Craving Something Cozy? Try This Easy Spanish Chicken and Beans Recipe!

(Pollo con Habas y Setas)


By Edu Valor / Author - Spanish Chef

When the weather turns chilly and you're craving something warm, hearty, and satisfying, this Spanish chicken and beans recipe is the perfect fit.

It's one of those dishes that makes you feel instantly comforted—like autumn in a bowl. I like this dish and would enjoy it in spring or summer too.

Spanish chicken and broad beans with mushrooms stew on a plate.


A Taste of Spanish Comfort Food


I won’t pretend to know exactly where in Spain this dish comes from. Some sources point to Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, or Extremadura. But honestly, it reminds me more of the northern and central part of Spain, where heartier, warming meals are common during the colder months.

Wherever it's from, this dish hits all the right notes—deep, earthy flavors, simple ingredients, and a satisfying balance of protein, legumes, and vegetables. To me, that’s the sweet spot.

Let's Make this Warming Chicken and Beans Stew!

Ingredients for 4 Servings

Preparation: 15-20 minutes
Cooking: approx. 30-35 minutes, potatoes fry 8-10 minutes, fresh beans blanching 10-15 minutes, 

*Measurements in metric and USA Imperial system. For British/Canadian measurements please use the metric conversion calculator.

  • 4 chicken leg quarters (cut in two)
  • 350 g/12 oz broad beans (frozen or fresh)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Olive oil
  • 400 g/14 oz chestnut mushrooms (brown mushrooms), sliced
  • 4 dl/13.5 fl oz chicken broth (or bouillon)
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley for garnish
  • Salt and pepper
  • 4 potatoes (1 for each person), cut in chunks

Instructions

  1. Rinse the potatoes, set aside.
  2. If they're fresh beans blanche them for about 10-15 minutes or until done. Frozen beans don't need to be blanched. Rinse in cold water to cut cooking.
  3. Brown the chicken parts well in some olive oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. Remove from pan and cover to keep them warm.
  4. Add the onion and garlic and cook until onions turn golden.
  5. Stir in the mushrooms and season. Cook 2 or 3 minutes, stir a few times.
  6. Put the chicken parts back in the pan. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes.
  7. Meanwhile, peel and cut the potatoes.
  8. Add the broad beans in the pan with the chicken, stir and taste the broth. Season if needed. Simmer another 5 minutes.
  9. Fry the potato chunks until golden brown and add some of them next to each chicken serving. 
  10. Garnish with chopped parsley.

TIPS: 

  • If you want, add 1 tsp of corn starch to thicken the broth some.
  • Add more potatoes if you like.
  • Frozen broad beans don't need to be blanched. Add them in step 8 after defrosting.
  • You can slice or cut the mushrooms in quarters.


What You Will Need

  1. Two pans
  2. Frying pan with cover
  3. Bowl with cover
  4. Paring knife
  5. Meat knife
  6. Measuring beaker
  7. Tablespoon
  8. Cutting board

Spanish chicken and beans with mushrooms stew on a plate.


Why I Love This Recipe


I’ve always appreciated meals that feel “complete”—the ones with a good mix of meat, beans, and some veggies. You often hear advice to eat a varied diet, and this kind of dish makes that easy and natural.

I went looking for a Spanish recipe that checks all those boxes and found this one tucked away in an old Spanish cookbook. I’d never made it before, but it instantly became a favorite.

It's familiar, yet different enough to feel like something special, and if “different” also means “healthy,” all the better.

A Healthy and Satisfying Family Meal


This is one of those rare dishes that feels both rustic and nourishing. And yes—it's kid-friendly, too. I know beans can be a hard sell with little ones, but blanching them helps make them softer and more palatable. Add the few roasted or pan-fried potatoes on the side, and it suddenly becomes more appealing—even for picky eaters (including grown-up ones).

It’s the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table. Simple, wholesome, and satisfying.

Earthy, Nourishing, and Naturally Balanced


This Spanish chicken and beans recipe stands out because it’s mostly made with whole, natural ingredients—no processed stuff, no fuss. Just straightforward cooking with ingredients that have stood the test of time.

Isn’t that what we’re all looking for, especially when feeding a family? Doctors keep telling us to eat more variety, and dishes like this make it deliciously easy to do just that.



*****

Edu's Delicious Chicken Stews!

Spanish chicken in orange sauce on a plate.Pollo a la Naranja (orange chicken)