Easy chicken cacciatore recipe made with chicken, mushroom, bell peppers, herbs, and tomatoes. It is a rustic Italian hunter-style meal prepared with chicken simmered in a tomato-based sauce. Here’s how to make a basic cacciatore recipe in one-pot on the stove-top, within an hour. Serve it with rustic bread, rice, or pasta.
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Cacciatore means "hunter" in the Italian language. It is basically a hunter-style dish cooked with braised chicken or rabbit.
Braising is a technique that involves cooking the chicken at high heat until browned and then simmering it in sauce (or cooking liquid) in a covered pot. The meat becomes so tender that it falls off easily from the bone.
About this recipe
If you are looking for a hearty and comforting one-pot meal then this easy chicken dinner recipe is just for you. Put everything together in a single skillet/pot and slow cook it. You won’t get disappointed with this Italian dish. This is the best chicken cacciatore recipe.
Similar to Italian pasta salad, spaghetti marinara, and spicy Italian chicken pasta, this cacciatore recipe is loaded with Italian flavors. The chicken is slow-cooked in a flavorful cacciatore sauce made with vegetables and tomatoes.
Slow cooking enhances the flavor of the dish. The chicken is tender, juicy, and coated in flavorful cacciatore sauce. It tastes so good that it just melts in the mouth.
Why you might need this recipe?
- Easy to make at home with simple ingredients easily available in the kitchen pantry.
- One-skillet recipe - This one-pan/one-pot chicken recipe requires fewer dishes and easy to clean up.
- Easy to customize - Every Italian grandma’s chicken cacciatore recipe is different. Check the ingredients notes below for the possible substitution of the ingredients.
- Gluten-free
What you will need to make this recipe?
Ingredients Notes
- Chicken - Chicken with bone is the best choice for this recipe. It has more flavors. However, you can substitute it with boneless chicken thighs to make boneless chicken cacciatore recipe.
- Seasoning - Salt and black pepper powder.
- Red pepper flakes - If you do not like spicy food then simply skip adding red pepper flakes to the recipe.
- Italian Seasoning - Gives that traditional Italian flavor to the dish. Substitute it with 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried thyme and ¼ teaspoon rosemary.
- Vegetables - I have added onions, bell pepper and garlic. You can also add some carrots to the recipe or throw in some peas.
- Mushroom - I have used white button mushrooms for this recipe. It adds a meaty flavor to the dish. I suggest to add mushroom, however, if you do not have it then skip it.
- Chicken broth - Traditionally, red wine or white wine is used to make chicken cacciatore. We are substituting it with chicken broth. If you want to substitute chicken broth, use vegetable broth.
- Tomatoes - I have used 2 cups of homemade crushed tomatoes. Simply blanch (500-grams) tomatoes, remove skin and grind it in a mixer/grinder jar. You can keep the texture fine or coarse. Or use a ready-made can of crushed tomatoes. For this recipe, you can use diced tomatoes, pureed tomatoes or tomato sauce. Use whatever you have on hand.
- Cilantro - Fresh cilantro adds a fresh flavor to the recipe. You can substitute it with parsley or basil leaves.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make one-pot chicken cacciatore recipe
- Season the chicken with salt & pepper. Set this aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoon of oil in a heavy bottom pot over medium-high heat.
- Sear the chicken until golden (2-3 minutes) on each side. Remove and set this aside to a plate. Cover to keep it warm.
- In the same skillet, add onions, and bell peppers. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
- Add mushroom and garlic. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Add black pepper powder, salt, red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning. Saute it for a minute.
- Next, add the chicken broth and tomatoes. Stir to combine. Let it come to a boil.
- Taste and add salt or pepper, if required.
- Add the chicken to the sauce.
- Reduce the heat, partially cover and cook it for 30 minutes on low heat until reduced. Stir it in between, if required.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve.
Cooking tips
- Do not skip garlic in the recipe. Fresh garlic adds so much flavor to the dish.
- Sear the chicken until some brown spots appear on them. You do not need to cook them. They will get cooked later while simmering in the sauce.
- Simmer the sauce for a minimum of 30 minutes until it thickens. Cooking on low heat enahnces the flavor of the dish.
- This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors gets enough time to mingle.
- For this recipe, you can use either diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes or tomato paste.
- I have used 2 cups of homemade crushed tomatoes. Simply blanch (500-grams) tomatoes, remove skin and grind it in a mixer/grinder jar.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cacciatore sauce is made of tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, herbs, and wine.
You can serve it with:
1) Salad - This crunchy Asian slaw or Greek yogurt coleslaw will beautifully pair up with it. Or serve it with any salad of your choice.
2) Steamed vegetables
3) Bread
4) Pasta - Serve it over egg noodles or spaghetti.
5) Rice - Serve it over steamed rice.
Yes, you can use chicken breast instead of thighs.
Storage Suggestions
- Transfer the leftover in an airtight container. Keep it in the refrigerator. Stays good for 2 days. Reheat until piping hot and serve.
- For a longer shelf life, freeze it. Stays good for a month. When ready to use thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, reheat it until piping hot and serve.
- Once you thaw it, do not restore it.
More healthy chicken recipes that you might like
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Garlic butter chicken bites
- Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Skillet Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken Nuggets
Variations that you can try
- Add some olives to the recipe.
- You can add some tomato sauce or tomato paste for more tomato flavor.
- Add a dash of vinegar to the dish.
- Add some carrots to the dish.
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Recipe Card
Easy chicken cacciatore (Stovetop) recipe
Equipment
- Heavy bottom skillet
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 500 gram chicken larger cuts
- salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
For Cacciatore sauce
- 1 onion diced
- 1 Green bell pepper diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 100 gram white button mushroom diced
- 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon black pepper powder
- salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (or use 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried thyme and ¼ teaspoon rosemary.)
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth or use red/white wine
- 2 cups crushed tomatoes I used homemade. Recipe in the notes or use 1 can of pureed tomatoes.
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt & pepper. Set this aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoon of oil in a skillet/deep bottom pan over high heat.
- Sear the chicken until golden (2-3 minutes) on each side.
- Remove and set this aside. Cover to keep it warm.
- In the same pan, add onions, and bell peppers. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
- Add mushroom and garlic. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Add black pepper powder, salt, red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning. Saute it for a minute.
- Next, add chicken broth and tomatoes. Stir to combine. Let it come to a boil.
- Taste and add salt, if required.
- Add the chicken to the sauce.
- Reduce the heat, partially cover and cook it for 30 minutes on low heat. Stir it in between, if required.
- Chicken Cacciatore is ready. Garnish with cilantro and serve.
Video
Notes
- Do not skip garlic in the recipe. Fresh garlic adds so much flavor to the dish.
- Sear the chicken until some brown spots appear on them. You do not need to cook them. They will get cooked later while simmering in the sauce.
- Simmer the sauce for a minimum of 30 minutes until it thickens. Cooking on low heat enhances the flavor of the dish.
- This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors get enough time to mingle.
- For this recipe, you can use either diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or tomato paste.
- I have used 2 cups of homemade crushed tomatoes. Simply blanch (500-grams) tomatoes, remove the skin and grind it in a mixer/grinder jar. You can grind it coarse or fine.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Preeti
This chicken cacciatore recipe has delicious, slow-cooked flavors and tender, juicy chicken. Each bite is comforting and full of rustic charm, making it a perfect dish to enjoy with family or share with friends.