Best Chicken Cacciatore
This Best Chicken Cacciatore Italian comfort food at its best! This colorful, rustic meal is packed full of flavor with succulent braised chicken thighs, sauteed vegetables, and white wine. Make this for your next family meal or for guest and you won’t hear the end of praises from this meal!
What Is Chicken Cacciatore?
Chicken Cacciatore is a classic, rustic Italian meal. Cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian. This is a ‘hunters style’ meal that typically has bell peppers, onions, and herbs and is braised in tomato sauce. The chicken is often coated in flour to help absorb the tomato sauce which enhances the flavor.
Chicken Cacciatore is often served with potatoes such as mashed potatoes. But some serve it with rice or bread. I love having this with my Sour Cream and Chives Smashed Potatoes.
Best Chicken Cacciatore
My father used to make Chicken Cacciatore all the time for every gathering with friends or family. It was always requested. To be honest, I never really like his. The flavor was pretty good, but the texture just wasn’t for me. So, of course, I had to make some tweaks to fit my palate.
To give my father credit, he was an amazing cook with no training or anything. He just lacked knowledge of some techniques. So, just searing the thighs properly fixed the texture.
I also added some white wine and I use my own homemade tomato sauce. The first time I made this for my children, it was a huge hit. We had leftovers and my kids gladly ate it – I should say, devoured it – 3 nights in a row. Kids eating any leftovers 1 night is a miracle, forget about 3 nights!
I cook mine in my Dutch Oven – a large, cast-iron pot coated with enamel with a matching tight-fitting lid. I use mine all the time. There is a link below for an awesome one. Check it out! If you don’t have one, you’ll love it!
What Ingredients Are in Best Chicken Cacciatore?
- Chicken Thighs
- All Purpose Flour
- Olive Oil
- Bell Peppers
- Sweet Onions
- Cloves Garlic
- White Wine
- Diced Tomatoes with juices
- Tomato Sauce
- Fresh Basil
- Fresh Parsley
Ingredient Notes
Chicken Thighs – I love using chicken thighs, but legs will work great as well. My father would make his with both legs and thighs.
Bell Peppers – I like colorful dishes so I like to use a combination of green, red, and yellow. Use whichever color or colors you like.
Sweet Onions – sweet onions are my goto because they are so flavorful. Yellow onions will work great as well.
White Wine – I use chardonnay, but you can use a blanc or pinot grigio as well.
Tomato Sauce – I use my own homemade Best Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe. I have tried using store bought, but there is nothing that comes close to homemade. You can use your favorite tomato sauce.
How Is Best Chicken Cacciatore Made?
- Trim off excess skin and fat from the chicken thighs. Season with salt and pepper and coat with flour.
- Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy pan, like a Dutch oven, over medium heat. Working in batches, place the chicken thighs in the pan, skin side up. Cook about 5 minutes on each side until crispy. Place on a plate and set aside.
- Add the bell peppers and onions to the pan and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Next, add the garlic and sautè for another 2 minutes. Add the white wine and deglaze the pan by scraping the bottom. Simmer until the wine is reduced by half.
- Add the fresh basil, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the sauce is heated.
- Return the chicken to the pan and cover with the sauce. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Test with a meat thermometer – the chicken needs to be 165ºF.
- Garnish with torn fresh basil leaves.
What Can I Do with the Leftovers?
They will keep well for up to 4 days in the fridge. They can also be frozen up to 6 months. Reheat them in the oven or on the stove. Be careful not to overcook them if you use the microwave
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Best Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe
Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Thighs
- 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
- 2-4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 Bell Peppers, sliced different colors
- 2 cups Sweet Onions, sliced (about 1 large sweet onion)
- 6 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 Cup White Wine
- 1 14.5 ounce can Petite Diced Tomatoes, with juices
- 16 ounce Tomato Sauce, jarred or homemade
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Basil, chopped
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- Fresh Parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
-
Trim off excess skin and fat from the chicken thighs. Season with salt and pepper and coat with flour.
-
Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy pan, like a Dutch oven, over medium heat. Working in batches, place the chicken thighs in the pan, skin side up. Cook about 5 minutes on each side until crispy. Place on a plate and set aside.
-
Add the bell peppers and onions to the pan and saute until tender, about 5 minutes (if needed, heat 2 more tablespoons of olive oil before adding the bell peppers and onions). Add the garlic and saute for another 2 minutes. Add the white wine and deglaze the pan by scraping the bottom. Simmer until the wine is reduced by half.
-
Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the sauce is heated.
-
Return the chicken to the pan and cover with the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Test with a meat thermometer.
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Garnish with torn fresh basil leaves.
Recipe Notes
Chicken Thighs - I love using chicken thighs, but legs will work great as well. My father would make his with both legs and thighs.
Bell Peppers - I like colorful dishes so I like to use a combination of green, red, and yellow. Use whichever color or colors you like.
Sweet Onions - sweet onions are my goto because they are so flavorful. Yellow onions will work great as well.
White Wine - I use chardonnay, but you can use a blanc or pinot grigio as well.
Tomato Sauce - I use my own homemade Best Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe. I have tried using store bought, but there is nothing that comes close to homemade. You can use your favorite tomato sauce.
