Chicken Cacciatore (2024)

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BY Karina | 176 Comments

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The BEST Chicken Cacciatore in a rich and rustic sauce with chicken falling off the bone is simple Italian comfort food at its best!

Authentic Chicken Cacciatore is an Italian classic and makes for an incredible dinner. You’ll never get a more succulent home cooked meal than this recipe! Easy to make and loved by the entire family, Cacciatore aromas fill your entire house with comfort and warmth as it cooks itself on the stove or in the oven!

Chicken Cacciatore (1)

Chicken Cacciatore

Cacciatore means hunter in Italian, andalla cacciatoratranslatesto a ‘hunter-style’ meal with chicken (or rabbit), onions, tomatoes, herbs, vegetables, and usually wine or vinegar.

This is one of those recipes Ifound years ago in an old, tattered Italian cookbook. Every time I’d remake it through the years, I’d adjust something in it to eventually reach a cacciatore recipe so perfect, it’s one recipe your entire family will look forward too!

Chicken Cacciatore (2)

HOW DO YOU MAKE CHICKEN CACCIATORE?

This Chicken Cacciatore recipe is an easy throw-together-meal with the most delicious sauce full of incredible flavours!

Simply heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a skillet and sear chicken thighs until golden. It takes about 3-4 minutes on each side, then you’ll finish them off in the beautiful rustic cacciatore sauce.

What is cacciatore sauce made of?

Chicken Cacciatore sauce is a full-flavoured sauce using simple ingredients. Onion and garlic are sautéed in oil in the same skillet with bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms and herbs. I love using brown mushrooms in this cacciatore.

Dry red wine is then added into the skillet and gently simmered to scrape up any browned bits leftover from the chicken in the skillet. Continue cooking until the wine is reduced by at least half.

The result? The most incredible rustic tomato Cacciatore sauce simmering and soaking into juicy chicken thighs until they fall off the bone and melt in your mouth!

Wine Pairing:

  • Chianti Classico
  • Pinot Noir
  • Lambrusco

Chicken Cacciatore (3)

What is a good side dish for Chicken Cacciatore

Regular sides for chicken Cacciatore:

For Low Carb:

  • Cauliflower rice
  • Zucchini Noodles
  • Steamed vegetables

If there are any leftovers, the flavours are even better the next day! Or you can freeze itfor up to three months in meal prep containers for a ready-made-meal when you need it!

More Italian-inspired recipes:

One Pan Tomato Basil Chicken & Rice
Mozzarella Meatballs In Tomato Sauce
Lasagna

Chicken Cacciatore (4)

Chicken Cacciatore

Author: Karina

The BEST Chicken Cacciatore in a rich and rustic sauce withchicken falling off the boneis simple Italian comfort foodat its best! Authentic Chicken Cacciatore is an Italian classic, and you'll never get a more succulent home cooked meal than this recipe!Easy to make and loved by the entire family!

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Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 40 minutes mins

Total: 50 minutes mins

Serves: 6 people

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 6 bone-in skinless chicken thighs
  • Salt and pepper, to season
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic, (or 6 cloves)
  • 1 small yellow bell pepper (capsicum), diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper (capsicum), diced
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and sliced
  • 10 oz (300g) mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/2 cup pitted black olives
  • 8 sprigs thyme
  • 2 tablespoons each freshly chopped parsley and basil plus more to garnish
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 150 ml red wine
  • 28 oz (820g) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 7 oz (200g) Roma tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Season chicken with salt and pepper.

  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy cast iron skillet. Sear chicken on both sides until golden, about 3-4 minutes each side. Remove from skillet and set aside.

  • Add remaining oil to the pan. Sauté the onion until transparent, about 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.Add the peppers, carrot, mushrooms and herbs; cook for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.

  • Pour in the wine, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook until wine is reduced, about 2 minutes.

  • Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Roma tomatoes and chill flakes. Season with salt and pepper to your tastes. Return chicken pieces to the skillet and continue to cook over stove top OR in the oven following the instructions below.

FOR STOVE TOP:

  • Mix all of the ingredients together; cover with lid, reduce heat to low and allow to simmer (while stirring occasionally) for 40 minutes or until the meat is falling off the bone. Add in the olives, allow to simmer for a further 10 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

FOR THE OVEN:

  • Transfer the covered skillet to a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and cook for 50 minutes. Remove the lid, add in the olives and cook for an additional 20 minutes until the chicken is tender and falling off the bone, and the sauce has reduced.

Notes

FOR THE SLOW COOKERUSE THIS RECIPE

If the sauce is too thin for your liking, add 2 tablespoons of extra tomato paste while it's simmering to thicken.
TO MAKE AHEAD:
This chicken cacciatore can be made up to 1 day ahead, cooled, covered and refrigerated. Rewarm over low-medium heat.
TO FREEZE:
Transfer the cooled cacciatore into an air tight container and transfer to the freezer. The day of serving, thaw it out in the morning and bring to room temperature. Transfer to a skillet / pan and reheat over low-medium heat until warmed through.

