Mango Chicken (Easy One-Pan Dinner, 35 Minutes)
Tender bites of chicken simmer with sweet mango, fire-roasted tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and smoked paprika until the sauce turns thick, glossy, and just a little spicy. This easy mango chicken is made in one pan with no butter or cream, and it goes from cutting board to dinner plate in about 35 minutes.
Good to know before you start
- Time: About 35 minutes, all in one pan.
- Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces so they brown quickly and cook evenly.
- Mango: A ripe but firm mango holds its shape best. Frozen mango chunks work too; no need to thaw.
- Heat: Mild to medium. The chili powder is optional, so leave it out for a milder dish.
- Servings: Serves 6 with rice or quinoa.
This mango chicken is one of my go-to dinners when one of us is feeling under the weather. The first time I made it, my daughter had just started training at her very first job. She was so nervous beforehand (even though it turned out to be a walk in the park and she came to love her co-workers) that by Monday she had a cough and could barely talk.
At times like these, I turn to comforting food first. That usually means plenty of broccoli sautéed with onions, garlic, ginger, and turmeric root, along with chicken soup or a jazzed-up chicken dish like this one. Mango and tomatoes bring a little extra vitamin C, and the whole thing needs just one pan and one cutting board.
Why you will love this mango chicken
- Sweet and spicy: Ripe mango and a little chili powder balance each other out.
- One pan, no cream: Just mango, tomatoes, spinach, onion, garlic, and chicken. No butter or cream.
- Quick: Dinner in about 35 minutes.
- Versatile: Serve it over rice or quinoa, or with your favorite salad.
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts: Boneless and skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Mango: Chopped. It melts into the sauce and adds sweetness.
- Fire-roasted tomatoes and tomato paste: For a rich, slightly smoky base.
- Frozen spinach: Goes straight into the pan.
- Onion and garlic: The flavor base.
- Smoked paprika and chili powder: The chili powder is optional.
- Chicken stock and olive oil.
- Parsley and chili flakes: To garnish.
Substitutions
- Chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless thighs stay extra juicy. Simmer a few minutes longer.
- Fresh spinach: Use 2 big handfuls and stir it in near the end until wilted.
- Diced tomatoes: Regular diced tomatoes work if you cannot find fire-roasted.
- Vegetable stock: Works in place of chicken stock.
How to make mango chicken
Step 1 – Sauté the onion: Warm the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for a couple more minutes.
Step 2 – Brown the chicken: Push the onion and garlic to the side of the pan, add the chicken, and let it brown. Stir the pieces around so they brown on all sides.
Step 3 – Add the sauce ingredients: Stir in the frozen spinach, mango, tomato paste, fire-roasted tomatoes, smoked paprika, and chili powder if using. Pour in the chicken stock and stir.
Step 4 – Simmer: Cover and simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes. Uncover and stir until most of the liquid has cooked off. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 5 – Serve: Sprinkle with parsley and chili flakes and serve with turmeric quinoa or rice and steamed broccoli.
What to serve with it
I love this with turmeric quinoa or rice and steamed broccoli. A crisp green salad works too.
Storing and reheating
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of stock if the sauce has thickened.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use frozen mango?
Yes. Add frozen mango chunks straight to the pan. They may release a little more liquid, so simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes.
Is mango chicken spicy?
It is mild to medium. Most of the heat comes from the optional chili powder and chili flakes, so adjust them to taste.
Is this recipe dairy-free?
Yes. There is no butter, cream, or cheese in it.
Love mango and chicken together? Try these spicy pineapple mango chicken packets.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 cup frozen spinach
- 1/2 cup mango chopped
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- parsley and chili flakes to garnish
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a pan over medium heat. Add onion to the pan and saute about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add in the garlic and saute a couple of minutes.
- Move the onion and garlic to the side of the pan and add in the chicken and let brown. Stir cubes around and let brown on the other side as well.
- Add in the frozen spinach, mango, tomato paste, fire roasted tomatoes, smoked paprika, chili powder (optional).
- Then add in the chicken stock and stir. Let simmer covered for about 15 minutes over a low flame.
- Uncover and stir till most of the liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle with chili flakes (optional) and parsley and serve with turmeric quinoa or ready to serve rice and steamed broccoli.
Mango? Say no more! LOVE the stuff, and it works so well in this dish. Creative stuff — thanks.
This combo of flavors sounds and looks delicious!! Pinning 🙂 Cant wait to try.
This dish looks so delicious…never thought to incorporate mango into a savory dish. Stopping by from #SITSBlogging
Chicken bones contain natural antibiotics which is why chicken soup is so good for you. Hope the cough is all gone by now 🙂
Fantastic chicken and mango dish!!
Mango and tomato… Don’t think I’ve ever tried that but I’ll believe it’s delicious if it comes from you! I definitely believe in the healing power of chicken when feeling under the weather.
Congratulations on your daughter’s job but so sorry that her nerves got to her and made her immune system venerable. That used to happen to me all of the time. Hope she’s doing better after this healthy and tasty dish! I’ve had mango and chicken salad but never a hot dish with that combo. You’re looks very, very delicious!
Holy yum o clock!! This chicken is right up my alley and I absolutely adore mango so…yes this is going on the meal prep plan for next week for sure! 🙂
Just love all of these flavours! Gotta love the healing powers of food 😀
What a gorgeous dish Shashi – I’ve never had mango and tomato in a sauce before but I can only imagine how delicious it must be! So glad your daughter is enjoying her new job.
Thanks so very much Jeanette!
I’m glad you were there to give your daughter some TLC. And comfort food like your tasty mango chicken always helps, too 🙂
You sure are right, Liz! Thanks so much btw!
