• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking Gorgeous
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us
    • Media Mentions
  • Recipe Index
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cozy Soups
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cozy Soups
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Cooking Gorgeous » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Tavuk Sote (Turkish Chicken Sauté)

    Published: Apr 26, 2022 · Modified: May 20, 2022 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Tavuk Sote (Turkish Chicken Sauté) is a wholesome, simple, and healthy chicken dish full of Mediterranean flavors. It is made by sautéing chicken pieces with onions, tomatoes, peppers, and a variety of spices.

    This delightful chicken dish ticks all the boxes for the ideal weekday meal.

    chicken saute garnished with parsley
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • How to Make Tavuk Sote (Turkish Sauté Chicken)?
    • Top Tips From the Chef
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Make Ahead
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Tavuk Sote (Turkish Chicken Sauté)

    All you need is a large pan or wok, and watch how juicy chicken, loads of veggies, and spices quickly come together. Tavuk Sote delivers flavor, simplicity, and a healthy balance of protein and veggies.

    Just like my all-time favorites such as this Chicken Stir Fry Noodles and Guvec (Turkish Lamb Casserole). It's hard to find a more straightforward chicken dinner than this flavorsome Tavuk Sote dish.

    tavuk sote in a wok

    Tavuk Sote is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a family dinner or a gathering with friends. The combination of tender chicken, flavorful vegetables, and spices makes this dish a favorite in Turkish cuisine. It's also a great dish to make in advance and reheat for a quick and easy meal.

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Tavuk Sote is a simple and delicious dish that is also incredibly easy to make. 
    • You can turn out a variety of delicious variations with a few added ingredients such as courgettes, aubergines, or peas. 
    • Sautéed chicken freezes beautifully, you can freeze the leftovers for up to three months, so is perfect for batch cooking.
    • This sauteed chicken dish is low in fat, high in protein, and easy on the budget.
    • Tavuk Sote can easily be prepared ahead of time and reheated. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to five days.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, the complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

    labelled picture of ingredients for tavuk sote
    • Chicken - I use boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces in this recipe. You can use chicken thighs if you prefer. If your chicken is frozen, make sure to defrost or thaw it before using it.
    • Mushrooms - Chestnut mushrooms work great in this chicken dish as they tend to hold their shape much better than other mushrooms when cooked and retain their meaty bite. Alternatively, you can use white button mushrooms or cremini mushrooms.
    • Red Peppers - You can use Romano peppers, bell peppers, and yellow or orange peppers.
    • Green peppers - I prefer using Turkish green peppers for this dish. They are one of the most popular peppers used in Turkish cuisine. They are usually mild but some of them can be quite hot. You can replace them with bell pepper or Spanish Padron peppers.
    • Tomato paste - It is the staple of Turkish cooking. It adds an umami flavor to the dishes as well as a bright red color. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops. You can also buy it from Amazon .
    • Garlic - Fresh garlic is a great flavoring that adds sweetness and nuttiness to dishes. Thinly slice them before adding them to the dish. I use two large or three small fresh garlic cloves for this recipe.
    • Olive oil - I use a good quality olive oil to achieve the best flavor. You can substitute it with butter.

    How to Make Tavuk Sote (Turkish Sauté Chicken)?

    Making Tavuk Sote (Turkish Sauté Chicken) is very easy and to achieve the best results, you need to follow a few simple steps:

    Put a large wok or a frying pan on medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When the pan is hot, sear the chicken pieces until slightly browned.

    browning the chicken pieces with olive oil

    Set them aside on a plate. Avoid overcrowding the pan, do it in batches if necessary. 

    the cooked chicken pieces are removed on a plate

    Add the rest of the olive oil to the pan, sauté the mushrooms, and stir in the garlic before adding the peppers.

    Sautéing the mushrooms and garlic

    Sauté the peppers for a few minutes and then stir in the tomato paste.

    Sautéing the peppers

    Add the tomatoes, cooked chicken pieces, paprika, salt, thyme or oregano, and water, and give them a good stir.

    the tomatoes and spices are added to the pan

    Cover the pan with a lid and cook it on medium heat for 10 minutes, until the chicken pieces are thoroughly cooked.

    Cooking the chicken sote for 10 minutes

    Top Tips From the Chef

    • When sautéing the chicken pieces, avoid overcrowding the pan, do it in batches if necessary. 
    • You can half the amount of the oil to make it more healthy if you want to. Just make sure you use a nonstick pan to avoid the chicken and vegetables sticking to the bottom of the pan.
    • If you use frozen chicken, make sure to defrost or thaw it before using it.

    Serving Suggestions

    This simple chicken recipe works best with a generous portion of Turkish Rice (Sehriyeli Pilav), Yellow Rice (Indian Turmeric Pilau Rice), and Creamy Mashed Potatoes.

