Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

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By: DianaPosted: 6/30/20Updated: 10/25/21

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Classic Italian Chicken Cacciatore cooked in a rich tomato sauce, with bell peppers, mushrooms, and olives. The chicken is braised until it’s fall off the bone tender, and the sauce is so fragrant that it will fill your whole house with beautiful aromas of home-cooked food. Easy family-friendly comfort meal with incredible flavors!

Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (1)

What is Chicken Cacciatore?

Chicken cacciatore means chicken prepared ‘hunter-style’. It’s a dish from Tuscany, Italy and it’s also very popular in the US. Chicken cacciatore is a tomato-based dish, as the chicken is first browned and then braised in either tomato sauce or marinara and vegetables. The dish is often cooked for an hour on a low simmer with dry red wine, with a mix of Italian herbs.

Serve with rustic bread, creamy mashed potatoes, rice, or spaghetti for a hearty meal that the whole family will love!

Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2)

How to Make Chicken Cacciatore

It’s an easy to make meal, and all you need to do is prep the ingredients, brown the chicken, then throw everything together in a pot or skillet and slowly cook on a low simmer.

The Ingredients

For the chicken, you will need: Skin-on and bone-in chicken thighs, salt and pepper, and flour.

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And here’s what you’ll need for the sauce:

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  • The mushrooms and carrots are optional, but they add a lot to the flavor so I recommend that you add them.
  • I recommend dry red wine for chicken cacciatore, I used Merlot. But in some versions dry white wine is used, so if you prefer a milder flavor then use white wine instead of red. If you can’t/don’t want to use wine, substitute with chicken broth, unsweetened grape juice, or apple juice. It won’t have the same flavor, obviously, but it will give some flavor and help you deglaze the pan.

The Directions

This is quite simple if you follow the instructions:

  1. Season the chicken pieces and dredge in flour, then brown it and set aside.
  2. Saute the vegetables in olive oil.
  3. Deglaze with red wine and allow to reduce.
  4. Add diced tomatoes and olives.
  5. Add the chicken back in, cover, and simmer on low for 50 minutes stirring occasionally or until the chicken is cooked. Finish off with grated parmesan cheese if desired, and serve warm.
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Here’s what you’ll end up with:

  • Seriously juicy chicken infused with Mediterranean flavors.
  • The chicken isn’t fully submerged in sauce, so the skin stays nice and crispy.
  • Fall off the bone tender chicken as it’s braised on a low simmer for almost an hour.
  • Insanely delicious sauce with the best flavors ever. Herbs, mushrooms, olives, tomato, bell peppers, and juicy chicken. What’s there not to love?
  • The sauce is spicy, not too hot, just spicy enough. The red pepper flakes are optional but I love adding them to the sauce.
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What to Serve Chicken Cacciatore With

I like to keep things simple, and serve chicken cacciatore with crusty bread or breadsticks on the side. It makes a complete meal. But you can also serve it with one of these simple sides:

  • Creamy mashed potatoes
  • Garlic butter noodles
  • Plain white rice
  • Cauliflower rice
  • Zucchini noodles

Storing Tips

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

For tomato-based dishes like this, I don’t recommend using a cast iron skillet or pot because I found that cooking tomato dishes for long in cast iron results in an unpleasant metallic taste.

So I use my stainless steel pan instead. It’s a great pan and I use it all the time, plenty of surface area, cooks very evenly and I love the helper handle.

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Try this easy chicken dinner, and I’m sure you will love this recipe! It will definitely become a family favorite. Also make sure to check out my baked chicken and rice, an amazing family-friendly meal that’s made in one pan.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (8)

5 from 22 votes(Click stars to rate!)

Chicken Cacciatore

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 50 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

Author: Diana

Print Rate Recipe

Classic Italian chicken cacciatore cooked in a rich tomato sauce, with bell peppers, mushrooms, and olives. The chicken is braised until it's fall off the bone tender, and the sauce is so fragrant that it will fill your whole house with beautiful aromas of home-cooked food. Easy family-friendly comfort meal with incredible flavors!