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 511mg | Potassium: 1157mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3880IU | Vitamin C: 77mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 4mg

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Comments

  1. Jennifer K. says

    Chicken Cacciatore (11)
    This was a fantastic recipe! We used leg quarters, so it took a little longer to cook, but that just gave time for the flavors to develop. I love the addition of olives and mushrooms. This will be a make-again, for sure!

    Reply

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Chicken Cacciatore (2024)

FAQs

What is Chicken Cacciatore sauce made of? ›

Aside from the chicken, the basic ingredients in chicken cacciatore are: onions, herbs, tomatoes and sometimes mushrooms. Some variations will call for carrots and celery, while others call for bell peppers or other vegetables. Some even flavor the tomato sauce with anchovies, which I haven't tried yet.

What is Chicken Cacciatore traditionally served with? ›

Chicken Cacciatore is often served with a rustic bread, pasta, rice, my Easy Roasted Parmesan Potatoes are great wth it too or even some creamy polenta. It is one of those chicken dishes that go with just about anything.

Why is Chicken Cacciatore called cacciatore? ›

The secret of how it came to be actually comes from its name; in Italian, cacciatore roughly translates to “hunter”, meaning that those who prepared this meal usually hunted the chicken themselves. In their travels, they found other ingredients to pick up along the way that eventually evolved into staples of the dish.

Is Chicken Cacciatore the same as chicken parmigiana? ›

Chicken parmesan uses boneless skinless chicken breasts that are pounded thin and fried crisp before they're smothered in tomato sauce and topped with cheese. Chicken cacciatore is different. It's more like a hearty stew that's made with bone-in chicken.

How do you thicken cacciatore sauce? ›

Easy Chicken Cacciatore tips

To thicken the sauce using the cornstarch method, just whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch into 1 tablespoon of cold water.

What is Barbie sauce? ›

Now Heinz UK has partnered up with Mattel to launch Barbieque Sauce and Tomato Kenchup, both products featuring Barbie's signature pink. Heinz used beetroot to achieve the iconic color. The sauce itself is a mix of vegan mayonnaise and barbecue sauce. Get more details here.

What side dishes go best with chicken cacciatore? ›

The best side dishes to serve with chicken cacciatore are polenta, mashed potatoes, carrot mash, avocado fries, onion rings, mushroom risotto, Tuscan chicken pasta, shrimp alfredo, cauliflower mac and cheese, tomato basil soup, roast potatoes, pastina, caramelized vegetables, crusty bread, Greek salad, and lemon bread.

Is chicken cacciatore better the next day? ›

Make Ahead, Storage, and Freezing instructions. To Make Ahead: Chicken Cacciatore can be prepared a day ahead, as the taste and flavors get stronger, and taste even better. We prepared it on Saturday afternoon, refrigerate overnight and reheated it to share on Sunday for lunch.

What is the best wine to use for Chicken Cacciatore? ›

Suggested red wine for chicken cacciatore. ⇢ My go-to red wine for cooking is a good, dry Merlot. If you'd like to try an Italian red, a good, dry Chianti is a great option. Nebbiolo, which is a little lighter & more acidic, also pairs beautifully with the tomato-based chicken cacciatore sauce!

What is pollo alla cacciatora made of? ›

The pollo alla cacciatora is a simple and traditional dish prepared with some little differences in almost all the regions of Italy. The chicken is jointed into pieces and quickly pan-fried, then slowly stewed in a tasty tomato sauce. Rosemary, garlic and wine are essential to donate a characteristic flavour.

What is Calabrese cacciatore? ›

Cacciatore Calabrese is a versatile, dry aged salami that can be served thinly sliced for sandwiches or toppings, or served as an appetiser with cheese and a dry white wine.

Is lasagna or chicken parm healthier? ›

Worse: Meat Lasagna

The combination of cheese, meat and pasta is going to pack more calories and fat than chicken parmigiana -- even if you lighten it up by using low-fat cheeses. Chicken parmigiana is easier to adapt with healthy cooking techniques.

Why is it called chicken parmesan if there is no parmesan? ›

Some believe that it was created in Parma, hence the name. Others believe it comes from a Sicilian word that means slabs on a roof, referring to the thin slices of chicken covered in the sauce.

Do people in Italy eat chicken parm? ›

Despite being a staple of Italian-American cuisine, “chicken parmesan” is nowhere to be found in Italy. Instead, Italians nosh on parmigiana – eggplant layered with tomato sauce and cheese.

Who makes cacciatore sauce? ›

Full Red® Cacciatore Sauce – Stanislaus.

What does cacciatore mean in Italian? ›

Translation of cacciatore – Italian–English dictionary

hunter [noun] a person who hunts. huntsman [noun] a hunter.

Which leading sauce is a sauce suprême prepared from? ›

According the Larousse Gastronomique, a seminal work of French haute cuisine, first published in 1938, suprême sauce is made from the mother sauce velouté (white stock thickened with a white roux—in the case of suprême sauce, chicken stock is usually preferred), reduced with heavy cream or crème fraîche, and then ...

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