These chicken and tomato recipes are perfect for cold winter nights.

By

Mimi Young

Editor

Mimi Young is an editor and pastry chef. She has also curated and written numerous recipe roundups for Serious Eats.

Published December 27, 2025

Serious Eats / Lorena Masso

Fall and winter are relatively mild in San Francisco, but the minute temperatures dip below 55ºF (13ºC), I find myself whipping up comforting stews, soups, and one-pot meals to keep myself warm. Some of the heartiest and most delicious bang-for-your-buck recipes involve two pantry staples many people, including myself, keep on hand: chicken and canned tomatoes. With that in mind, I’ve gathered a few of my favorite chicken and tomato recipes, like succulent chicken cacciatore, creamy enchilada soup, and tikka masala. Most of these meals are ready in under an hour. In other words: Perfectly doable for weeknights or a lazy weekend supper.

Serious Eats / Kevin White

Crisp, juicy chicken parm smothered in tomato sauce and melty cheese is the kind of hearty fare designed for casual dining on the couch, especially when it’s cold outside. Make individual subs or go party-sized to feed a crowd—like when you’ve got friends over to watch the big game.

Serious Eats / Eric Kleinberg

A salty yogurt-based marinade and intense charring on a hot grill guarantee a more flavorful and deliciously aromatic chicken tikka masala. Slightly undercooking the chicken—whether on a grill, stovetop grill pan, or even under a broiler—allows you to simmer it in the creamy spiced tomato sauce until tender without risk of overcooking the meat.

Serious Eats / Lorena Masso

This pollo guisado recipe calls for simmering chicken, potatoes, and carrots in a spiced tomato broth for a flavor-packed stew you’ll want year-round.

Serious Eats / Qi Ai

This deeply savory version of chicken and rice is a classic in Nicaraguan kitchens. Tomato paste and ketchup, along with olives, capers, and Parmesan, provide layers of tartness to balance the richness of the smoky sausage and ham.

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Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

There is no denying the appeal of tucking into a pot of chicken braised in white wine with mushrooms, onion, and tomato on a chilly evening. What makes this recipe even better is that it has all the flavor and depth of a slow-cooked dish, but can be ready in a little over an hour—so you can have it even on a weeknight.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

This version of butter chicken hits all the right notes: It has a mildly spiced tomato-based sauce, tender charred chicken, and a generous dose of butter and cream. Plus: It can be made in under an hour. To give the sauce more depth of flavor, use canned fire-roasted tomatoes.

Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

This easy one-pot meal gets its smoky flavor from chorizo, smoked paprika, and roasted tomatoes—and takes just 30 minutes to come together. Keep it in your back pocket for busy weeknights or evenings when you simply don’t feel like cooking or doing the dishes.

Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

What can you make with some chicken, canned chopped tomatoes, dried chiles, and chicken stock? Well, add some corn kernels, green chiles, canned black beans, cheese, and a few aromatics and you’ve got yourself a pot of delightfully cheesy enchilada soup.

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Serious Eats / J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Tangy, spicy, and ridiculously comforting, this easy pressure cooker version of chicken and chickpea masala is the kind of meal that feels like you’re putting on your favorite fuzzy sweater.