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    Ask Chef Dennis » Recipes » Main Meals » Poultry Recipes » Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

    Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

    Published: Feb 25, 2022 · Modified: Jun 22, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley · 12 Comments·This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    5 from 36 votes
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    When it comes to pure comfort food Chicken Cacciatore is an Italian Classic with a rich and rustic sauce that will have the entire family begging for more.

    overhead shot of chicken cacciatore over pasta in a white bowl

    Whether you make Chicken Cacciatore Recipe with a whole cut-up chicken or chicken thighs and legs, this fall-off-the-bone delicious chicken is going to become one of your favorite recipes!

    This is a family favorite at my house along with my Chicken Pepperoni and Creamy Tuscan Chicken.

    What ingredients do I need to make chicken cacciatore?

    ingredients to make chicken cacciatore on a wooden cutting board

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Chicken Cacciatore. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    In Italian Cacciatore translates to hunter and alla cacciatora translates to hunter-style. My interpretation of this classic dish is made with chicken or rabbit, onions, carrots, mushrooms, celery, garlic, tomatoes, herbs and red wine.

    How do I make Chicken Cacciatore?

    chicken pieces seasoned with salt and pepper on a baking sheet

    The first step is breaking down the whole chicken into pieces. You can use kitchen shears or a sharp knife to do this. Notice that I include the back which normally would be discarded.

    There’s a lot of flavor in that piece of chicken so we’re going to include it in the pot, but not serve it to our guests.

    Do I have to use a whole chicken to make chicken cacciatore?

    No, you don’t. In fact, I prefer dark meat when making this type of braised chicken dish and will often use thighs and legs, excluding the breasts when making this type of chicken dish?

    Can I use boneless chicken to make this dish?

    Yes, you can. But truthfully it won’t be as flavorful. The bones do add a good amount of flavor to the dish. But if you want to use boneless chicken I would stay with boneless skinless chicken thighs. They will have the most flavor and not dry out as much as chicken breasts.

    seared chicken pieces on a baking sheet

    After preparing the chicken, the next step is searing those pieces to a nice golden brown. I wish they would stay that crispy but after cooking with the sauce you’ll hardly recognize that beautiful crispy chicken skin. It is an important step so don’t skip it.

    four images showing how to make chicken cacciatore
    • Add the onions, celery, carrots, garlic, and mushrooms to the pan and cook for 6-8 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium.
    • Deglaze the pan with the red wine and stir to get all the tasty bits off the bottom of the pan. (traditionally red wine is used but you can substitute a dry white wine)
    • Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, basil, thyme, sea salt and pepper. Stir until well mixed. Bring the mixture to a low boil then reduce the heat to a simmer.
    • Add the browned chicken back into the dutch oven, immersing the chicken in the sauce. Cover the dutch oven with a lid and allow to simmer for 1 hour.

    Do I have to use a Dutch oven?

    Chicken cacciatore can be made in a large skillet if you don’t have a Dutch oven. If you don’t have a lid for the skillet, use aluminum foil to keep the pot covered.

    I’ve used a lot of dutch ovens over the years and this chef only uses Misen Dutch Ovens for his cooking.

    Misen also makes great quality knives at a reasonable price and has become my knife of choice for my home kitchens.

    How do I make Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore?

    It’s easy to Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore, and the instructions aren’t that much different. Sear the chicken as outlined in the recipe and follow the steps until it’s time to let the chicken simmer. Use the directions below to finish the chicken in your instant pot.

    • Close the lid, and set the valve to the “sealing” position, if your model doesn’t do this on its own. Make sure your Instant Pot is set to cook at high pressure.
    • Press the “manual” or “pressure cook” button and set the timer to 12 minutes. The Instant Pot will beep after a few seconds and it will start building up pressure. This can take 5 to 8 minutes, so be patient.
    • Once the cooking cycle is done, press the “cancel/off” button. Let the Instant Pot release pressure on its own. Do Not Touch the Pressure Valve.
    • When the pressure valve pin is down, carefully open the lid, making sure its away from your face. Stir in the olives, basil, and parsley, then let the pot sit for 5 minutes before serving.

    You can also use your slow cooker to make this dish.

    Do I have to use mushrooms in this dish?

    No, you don’t. I love mushrooms, they add an earthy flavor and help fill out the dish, but if you’re not fond of mushrooms feel free to leave them out.

    close up of chicken cacciatore over linguine in a white bowl

    There are many variations on this delicious Italian chicken dish. Feel free to adapt it with your favorite seasonings and veggies. But any way you make it you’re going to love this slow-cooked chicken cacciatore. It’s an easy recipe, you’ll turn to time and time again.

    I like to serve chicken cacciatore with grated Romano or parmesan cheese, freshly ground black pepper and crusty bread…..sigh

    Recipe FAQ’s

    Why is my chicken cacciatore watery?

    If your cacciatore is watery you can thicken by adding tomato paste to the sauce. Mix it with some of the sauce from the pot and stir the mixture back into the cacciatore.

    Is Chicken Cacciatore an Italian Dish?

    Cacciatore (hunter-style) originated in central Italy during the time of the Renaissance. Originally made with rabbit or small game birds, the original recipe didn’t include tomatoes and was made with wild mushrooms and available root vegetables and local herbs.

    What is chicken cacciatore served with?

    Cacciatore is best served with rustic bread, polenta, pasta, risotto or rice.

    More Recipes You’ll Love!

