If you like shishito peppers, this sautéd chicken with shishito pepper sauce over cheesy polenta will be a great dish for you to try. Shishito peppers are my new best friend. I love all of the fun ways they can be used in recipes!
We are huge shishito pepper fans. Chicken and shishito peppers are absolutely delicious together! Add in this super cheesy polenta, and it is a meal you will want to make often. If you also love shishito peppers, check out more of my gluten free shishito pepper recipes!
Why Make This Recipe:
- This recipe includes a lot of flavors.
- I love making this for a nicer date night dinner.
- The shishito pepper sauce goes so well with the cheesy polenta!
- You can use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken to save time.
What are shishito peppers?
Shishito peppers are small but long-shaped peppers that have become incredibly popular over the past few years. You used only to see these at farmer’s markets in the summer. They are mainstream, and Trader Joe’s even carries them year-round!
They are similar in appearance to a padrone pepper, but padrone peppers are shorter in length. Many people wonder if shishito peppers are spicy. Luckily only 1 in 10 have much spice.
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
Step 1: Roast your shishito peppers on the grill or blister them in a cast iron pan. Full directions are in the recipe card below.
I own an older version of this set and I use it for everything. Soups, grinding nuts and oats, making marinades, etc. in this mini food processor. The possibilities are endless and it is easy to clean.
Step 2: Grind up the roasted shishito peppers in a food processor. I love the Cuisinart Immersion Blender. I use it in many recipes because it is versatile and easy to clean. You can also use a food processor.
This is what the roasted shishito peppers and seasonings look like.
Step 3: Add the shishito pepper sauce to the pan and heat it up over medium-low heat. Add the chicken, and turn the stove up to medium heat so that the chicken cooks with the shishito peppers.
It adds incredible flavors to the chicken. If you are using leftover chicken or rotisserie, heat it in the shishito pepper sauce. Cook on medium heat.
You will want to sauté the chicken on each side for 6-8 minutes, then check the internal temperature. You will want the internal temperature to reach 165F degrees.
If you enjoy peppers, you may also love this Stuffed Poblano Peppers recipe.
Recipe FAQ:
You can definitely blister your shishito peppers stovetop instead of grilling them. I use a cast-iron skillet and blister the shishito peppers on high heat. (You can even cook them this way with garlic for a great appetizer!)
Shishito peppers are typically about 2-3 inches long.
Polenta is naturally gluten free since it is corn, but you want to ensure it is not processed in a facility that processes wheat. Add the cheese to the polenta while it cooks to make it cheesy!
Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the chicken, polenta, and shishito pepper sauce in a zip-style freezer bag in the freezer.
More Tasty Pepper Recipes:
Sauteed Chicken with Shishito Pepper Sauce over Cheesy Polenta
Ingredients
- 2-4 chicken breasts
- 1 package shishito peppers about 20-25 peppers, tops removed
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 5 scallions chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth low salt or regular
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons avocado or olive oil
Polenta
- polenta make according to package instructions
- ¾ cup Mexican blend cheese
Instructions
- Make the polenta according to package instructions.
- Add ¾ cup Mexican cheese to polenta and allow cheese to melt in by stirring.
- Wash shishito peppers and either grill or cook in a cast iron skillet to blacken. If you are grilling, place them into a grill basket. Cook until they start to blister and get soft.
- Remove stems and place them into a blender or food processor with 2 cloves garlic and 1 teaspoon avocado oil.
- Blend until the peppers are broken up.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat with 1 teaspoon avocado oil.
- Add chicken, salt, pepper, and scallions.
- Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side.
- Add shishito peppers and chicken broth.
- Cook until chicken is done.
- Whisk in corn starch to thicken sauce.
- Put polenta on the plate and top with chicken and shishito pepper sauce.
Notes
- If you want to save time, you can use leftover grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken. You would still cook it in the shishito pepper sauce.
- Use a dairy-free cheese like VioLife if you would like to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Use a food processor or Cuisinart Immersion Blender with the mini food processor attachment to grind up the roasted shishito peppers.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- You can freeze this in a freezer-safe zip style bag.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
This post was updated from a 7/2014 post with more instructions and recipe details.
This sounds like a delicious combination, I love anything with polenta, yum!
Thank you Joy 🙂
I usually only saute shishito peppers, but I love how you made it into a sauce for the chicken and polenta! Definitely need to try that!
I am learning how versatile these peppers are.
not sure i’ve ever used these peppers but they look delicious. i love green sauces. yum.
Thanks for stopping by Melody 🙂
Thank you – this is the 2nd pepper you’ve introduced me to this week. The sauce the chicken cooks in sounds so full of flavor. I think my husband would really enjoy this one!
LOL…I am on a pepper roll lately 🙂
What an interesting chicken dish Sandi! I had never heard of this sauce before and looks great and healthy on a bed of polenta!
Thank you Joanne 🙂
Thanks Sandi for sharing this delicious recipe with a unique sauce at the Say G’day party! Pinned and look forward to seeing you on Saturday!
This looks amazing!!! I love those peppers and on top of a cheesey polenta- ummm…. YUM!!!! And, it seems like it could be easy enough to whip up together during the weeknight madness at my place (5 kids). Thanks for posting!!
Wow, I am in awe of you cooking for 5 kids. My two keep my running. I hope they like this recipe 🙂
I love polenta and the sauce sounds delicious, I have to try this.
I hope you enjoy it Janette 🙂
That looks AMAZING. I’ve pinned it for later-so yum!
Thank you Angie 🙂
Polenta? Yum!
I just bought a bag of shishito peppers over the weekend and just seared them in a pan and ate them plain. I LOVE the idea of making a sauce!
I hope you enjoy Sara…would love to hear other ways you use shishito peppers 🙂
I love all the flavors in this meal! It looks fabulous and absolutely delicious!! 🙂 I haven’t tried shishito peppers but I have to try them soon! My mouth is watering just looking at your pictures and reading the recipe. Yum!
That is so sweet Neli, thank you 🙂
I keep hearing about these shishito peppers but I think after seeing this recipe I’m going to have to check them out!
I hope you enjoy them Meredith 🙂
You had me at polenta!! And the chicken and peppers sound delicious too! But seriously, I love polenta and don’t make it often enough.
🙂 I love polenta as well. Would love to hear what seasonings you like to use in your polenta.
I LOVE shishito peppers but have only ever eaten them on their own, with a bit of salt and a squeeze of lemon. I love how you’ve incorporated them into this recipe. Thank you for the great idea!!!
Oh yum! I’ve never had shishito peppers to my knowledge, but this recipe looks too amazing not to try them now. Plus, I am a HUGE fan of polenta. Just a gluten-free foodie stopping by from FBC. I will be sharing your blog with some of my GF friends too!
I love polenta too…would love to hear how you like to use it. I appreciate your stopping by.
I was looking for what to do with the Costco Rotisserie Chickens and this recipe looks ideal. Thanks for the inspiration Sandi!
I am glad I could help Krishna 🙂