Oh the poor girl! I can relate. I can’t handle stress very well and I tend to bottle it up and take on burdens and then explode. I think your solution sounds much more delicious 😀
Oh Lorraine – thanks so much!
Aughhhh, this looks amazing! I adore mango and chicken together! <3 Love that it's so easy to make! :]
Thanks so much Farrah!
WOW WOW WOW!! CHECK out that chicken!! I have had manage chicken at restaurants before but never attempted it at home – now I can!! This is sensational.
Nagi, you know what, I’ve never had mango chicken at a restaurant – I’m thinking I need to now after you mentioned it! Thanks so much btw.
Congrats to your daughter on getting a job. She is not alone with getting stressed about that first day on a new job – I’m exactly the same. I do love how simple and easy and tasty your mango chicken is. I only buy free-range chemical-free chicken – the other type is cruel to animals and bad for us to eat! xx
Thanks Charlie – I feel like it was just yesterday that my daughter was in Kindergarten and now she is working! Time goes by way too fast when we have kids!
Totally healing and delicious! This is such a chicken dish I would LOVE to make! That sauce is spot on! Really great my friend!
Thanks so much my friend! 🙂
I so agree – I love how healing food can be! And comforting too of course! I remember being soooo stressed before I started my first job in high school – so I can relate!!
And this chicken sounds delicious – I mean, I don’t think I could ever pass on mango!
Mango and Pineapple start to taste so good round this time of the year! At Costco they have 6 Alfonso mangoes for $5 – good golly how can a girl say no! 🙂
Btw- thanks so much Ashley!
I love mango chicken! And I loved catching up on all of your posts I missed. I’m now drooling all over my laptop haha
Haha – glad to have you back – and in 3 months you are gonna (fingers crossed) be in the same time zone as I am!!!! Yipeeeee!!!!!!
What a beautiful dish!! We love mango in our house. I can almost taste this!
Thanks so much Ashley 🙂
No way! She’s started working already?!
That is insane! I hope she enjoys it and it will no doubt put her in good stead for her future. Now this chicken looks delicious- I was salivating when I saw it on Instagram!
Ps- It’s so refreshing to communicate with you on real time!
Haha – yes – it sure is, Arman! Hope you are settling in ok….
Feels like it was just yesterday that I was dropping her off in Kindergarten – this time thing goes by way too fast!
That’s a fantastic looking dish there, so vibrant looking, so colourful! Lovely as usual Shashi!
Thanks so much Neil! Hope you have a wonderful week!
This looks amazing!! Ya know, I love mango in typically savory recipes! Such an unexpected delicious combo! Great recipe! Looks healthy and delicious!! DOUBLE win! 🙂
Thanks so much Cailee – the juice in the mango marries well with the tomatoes and ‘shrooms – this was a pleasure to eat! 🙂
I would never have thought about adding mango here, Shashi…but it sounds delicious! In fact, next time I’m stressed, I might just hire you as my personal chef. You keep making all sorts of delicious creations down there! I hope lil Shashi is enjoying her job…ah, real life. 😉
Yup – Lil Shashi is enjoying her job – thankfully there are no cute boys there!!! Yes!!! When she get’s her first check, I think she is gonna react like Rachel (from Friends) did https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whf3S85q0bk -real life indeed! 🙂
Thanks, btw – so, I see you are trying to come up with ways to work around your greedy mail-lady eh?
There’s seriously nothing better than the healing power of foods. My mom was always big on curing my ailments the natural way, and I remember her feeding me all sorts of nasty concoctions involving garlic, herbs, and who knows what else. They -did- work, though… but I’d definitely prefer the healing powers of a dish like this 🙂
Hahahaha! Oh Amanda this “all sorts of nasty concoctions involving garlic, herbs, and who knows what else” had me chuckling so bad – funny because I used to say that about my mom’s concoctions when I was young, and now, there are times (when I add too much turmeric root or ginger) when my daughter says those very same words about my concoctions!!!!
That looks so fresh and mouthwatering!
Thanks Angie!
Good luck to your daughter on her very first job. I’m glad she likes it. I’m sure she’ll do a great job!
But what about this chicken??? Tomatoes with mango and spices…this almost sounds like a chutney recipe. Right?
Thanks Mike!
You know what – I’ve never made chutney – I wouldn’t know where to start – though, I have enjoyed eating the heck out of it at my mom’s house!
Wow Shashi! That looks super scrumptious. Thanks for one more great idea for chicken!
Aww – thanks so much Melanie!
THIS CHICKEN! I am so in love with all the spicy flavors, with the sweet mango yumminess! Totally my kind of dinner-age!
I hope your daughters job goes well! I bet she will ROCK IT OUT. Pinned!
“Dinner-age” yes – that’s being added to my list of Taylor-isms along with eleventy billion!
Thanks so much Btw!
oh can’t wait to check out this chicken! and love that combo! so Moroccan! my fav. love the ginger root in there too. nicely done friend.
Thanks so much Lindsay – I’ve been using so much ginger root lately – my daughter isn’t a fan, but I love it! That’s why I added the mangoes in this one – compromise right?
Love mango these days and I especially love it in this dish–mango plus tomatoes?! I never would have thought of that.
Thanks so much Erin – have you tried Pineapple and tomatoes? To me, they are a sweeter combo than this one….
Congrats to your daughter on her new job- glad it’s going well so far! This chicken dish looks like total comfort food…great way to zap away any signs of the flu!
Thanks so much Khushboo – glad your back friend!
I’ve never used tomatoes and mango together but this dish looks amazing!
Thanks so much Maureen!