    • Chicken Chasseur aka Hunters Chicken
    • Rustic Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Potatoes
    • Chicken Saltimbocca Recipe an Italian Classic
    • Chicken Pepperoni with Linguine

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    overhead partial view of chicken cacciatore over linguine in a white bowl
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    5 from 36 votes

    Dutch Oven Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

    When it comes to comfort food my Dutch Oven Chicken Cacciatore is sure to please! It's easy to make and easily adjustable, to your taste preferences. And it's guarunteed to bring smiles to your dinner table!
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time1 hr 35 mins
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: Italian, Italian – American
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 472kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven

    Ingredients

    Chicken

    • 3.5 lb whole chicken cut up into parts
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil

    Cacciatore Sauce

    • olive oil if needed add additional olive oil to the dutch oven to saute the vegetables
    • 1 large onion chopped
    • 3 ribs celery chopped
    • 2 medium carrots- peeled chopped
    • 4 cloves garlic finely minced
    • 2 cup mushrooms sliced in half
    • 1 cup dry red wine
    • 56 oz whole peeled tomatoes
    • 6 oz tomato paste
    • 1 tbsp Italian parsley finely chopped
    • 1 tbsp basil finely chopped
    • 1 tbsp thyme finely chopped
    • 1½ tsp sea salt to taste
    • ½ tsp black pepper to taste
    • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper to taste

    Finish

    • 4 ounces kalamata olives
    • 1 tsp chopped parsley
    • 1 tsp chopped basil
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Chicken

    • Season the cut-up chicken with sea salt and pepper.
    • In a large dutch oven over medium-high heat add the seasoned chicken and sear the pieces on both sides for 4-5 minutes.
      *Do this in batches if you can't lay all the pieces flat to sear them at one time.
    • Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside until needed.

    Cacciatore Sauce

    • Add the onions, celery, carrots, garlic, and mushrooms to the pan and cook for 6-8 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium.
      *If needed add additional olive oil to the dutch oven to saute the vegetables
    • Deglaze the pan with the red wine and stir to get all the tasty bits off the bottom of the pan.
    • Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, basil, thyme, sea salt and pepper. Stir until well mixed. Bring the mixture to a low boil then reduce the heat to a simmer.
    • Add the browned chicken back into the dutch oven, immersing the chicken in the sauce. Cover the dutch oven with a lid and allow to simmer for 1 hour.

    Finish

    • After simmering the chicken, remove the lid and add in the olives, a little more fresh parsley, and basil, and reseason with salt and pepper as needed.
      Simmer for an additional fifteen minutes.
      *Don't serve the chicken back to guests, but feel free to pick the meat from the back and enjoy it while you wait to serve your guests!
    • Remove the chicken from the pot and stir the sauce well, mixing in any oil that has separated from the sauce. You can remove the fat if you like, but there is a lot of flavor in it.
      If the sauce is too thin you can continue to cook it over medium-high heat to let it reduce. Placing the chicken back into the sauce for a quick reheat before serving.
      *If you leave the chicken in the sauce too long it will completely fall apart, which is why you remove it before reducing the sauce.
    • Serve over linguine, rice, risotto, farro or your pasta or grain and enjoy!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 1392mg | Potassium: 1251mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 4506IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 5mg
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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda

      April 30, 2022 at 1:43 pm

      5 stars
      I made this recipe a month ago and it was EXCELLENT exactly as the recipe is written. We served it with Pappardelle and Garlic Toast. Today, I used the recipe again, however, I did not have Mushrooms (which give the dish a wonderful earthy flavor). Instead, I used chopped Zucchini in it’s place and served it atop Mushroom Garlic Noodles. We enjoyed it a lot !!!! Thanks Chef Dennis for the use of your recipe.

      Reply
    2. Silvia

      March 07, 2022 at 2:19 am

      5 stars
      This is a very comforting recipe, easy to prepare and delicious. My family enjoyed every single bite.

      Reply
    3. GUNJAN

      March 06, 2022 at 3:21 pm

      5 stars
      such a delicious and flavorful recipe. My family loved it and definitely will make it again.

      Reply
    4. Leslie

      March 04, 2022 at 9:01 am

      5 stars
      I love everything about this recipes! The flavors are so incredibly perfect! Great way to cook a whole chicken!

      Reply
    5. Uma

      March 03, 2022 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      Such an amazing and detailed recipe. I love that you included the instant pot method as well, it came out perfectly. Thanks!

      Reply
    6. Megs

      March 02, 2022 at 7:14 pm

      5 stars
      Yummo! What a delicious dish and I cannot wait to make it again. Thanks again Chef Dennis.

      Reply
    7. Mikayla

      March 02, 2022 at 5:16 pm

      5 stars
      I just love using my dutch oven for meals, makes me think of my grandma and I am happy to say this meal was just a good as any she made.

      Reply
    8. Jessica

      March 02, 2022 at 4:56 pm

      I’d never had chicken cacciatore until I tried this recipe. I’m so glad that I gave it a shot. This dish is so aromatic, inviting, and comforting. I especially loved the salty pop of the kalamata olives.

      Reply
    9. Tracy

      March 02, 2022 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe reminds me of my time in Italy! Such an Italian classic with wonderful flavors. This recipe is so spot on, thank you!

      Reply
    10. Allyssa

      March 02, 2022 at 5:18 am

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for sharing this amazing chicken cacciatore recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

      Reply
    11. veenaazmanov

      March 01, 2022 at 10:00 pm

      5 stars
      This is definitely a one Pot comforting meal. Bursting with flavors and all the healthy combination of veggies too.

      Reply
    12. Lisa

      February 27, 2022 at 12:25 pm

      5 stars
      We made this last night for dinner and it was soooo good! Thank for the recipe!

      Reply

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