6 servings

Classic Italian chicken cacciatore cooked in a rich tomato sauce, with bell peppers, mushrooms, and olives. The chicken is braised until it's fall off the bone tender, and the sauce is so fragrant that it will fill your whole house with beautiful aromas of home-cooked food. Easy family-friendly comfort meal with incredible flavors!

Recipe Video

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
  • 1 teaspoon salt divided
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper divided
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 carrot sliced into ⅕ inch slices
  • 5 ounces (2 cups) 140g mushrooms sliced into ¼ inch slices
  • 6 medium cloves garlic minced
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced into strips
  • 1 yellow bell pepper sliced into strips
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ cup (120ml) dry red wine See Note 4 for substitution
  • 28oz (800g) diced tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • ½ cup black olives pitted

Instructions

  • Season chicken with salt and pepper, dredge in flour shake off any excess.

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  • In a heavy-bottomed skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat. And brown the chicken starting skin side down. When the chicken is golden, remove from the skillet and set aside.

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  • Saute the onion, add the carrot and mushrooms, and cook together until the onion is soft and translucent (3-4 minutes). Then add the bell peppers, garlic, and the herbs and cook for 3 more minutes.

    Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (11)

  • Add the red wine, and deglaze the pan by scraping off any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Allow the wine to reduce (about 2 minutes), then add the tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Add the olives, then season with salt and pepper, and add crushed red pepper flakes if using.

    Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (12)

  • Return the chicken to the skillet, cover with the lid, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 50 minutes while stirring every 15 minutes, or until the chicken has cooked through.

    Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (13)

  • Have a taste and adjust seasonings to your preference. Serve hot with bread, pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

    Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (14)

Notes:

  1. I don’t recommend using a cast-iron skillet for this dish, as I found that tomato-based dishes start getting a metallic taste if they are cooked in cast iron for long. I use my stainless steel skillet.
  2. Sometimes I add chopped celery with the carrots, so you can certainly do that.
  3. Use any type of mushrooms that you have available such as button mushrooms, chestnut/cremini/baby bella, or shiitake.
  4. If you don’t want to use wine, substitute with unsweetened grape or apple juice or chicken broth. It won’t give the same flavor as wine, but it will add flavor and help you deglaze the pan.
  5. If you’re using extra large chicken thighs, increase the cooking time by 10 minutes.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 445kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 111mg, Sodium: 908mg, Potassium: 981mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 2957IU, Vitamin C: 79mg, Calcium: 90mg, Iron: 4mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Little Sunny Kitchen

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review!

  1. DENISE HURST says

    Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (21)
    I have made this recipe before and it is delicious; as a matter of fact anything Italian tastes delicious, yummy.

    Reply

    • Little Sunny Kitchen says

      I agree, Italian food is definitely some of the best in the world. So glad you like this recipe!

      Reply

Older Comments123

Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the best wine to use in chicken cacciatore? ›

Chicken Cacciatore is basically braised chicken cooked in onions, garlic, peppers, red wine and tomatoes. Some recipes call for white wine, but I love the combination of red wine with tomato sauce. I had Chianti on hand, but Merlot or Zinfandel would be nice, too.

What is best to serve with chicken cacciatore? ›

Complementary Pairings for Chicken Cacciatore
  • Garlic Bread: A side of warm, buttery garlic bread is perfect for absorbing any of the remaining tomato sauce. ...
  • Caesar Salad: Freshen up the palate and complement the richness of the chicken cacciatore with a Caesar salad.

