This Chicken Murphy recipe is a tasty chicken dinner that blends sausage and peppers with chicken and potatoes covered in a spicy tomato sauce.
If you are looking for a less spicy version of Chicken Murphy, try Chicken Giambotta, a similar, milder tomato-free chicken recipe.
Authentic Chicken Murphy Recipe
Growing up in New Jersey, I was lucky to have been exposed to a variety of regional dishes. Chicken Murphy is one of those incredible dishes.
If you've never heard of it, Chicken Murphy is a popular dish served in traditional red and white checkered tablecloth Italian restaurants throughout New Jersey.
Despite its name, it is not an Irish recipe. It is an Italian-inspired stew-like dish that can be made in a variety of ways. I've been told many times this recipe for chicken murphy is the most authentic one.
Why This Recipe Works
- It is the perfect recipe to make ahead of time.
- It's made without flour, so it's gluten-free!
Here is What You Will Need
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe, scroll down for a printable recipe card with exact measurements and instructions.
Ingredients
- olive oil
- boneless chicken breasts or tenders
- sweet or hot Italian sausage
- potatoes
- cremini mushrooms
- garlic
- onion
- bell peppers (red, green or orange)
- diced tomatoes
- pepperoncini + brine
Equipment Needed to Make This Recipe
- A skillet, stainless steel or cast iron work best.
- Chef's Knife
Here Is How To Make The Best Chicken Murphy
Note: This recipe takes time to make; each ingredient is quickly seared in a skillet separately before baking chicken murphy in the oven. If you have a large skillet, you can saute the garlic, onions, peppers, and mushrooms together.
Get all of the ingredients ready: The ingredients are usually cooked separately cut the onions, garlic mushrooms, potatoes, and peppers.
Measure the tomatoes, pepperoncini, and brine. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 1. Brown the sausage
Brown the sausage in a skillet. Once the sausage turns brown, remove it from the skillet and set it aside to cool.
Step 2. Sear the chicken
Next, brown the chicken breast in a skillet. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the skillet and set it aside with the sausage.
Step 3. Cook the aromatics
Brown the onions and garlic, set them aside once they begin to soften.
Step 4. Cook the vegetables
Sautee the peppers, until they begin to soften and remove them from the heat.
Step 5. Brown the Potatoes
Cook the potatoes in the hot skillet until they begin to turn golden brown on the outside and remove them from the heat.
Step 7. Transfer the meat to the skillet
By this time the chicken and sausage should be cool. Cut the sausage links and chicken into bite-sized pieces and add them back to the skillet.
Step 8. Add the vegetables
Top the meat with the remaining ingredients.
Step 9. Add the tomatoes and hot peppers
Add the pepperoncini slices, diced tomatoes and brine. Cover the pan and place it into a preheated oven, and bake.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Chicken
This dish is typically made with boneless chicken breasts. Chicken tenders can also be used as well as boneless chicken thighs.
Potatoes
Any type of potato can be used in this recipe, we like yellow, red or baby potatoes the best for their thinner skin. If you like to peel your potatoes, you can used russets too.
Tomatoes
I like to use fresh diced tomatoes when they are in season, and when they are not, I use low sodium canned diced tomatoes.
Some versions of Chicken Murphy are made without tomatoes, but since this is a New Jersey recipe, it has to have tomatoes!
Pepperoncini
If you don't care for hot food, you can cut back on the number of pepperoncini or you can substitute pepperoncini with peppadew peppers or sweet cherry peppers.
Sausage
Hot or mild pork, turkey, or chicken sausage can be used in this recipe.
How to make Chicken Murphy in a Slow Cooker
If you are short on oven space or it's too hot to turn on the oven, you can finish chicken murphy in a slow cooker.
Here's how: Once all of the ingredients have been browned on top of the stove, add them to the slow cooker and cook at low heat for 2 hours.
Set the slow cooker to warm until it is time to serve.
Tip! To avoid potatoes that fall apart, place them on top of the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook for 2 hours.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Chicken Murphy can easily be made ahead of time, here's how:
Brown all of the ingredients and place them into an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
To Serve, bring the browned ingredients to room temperature, and place them into an oven-proof dish or slow cooker.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or slow cook for 2 hours.
"I’ve eaten this dish many times in NJ. Searched for the best recipe and yours makes the most sense and tastes like the most authentic chicken murphy recipe. Thanks!" Bob
Storing and Using Leftovers
Store leftover chicken murphy in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Reheat leftovers in a covered oven-proof dish or on top of the stove over low heat.
Serve leftover chicken murphy in a sandwich in a crusty baguette or your favorite hard roll.
For another New Jersey favorite, try this Jersey Burger!
Recipe Variations
Low-Carb Chicken Murphy - Leave the potatoes out and ¼ pound more chicken.
Leave out the sausage - If you don't like sausage, you can leave it out and add an extra ¼ pound of chicken.
Low Sodium Chicken Murphy - replace the pepper brine with a tablespoon of white wine vinegar.
Serving Suggestions
Serve it with a big salad like this Spinach Salad with Basil, steamed green beans or Green Beans and Bacon, and a loaf of crusty bread.
