Chicken Cacciatore
It’s great over pasta, polenta or mashed potatoes. This is the version my Mom always made for us when I was a child, which I’ve always loved. I modified Mom’s recipe to make it a bit leaner by removing the chicken skin and fat and using less oil. For more ways to cook this delicious dish, try my Instant Pot and slow cooker chicken cacciatore recipes.
What does cacciatore mean?
“Cacciatore” means hunter in Italian, and alla cacciatora translates to a ‘hunter-style’ meal. So pollo alla cacciatora translates to chicken cacciatore. It’s a hearty tomato-based stew with chicken (sometimes rabbit), onion, garlic, bell peppers, and mushrooms.
Ingredients for Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken: Use bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks, skin removed. Chicken breast on the bone will also work. Vegetables: Red bell pepper, mushrooms, onion, cloves garlic and crushed tomatoes. Chicken broth to thin the sauce. Dried and fresh herbs: oregano, parsley, basil, salt and black pepper. Pasta: Enjoy this over your favorite shape of wheat or gluten-free pasta.
How to Cook Chicken Cacciatore
This easy chicken recipe can be broken down into a few steps. It does take some time to cook, but most of the time is hands-off while the sauce simmers.
What goes good with chicken cacciatore?
You can serve chicken cacciatore over your favorite type of pasta, rice, or polenta. For a low-carb alternative, try it over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles. I like to top my cacciatore with some good grated parmesan cheese or pecorino romano with a hearty piece of bread to soak up the sauce. You could also serve it with a salad or roasted veggies on the side.
Variations:
If you don’t like mushrooms add celery and carrots. Use baby bellas or white button mushrooms. Swap the chicken broth for dry white wine or red wine. Olives or capers can be added for flavor. If you prefer white meat, you can use boneless chicken breasts instead of thighs. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, for spice.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
More Italian Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:
Caprese Chicken Skillet Gnocchi with Grilled Chicken in Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Chicken Parmesan Lasagna Air Fryer Chicken Milanese with Baby Arugula Spaghetti with Sauteed Chicken and Grape Tomatoes
