken in a skillet that has been preheated with oil. Cook them until lightly browned on both sides, setting aside on a plate when done.

Next, you will add some more oil to the pan, and after heating it, place the potatoes cut side down. Once the potatoes turn golden brown, add in the seasoning and stir in the flour, mixing for 1 minute.

Stir in the broth and wine and bring to a simmer and cook the chicken and potatoes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Then, remove the chicken and potatoes and tent them with foil.

Cook the sauce until it reduces to 1 cup, add the peas and cook until they’re heated through. Finally, spoon the sauce and peas over the chicken and potatoes and serve.

Step 3 How to Make Chicken Vesuvio

What is Chicken Vesuvio?

Chicken Vesuvio is an Italian-American dish, well known in Chicago, made from chicken on the bone and wedges of potato seasoned to perfections and baked until the chicken’s skin becomes crisp. The dish is typically topped off with green peas.

You can also apply the cooking technique to other foods such as steak, pork, or even potatoes. My version, however, cuts down on fat and calories by using boneless skinless chicken breasts and uses a minimal amount of butter. 

Skillet Chicken Vesuvio recipe

Cook’s Note – Boneless Chicken Vesuvio recipe:

  • Make sure that you use potatoes that are about 1 inch in diameter. If your potatoes are larger, then cut them into 1-inch pieces before cooking.
  • To make the chicken even juicer, soak it in this chicken brine before proceeding with the recipe below. 

Cook’s Tools – Chicken Breast Vesuvio: 

  • 12-inch skillet with a lid
  • wooden spoon
  • slotted spoon
  • platter
  • whisk 

ONE YEAR AGO: Peanut Butter Ice Cream

TWO YEARS AGO: Pizza Pull-Apart Bread 

THREE YEARS AGO: Rocky Road Pudding Pie

A collage of Skillet Chicken Vesuvio with text overlay for Pinterest

Skillet Chicken Vesuvio
4.25 from 4 votes

Chicken Vesuvio Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
4 people
This lighter Chicken Vesuvio recipe is packed with flavor, red potatoes, peas, and a vibrant homemade sauce.

Ingredients
 
 

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 6 ounces each and trimmed
  • teaspoon salt plus more for seasoning
  • teaspoon pepper plus more for seasoning
  • 4 teaspoons canola oil
  • 10 small red potatoes about 1.25 pounds, rinsed and cut in half
  • 3 large garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 1 cup frozen peas thawed
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

PREP THE CHICKEN:

  • Use paper towels to pat the chicken breasts dry. Season them with 1/8 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper.

COOK THE CHICKEN:

  • Preheat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat with 2 teaspoons of canola oil in it. Place the chicken in the hot pan and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown. Flip the chicken over and keep cooking for 3 minutes. Move the chicken to a plate.
    Step 2 How to Make Chicken Vesuvio

COOK THE POTATOES:

  • Over medium heat, add the remaining 2 teaspoons of canola oil to the skillet. Place the potatoes, cut side down, in the pan and cook for about 7 minutes, or until golden brown. WIth the potatoes still in the pan, add the garlic, oregano, and rosemary to the skillet and cook until fragrant, about 60 seconds.
    Step 3 How to Make Chicken Vesuvio
  • Add the flour and cook, while stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Slowly pour in the broth and wine while scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan; bring the mixture to a simmer.
    Step 4 How to Make Chicken Vesuvio

COOK THE CHICKEN AND POTATOES:

  • Nestle the chicken into the skillet and cover. Cook over medium-low heat until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer and the potatoes are fork-tender, about 12-14 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to move the chicken and potatoes to a platter, and cover with foil.

MAKE THE SAUCE AND COOK THE PEAS:

  • Crank the heat up to medium-high and cook the sauce until it is reduced to 1 cup, about 3-5 minutes. Add the peas and stir until the peas are heated through, about 1 minute. Take the skillet off of the heat and whisk in the butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the sauce and peas over the chicken and potatoes and serve right away.
    Boneless Chicken Vesuvio

Nutrition

Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 326mg | Potassium: 1469mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Vitamin C: 30.7mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2.6mg

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This Lighter Chicken Vesuvio recipe first appeared on FFF on May 3, 2011. I have since updated the pictures. Below is the original picture.

Skillet Chicken Vesuvio on a serving platter

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10 Comments

  1. I tried this tonight. Sauce was great, chicken was a little tough and flavorless and I undercooked the potatoes. I will give it another shot cutting the potatoes smaller, and seasoning the chicken more, as in theory this is a great healthy addition to the weeknight rotation.

    1. And also. Tenting the chicken and potatoes they ended up getting cold while I made the sauce. Any suggestions?

      1. Tenting should help keep it warm. Try keeping the chicken and potatoes in the microwave while tented (no turned on, of course). Keeping them in a confined space might help keep them warm longer.

  2. Renee Goerger says:

    My entire family loved this recipe! Thanks for the easy, light version!

  3. Oh I didn’t know about this dish. Thanks for all the lighter tips and tricks. I’m definitely going to try this.

  4. YUM! This is the BEST recipe! Must have!