Chicken Murphy also tastes great served over a bed of zucchini noodles.
Chicken Murphy with pasta - leave out the potatoes or use less of them and serve Chicken Murphy over pasta.
Your Chicken Murphy Questions Answered
These are questions that I am frequently asked about this chicken murphy recipe. If your question isn't answered, leave me a comment below and I will respond to you as soon as possible.
You might be thinking from its name, that this recipe is an Irish recipe. Actually, it's an Italian-inspired dish that is rumored to have originated at the "Jersey Shore" or New York City. As with most stew recipes, there are several variations. Some recipes are made with brown gravy, but we prefer the tomato version.
Each ingredient is browned separately to avoid overcrowding the skillet. If your skillet is larger than 9 inches, you can brown the vegetables together in any combination that you like.
Yes, especially the tomatoes to keep the dish from becoming dry. Depending on the amount of meat added (up to a quarter-pound), you may not need to increase the vegetables.
Yes! You can leave out the brine, however, you will lose some of the tart pickle flavor.
We have also made it with half the amount of brine (⅛ cup) and the pickle flavor was mild but it was still there.
You can also add 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar (or more to taste) in place of the brine from the peppers.
No! The sauce will thicken from the starch of the potatoes, so there is no need to dredge the chicken in flour unless you want to.
For more simple and delicious recipes like this, subscribe to our newsletter and receive a free e-book and meal suggestions straight in your inbox!
You Might Also Like These Dinner Ideas
If you like this recipe, please comment and rate it below!
Chicken Murphy
This Chicken Murphy recipe is made with bite-sized pieces of chicken and sausage combined with peppers and tomatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts or chicken tenders.
- ¼ pound Sweet or Hot Italian Sausage links (about 2)
- 1 ½ pounds potatoes, cut into one-inch sized pieces
- 16 ounces of cremini mushrooms, stems removed and sliced
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 medium onion, cut into slices
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green pepper
- 1 cup fresh diced tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes
- ½ cup chopped pepperoncini
- ¼ cup of brine of pepperoncini
Instructions
- Prepare all of the ingredients: cut up the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Clean and slice the mushrooms, onions, and peppers. Chop the garlic. Slice the pepperoncini and measure the brine.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium to high heat, brown the sausage links, slice them and set them aside to drain on a paper towel.
- Brown the chicken and cook for 5 to 8 minutes on each side until it begins to turn golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet; and set it aside with the sausage.
- Next, add the onions and garlic and sautee them until they soften and start to turn golden brown, remove them from the heat and continue browning each vegetable separately. If you have a large skillet, you can double up on the veggies in the pan. Be sure to not overcrowd the skillet.
- Once all of the vegetables have been sauteed, wipe out the skillet or grab a new clean skillet.
- Cut the chicken and sausage into bite-sized pieces and add them back to the skillet, then add the sauteed veggies.
- Top the meat and vegetables with pepperoncini rings, brine and diced tomatoes.
- Cover the skillet and bake for 45 minutes.
Notes
Chicken Murphy in a Slow Cooker:
After browning the ingredients, place them into a slow cooker and cook at low heat for 2 hours.
Cooking time for this recipe is about 40 to 50 minutes browning each ingredient PLUS an additional 45 minutes in the oven.
I like to brown the ingredients separately in a skillet before layering them into a casserole dish so that the skillet is not crowded with vegetables. If you are short on time or have a large skillet, you can brown the vegetable ingredients together in any combination that you like.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 367Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 676mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 5gSugar: 8gProtein: 34g
Nutrition information is provided by an online calculator and is meant to be used for informational purposes only. Even though I try to provide accurate information, these figures should still be considered as estimates.
If you make this recipe, don’t forget to come back and let me know how you liked it or you can tag me on Instagram @simpleandsavory, or Facebook simplensavory
Bob says
I’ve eaten this dish many times in NJ. Searched for the best recipe and yours makes the most sense and tastes the most authentic. Thanks!
Anne says
Hi Bob, thanks for your comment! I'm glad you like it!
Lisa Clarke says
This looks delicious. Do you think it would mess with the flavor too much if I replaced the brine with water? Or do you have another suggestion? My husband is on a low salt diet, and eliminating the brine seems like the easiest way to reduce the salt content in this.
Anne says
Hi Lisa,
I think you will be okay if you replace the brine with water. You can also try leaving the brine out and adding 1/4 cup more of the tomatoes.
Lisa Clarke says
Great, thanks! Looking forward to making this. Chicken Murphy is one of my favorite restaurant dishes 🙂
Catherine Rohl says
I made it tonight for dinner. I didn't use the wine as I can't drink alcohol for health reasons. I used half cherry peppers and half pepperocini ones... mild though lol (I'm a wimp lol). It came out absolutely fantastic!!
Thanfor the recipe
Anne says
Thanks for your comment, Cathy, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Kathleen Pope says
I would have totally guessed this dish by name to be Irish, sad Italian I am! But it came out fabulous and our family loved it!