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Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 785 reviews

This Chicken Cacciatore recipe is a hearty, rustic Italian dish featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a savory tomato sauce with mushrooms, bell peppers, and aromatic herbs. Perfectly paired with your choice of whole wheat pasta, brown rice, or vegetable noodles, this classic skillet-cooked meal is rich in flavor, comforting, and easy to prepare on the stovetop.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasoning

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Vegetables and Sauce

  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup dry white wine or low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 8 ounces sliced baby bella (cremini) mushrooms
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

To Serve

  • Whole wheat pasta, or brown rice, polenta, rice, zucchini noodles, or baked and shredded spaghetti squash
  • Chopped fresh parsley or basil
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Season: Season both sides of the chicken thighs evenly with kosher salt and ground black pepper.
  2. Heat oil and sear chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil in a Dutch oven or deep, sturdy pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering (but not smoking), add the chicken thighs in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes until the bottom is nicely browned, then flip and brown the other side for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer the browned chicken to a large clean plate. It does not need to be fully cooked at this stage.
  3. Sauté vegetables: Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot. Add the chopped onion and green bell pepper and cook for about 4 minutes, until softened.
  4. Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  5. Deglaze with wine: Pour in the white wine (or chicken broth) and stir, allowing it to simmer and reduce by half, approximately 3 minutes. This will lift the flavorful browned bits from the pot.
  6. Add tomatoes and seasonings: Stir in the crushed tomatoes along with their juices, sliced mushrooms, Italian seasoning, and balsamic vinegar. Mix well and bring to a gentle simmer. Let the sauce simmer uncovered for 10 minutes to meld flavors and slightly thicken.
  7. Return chicken to pot: Nestle the partially cooked chicken thighs back into the tomato sauce along with any juices that collected on the plate. The chicken should be mostly submerged in the sauce but can peek through.
  8. Simmer covered: Partially cover the pot and simmer on medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through, the sauce has thickened, and the mushrooms are tender.
  9. Optional shred or dice chicken: If desired, remove the chicken from the pot to a cutting board when cool enough to handle. Dice or shred the chicken, then return it to the sauce and stir to combine and heat through. Alternatively, leave the chicken thighs whole.
  10. Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste the sauce and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve the chicken and sauce hot over whole wheat pasta, brown rice, polenta, or your choice of veggie noodles. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil and a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese for extra richness and flavor.

Notes

  • Using boneless, skinless chicken thighs keeps the meat tender and juicy, but bone-in can be used with longer cooking time.
  • If you prefer a thicker sauce, simmer uncovered longer or mash some of the tomatoes with the back of a spoon.
  • Dry white wine adds depth, but low sodium chicken broth is a great non-alcoholic substitute.
  • Serve with your favorite whole grains or vegetable noodles for a balanced meal.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day and can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Keywords: Chicken Cacciatore, Italian chicken recipe, tomato chicken stew, one-pot chicken dinner, easy Italian meals

Find it online: https://kochenmitviktoria.com/chicken-cacciatore-recipe/