Chicken Cacciatore Wellplated Com

This easy recipe has the hearty robustness and juicy tenderness of traditional chicken cacciatore, but is far faster to make. It uses simple, healthy swaps too. Cacciatore (pronounced Kah-Chuh-Taw-Ree) means “hunter” in Italian.

Thus, chicken cacciatore means chicken that is prepared alla cacciatore or “hunter-style.”It’s a rustic stew-like dish (like France’s Beef Bourguignon) made with slow-simmered chicken (or rabbit), tomatoes, seasonal vegetables, and a splash of wine or vinegar.

You’ll find as many recipes for chicken cacciatore on the internet these days as there are Italian grandmothers who make them. What they all share in common, however, is a richly flavored sauce, tender chicken, and copious amounts of love and care cooked into every recipe.

How to Make Chicken Cacciatore

You don’t need to be an experienced chef to make this simple chicken cacciatore recipe. Even if you’ve never made a single chicken recipe before, you can cook this easy recipe with success and transport yourself to Italy! To make this recipe as streamlined as possible, I skip dredging in flour—it’s really not needed.

The Ingredients

Chicken Thighs. Chicken thighs are a wonderful choice for chicken stews like this (see also Spanish Chicken Stew). Dark meat is especially tender, juicy, and flavorful, and I promise you won’t regret giving it a try. Plus, chicken thighs are lean, and they contain oodles of beneficial protein, vitamins, and nutrients.

Onion + Green Bell Pepper + Garlic. A flavorful trio to kick off our cacciatore sauce.

Dry White Wine. The addition of wine enhances the other flavors in this recipe (as it does in my Chicken Piccata and these Braised Short Ribs). You’ll want to use a dry white wine so that it doesn’t add any unnecessary sweetness. In the “Wine Pairing” section below, you can find some suggested varieties.Crushed Tomatoes. I used the crushed tomatoes and their juices to build a rich tomato flavor for the sauce.Mushrooms. As the mushrooms cook, they add a scrumptious, earthy flavor to the sauce.

Italian Seasoning. Ties everything together with a tasty Italian-inspired bouquet of flavors. Typically consist of a combination of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, sage, or coriander.

Balsamic Vinegar. For deep flavor that makes the sauce taste like it’s been simmering all day.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Place leftovers in fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.To Reheat. Gently rewarm this dish in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat. You can also microwave, until steaming, if desired.To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make Chicken Cacciatore

Skillet. An essential tool in my kitchen for making delicious recipes like this chicken cacciatore.Sharp Chef’s Knife. Easily chop vegetables, meat, fruit, and more with a high-quality knife like this one.Instant Read Thermometer. If you cook meat often, I highly recommend adding one of these to your kitchen.

I hope this quicker, healthier version of chicken cacciatore brings the same warmth and satisfaction to your kitchen as it did to ours. This Lemon Butter Chicken is another chicken dish that can be made with either breasts or thighs. Or, for a different salty, briny nuance, add 2 tablespoons of drained capers.

Whole Wheat Pasta. You could opt for long tendrils of spaghetti or a short-cut pasta, like rigatoni or penne. I like whole wheat for its higher fiber content.Cooked Orzo. Fora rice-pasta hybrid in terms of taste, texture, and consistency.Mashed Potatoes. Try serving with either my Crockpot Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.Brown Rice. Not as traditional, but nonetheless delicious. See Instant Pot Brown Rice for a recipe.Creamy Polenta. A classic Italian pairing for cacciatore (see this Creamy Polenta for a recipe).Risotto. A simple parmesan risotto would be lovely with cacciatore. You could also try it with my Farro Risotto or Barley Risotto.Bread. Soak up the yummy sauce with slices of No Knead Focaccia or Rosemary Olive Oil Bread.

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