If you’re looking for an Italian chicken dinner for a busy weeknight, “Chicken Cacciatore” is a comforting dinner that tastes just like home and is incredibly easy to make.
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Chicken Cacciatore : Italian Chicken Dinner
This Italian chicken dinner is prepared by slow-simmering tender chicken with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, garlic, and Italian herbs, creating a thick and delicious sauce that tastes like it’s been cooked all day.
Chicken Cacciatore, meaning “hunter-style chicken” is traditionally made with Indian ingredients and a delicious tomato-based sauce. This simplified version maintains a classic flavor while remaining easy to prepare for busy American kitchens.
Serve it with pasta, creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up every drop of sauce.
Why we love Easy Chicken Cacciatore:
An easy one-pan dinner
Comforting and delicious
Perfect for weeknights
Perfect for the family
Great for leftovers
All ingredients needed: For 4 servings:
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons fresh basil, optional
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt to taste
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine, optional
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata or black olives
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, optional
Some serving ideas, optional:
Chicken Cacciatore can be served with these.
Egg noodles
Spaghetti or penne
Mashed potatoes
A simple green salad
Steamed vegetables
Crusty Italian bread
Garlic bread
Full instructions on how to make Chicken Cacciatore:
1. Preparing the Chicken
First, pat all chicken pieces dry with a paper towel.
Now, season both sides with salt and pepper.
Drying the chicken allows it to brown more evenly and adds a rich savory flavor to the finished dish.
If using larger chicken thighs, you can remove excess skin or fat, leaving enough skin on for a thorough browning.
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2. Browning the Chicken
Use a large, deep pan or heat olive oil in the oven over medium-high heat.
If using a piece of chicken with skin on, place the chicken skin-side down.
Cook for about 7 minutes, until the skin is golden brown.
Flip the chicken over and brown the other side for about 4 minutes.
The chicken doesn’t need to be completely cooked at this stage; it just needs to be a delicious brown color on the outside.
Remove the chicken to a plate.
3. Cooking the Vegetables
Reduce the heat to medium and use the same pan.
Add the chopped onion and bell pepper.
Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the mushrooms and cook for another 4 minutes, until they soften and release their moisture.
Add the finely chopped garlic and stir, then continue cooking for about 30 seconds.
Be careful not to burn the garlic, as burnt garlic can make the sauce taste bitter.
4. Making the Tomato Sauce
If using, add white wine and be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
Simmer the wine for 2 minutes.
Add the chopped tomatoes and chicken broth, stirring well.
Add the Italian seasoning, oregano, red pepper flakes, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
Now, to make a slightly sweeter and thicker sauce, if your tomatoes taste particularly sour, you can add a little sugar to it.
5. Returning the Chicken to the Pan
Place the browned chicken pieces back in the pan.
Now pour a little tomato and vegetable sauce over the chicken.
Keep the mixture simmering over low heat.
The sauce should be avoided boiling over.
Slowly cooking it over low heat allows the chicken to become tender and cooked thoroughly.
6. Simmering Until Tender
Lightly cover the pan and continue cooking over medium-low heat for approximately 35 to 40 minutes.
The exact cooking time depends on the size and type of chicken pieces used.
The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165°F, 74°C.
You can measure this with a food thermometer and be sure to use it.
While cooking, stir the sauce frequently and check that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
7. Adding the Potatoes
About 5 minutes before the chicken is cooked, add the Kalamata potatoes.
They help give it a salty, slightly fruity flavor that pairs beautifully with the tomato sauce.
Taste the sauce once and adjust the seasoning by adding salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes if needed.
8. Finishing with Fresh Herbs
Remove the bay leaf.
You can sprinkle fresh parsley and basil over the chicken cacciatore if desired.
Be sure to let the dish rest for about 5 to 7 minutes before serving.
This short rest time helps the sauce settle and makes serving much easier.
Serving Suggestions for Chicken Cacciatore:
There are many ways to serve this Italian chicken dinner:
With pasta: Pour the chicken and tomato sauce over spaghetti, linguine, penne, or your favorite pasta.
With polenta: Creamy polenta is a great option, as it absorbs the delicious tomato sauce well.
With crusty bread: Crusty bread makes a loaf and an easy dish. It’s ideal for scooping up the rich sauce.
With mashed potatoes: For an American-style comfort dinner, serve the chicken over creamy mashed potatoes.
With a green salad: This simple salad with cucumbers, mixed greens, tomatoes, and a light vinaigrette adds a touch of freshness.
Tips for making the best, easiest chicken cacciatore:
Use bone-in chicken
Make sure to brown it before simmering
Never rush the sauce
Use high-quality tomatoes
You can spice it up.
Some easy variation suggestions:
You can use these ingredients to create different variations of chicken cacciatore, making them a great Italian chicken dinner.
For chicken cacciatore: For easy serving, use boneless, skinless chicken thighs and check the internal temperature. Chicken breast cacciatore can be made using chicken breast, but it’s leaner than thighs. Avoid overcooking it to keep it tender.
For slow cooker chicken cacciatore: Brown the chicken first, then add everything to the slow cooker, cooking until the chicken is tender and reaches a safe internal temperature.
For extra vegetable cacciatore: If you prefer more vegetables, you can add zucchini, spinach, carrots, or more mushrooms.
For creamy chicken cacciatore: For a different variation, add a little heavy cream to the sauce at the last minute of cooking; this creates a thicker, creamier tomato sauce.
Storage Tips and Recycling Instructions:
Let leftover chicken cacciatore cool before storing in an airtight container.
It can be stored in the refrigerator and used within 4 days.
To reheat, gently heat the chicken and sauce in a covered pan over medium heat.
If the sauce thickens, add a little chicken broth. Chicken cacciatore can be frozen in a freezer-safe container and thaw thoroughly in the refrigerator before reheating.
FAQ
Answers to questions about chicken cacciatore to make it easy to prepare an Italian chicken dinner.
Q. What is chicken cacciatore?
Chicken cacciatore is an Italian-style dish made by cooking chicken with tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and sometimes mushrooms, olives, or something like wine. It derives its name from its hunter-style cooking.
Q. Can I make chicken cacciatore with boneless chicken?
Absolutely! Boneless chicken thighs are a great option. They cook very quickly and hold their flavor better than chicken breast.
Q. Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?
Absolutely! Chicken breast works well, but it tends to become dry if overcooked. Be sure to use a food thermometer and cook until the temperature at the thickest part reaches 165°F.
Q. Should I use white wine?
Absolutely not! White wine is unnecessary. You can use other chicken broth instead.
Q. Can you make chicken cacciatore without mushrooms?
Yes! Just don’t add these ingredients. You can use another vegetable like zucchini or more bell peppers instead.
Q. Which pasta goes best with chicken cacciatore?
For a richer pasta, penne, spaghetti, ringatoni, and linguini are great options. Choose a pasta shape that will hold up well to the tomato sauce.
Final Thoughts
Chicken cacciatore is made with tender chicken, colorful vegetables, garlic, tomatoes, herbs, and olives, all combined in one pan. It’s perfect for a comforting Sunday dinner and even easier for busy weeknights.
The best part is that the sauce combines the rich flavor of tomatoes with the roasted chicken and aromatic vegetables, making it a great addition to pasta or crispy bread.
Whether you’re cooking for the family or want to prepare a cozy dinner for guests, Italian Chicken Dinner, Chicken Cacciatore, is a great easy recipe.