    Bazlama (Turkish Flatbread), Guyanese Oil Roti, or Turkish Pide Bread (Ramazan Pidesi) are also great for mopping up the juices.

    For a healthier option, why not try some Kisir (Turkish bulgur Salad), Beetroot and Feta Salad, or Indian Chickpea Salad (Chana Salad)?

    Make Ahead

    You can make Tavuk Sote in advance! In fact, making it ahead of time can help to develop the flavors and make the dish even more delicious.

    Once you've cooked the Tavuk Sote, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

    When you're ready to serve it, simply reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave until it's heated through.

    Recipe FAQs

    What part of the chicken is best for Tavuk Sote?

    Chicken breast is the most common cut used in Tavuk Sote. It's a lean and healthy choice, but you can use any cut of chicken that you like.

    How to store the leftovers?

    You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days in the fridge or up to three months in the freezer.

    Related Recipes

    For more delicious chicken recipes why not try:

    • 2 pieces of tandoori chicken thighs served on rice
      Spicy Tandoori Chicken Recipe in Oven
    • Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs
      Baked Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
    • Chinese Hot and Sour Chicken Soup
    • salt and pepper chicken
      Salt and Pepper Chicken

    Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

    I hope you enjoy the process of making this delicious Turkish Chicken Sauté dish as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun! 

    Want to Save This Recipe?

    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

    Save Recipe

    By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Cooking Gorgeous

    Tavuk Sote (Turkish Chicken Sauté)

    Ayla Clulee
    Tavuk Sote (Turkish Chicken Sauté) is a wholesome, simple and healthy chicken dish full of Mediterranean flavours.
    5 from 7 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mediterranean, Turkish
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 303 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 kitchen scale
    • 1 measuring spoons
    • 1 Sharp knife
    • 1 wok with lid

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 tablespoon good quality olive oil
    • 700 g boneless skinless chicken breast or thigh (cut in small pieces)
    • 200 g button mushrooms or chestnut mushroom (sliced)
    • 2-3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
    • 100 g red pepper (sweet Romano pepper) (sliced)
    • 100 g Turkish green pepper (sliced)
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 250 g tomatoes (diced)
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 50 ml water

    Instructions
     

    • Put a large wok or a frying pan on medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
    • When the pan is hot, sear the chicken pieces until slightly browned and then set them aside on a plate. Avoid overcrowding the pan, do it in batches if necessary.
    • Add the rest of the olive oil to the pan and sauté the mushrooms and garlic before adding the peppers.
    • Sauté the peppers for a few minutes and then stir in the tomato paste.
    • Add the tomatoes, cooked chicken pieces, paprika, salt, thyme, or oregano, and water, and give them a good stir.
    • Cover the pan with a lid and cook it on medium heat for 10 minutes, until the chicken pieces are thoroughly cooked.

    Notes

    • When sautéing the chicken pieces, avoid overcrowding the pan, do it in batches if necessary. 
    • You can half the amount of the oil to make it more healthy if you want to. Just make sure you use a nonstick pan to avoid the chicken and vegetables sticking to the bottom of the pan.
    • If you use frozen chicken, make sure to defrost or thaw it before using it.
    • You can keep the leftovers for up to five days when refrigerated in an airtight container.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 40gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 825mgPotassium: 1109mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1559IUVitamin C: 67mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!

    This post uses affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

    « Güllaç Recipe
    Su Boregi - Water Borek »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rahsen

      April 30, 2022 at 5:05 am

      5 stars
      My family loves this recipe. So easy to prepare and so delicious!!

      Reply
    2. Tess

      May 03, 2022 at 2:56 pm

      5 stars
      This was amazing. My family loved this and will be one of my go to chicken recipes. Thank you for the detailed steps.

      Reply
    3. Emily

      May 08, 2022 at 5:15 am

      5 stars
      So yummy! Easy recipe, I have very minimal cooking skills and my family loved this!! We have shared this recipe with friends & family with rave reviews.

      Reply
      • Ayla Clulee

        May 16, 2022 at 7:16 am

        Hi, Emily! I am so glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe!
        Best wishes
        Ayla x

        Reply
    4. Barry

      June 08, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      5 stars
      Made as per the recipe. Delicious. Thank you!

      Reply
    5 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious easy-to-follow recipes and culinary inspiration await you! My name is Ayla Clulee, a passionate and professional Cordon Bleu-trained chef, recipe developer, and food content creator with decades of experience. I am based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here.

    The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

    More about me →

    Soup Recipes

    • Greek Chicken Lemon Soup - Avgolemono
    • Arpa Şehriye Çorbası - Turkish Orzo Soup
    • Turkish Tarhana Soup - Tarhana Çorbası
    • Homemade Turkish Tarhana Powder Recipe
    • Moroccan Harira Lamb and Chickpeas Soup
    • chicken and dumpling soup served in a bowl
      Easy Chicken and Dumpling Soup Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    • FAQs

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Cooking Gorgeous

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.