What is a substitute for red wine in chicken cacciatore? ›

If you're seeking a substitute for red wine, consider replacing one-for-one with:
  • Alcohol-free red wine.
  • Beef broth.
  • Chicken broth.
  • Red wine vinegar (use ½ vinegar and ½ water for similar flavor results)
  • Cranberry juice*
  • Pomegranate juice*
Aug 8, 2023

Is chicken cacciatore better the second day? ›

PRO Tip: Like many stews, this comforting chicken cacciatore is a dish that is better on the second day. Cook as directed, then cool and transfer the cacciatore to an airtight container and hold it overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat it gently the following day.

What is a substitute for white wine in chicken cacciatore? ›

Chicken or vegetable broth is a great white wine substitute, as it adds both liquid and flavor. If using a store-bought broth, opt for low-sodium or no sodium so that you don't throw off the salt content of the dish.

What wine is best for Italian tomato sauce? ›

Tomato-based sauces are powerfully tasting and highly acid – and are often blended with rich, red meats. Because of the acidity in tomatoes, a relatively tart red wine with middle-weight body (like a Pinot Noir) is your best option.

What is cacciatore sauce made of? ›

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.

What do Italians eat with cacciatore? ›

What To Serve With Chicken Cacciatore
  • Creamy Polenta.
  • Risotto milanese– The most traditional side to serve with cacciatore and hands down everyone's favourite.
  • White or Brown rice.
  • Crispy roasted potatoes or boiled, buttered potatoes.
  • Plain pasta noodles such as tagliatelle egg noodles.
Feb 18, 2022

Is chicken cacciatore better with red or white wine? ›

Due to the acidity of the tomato-based cacciatore sauce, a light, dry red wine with nice acidity works really nicely!

Can I skip red wine in a recipe? ›

Beef, chicken, or vegetable stock can be good substitutes for red wine in cooking. Any type of stock performs a similar function to red wine in cooking as a base for dishes. Stock is made by simmering bones, meat, seafood, or vegetables in water, and adds special flavor to any recipe.

Can I use balsamic vinegar instead of red wine? ›

However, balsamic vinegar has a richer and more complex flavor, and it is less acidic. Most vinegar has a tartness, but both red wine and balsamic vinegar are balanced with sweetness, making one a suitable substitute for the other in equal amounts. What's more, the flavor distinctions are not very noticeable.

How long does cooked chicken cacciatore last in the fridge? ›

Store your cooked chicken in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking it, and make sure to have a plan in place for using it up within three to four days. Running out of ideas for using cooked or leftover chicken? Browse our collection of Healthy Chicken Recipes for inspiration.

Why does chicken taste weird the next day? ›

The ultimate life saver is this hack to REHEAT LEFTOVER CHICKEN 🍗🙌 If you think leftover chicken breast tastes weird and rubbery you're actually not alone, it's a chemical reaction that happens with the fat in the chicken oxidizes in the fridge and the phenomenon is called Warmed Over Chicken.

Can you eat 2 day off chicken? ›

Once two days have passed, you might be wondering if your refrigerated raw chicken has gone bad. At that point, the USDA would recommend throwing it out to be on the safe side. You can identify spoiled chicken by smelling and looking at it.

Which wine is best for chicken? ›

A simple roasted chicken, for example, pairs equally well with a full-flavored red, a medium-bodied rosé, or a dry white. Also, an oaked Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir will be great. If you have a dark, savory gravy, go for a medium-bodied red like a Côtes du Rhône.

What is the best cooking wine for sauce? ›

To give your sauce a deep, robust flavor, use an earthy, peppery red wine such as Syrah, especially sauces that feature beef. For a brighter red sauce, use a tart, medium-bodied red such as a Chianti to highlight the acidity in the tomatoes.

What cooking wine is good for chicken? ›

Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are perfect dry white wines to use in this recipe. If you don't cook with wine, chicken broth can be used, although the wine is more crucial in this sauce than in most of my others, since it's a wine-based sauce.

Can you substitute white wine for red wine in chicken cacciatore? ›

I recommend dry red wine for chicken cacciatore, I used Merlot. But in some versions dry white wine is used, so if you prefer a milder flavor then use white wine instead of red.

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