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Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore is a rustic dish made with chicken thighs simmered in a rich tomato sauce with vegetables, capers, wine and oregano.  

Sometimes called “Hunter’s Stew” Chicken Cacciatore is a classic Italian dish that is full of rustic, hearty flavor. The rich tomato sauce is loaded with goodies like bell peppers, mushrooms, garlic, onions and capers. It’s one of those dishes that just begs to be made on a cold day when you want a comforting meal to warm up with.

The ingredient list for Chicken Cacciatore can seem long but don’t let that deter you! You may even have most of the ingredients on hand. 

Let’s talk about what you’ll need to make it.

Chicken Cacciatore Ingredients: 

  • CHICKEN THIGHS: Bone-in chicken thighs are traditional in this recipe and are going to give you the best flavor. You could also use chicken drumsticks or a combination of the two. 
  • FLOUR: To coat the chicken thighs so they develop a nice crust when pan-frying them. 
  • OLIVE OIL: To help brown the chicken. 
  • GREEN BELL PEPPER: You could also use red bell pepper. 
  • MUSHROOMS: I recommend crimini mushrooms for this because they have a bit more flavor than white mushrooms. 
  • GARLIC: Freshly minced garlic will add texture and flavor. 
  • TOMATO PASTE: Will add a richer tomato flavor to the dish. 
  • WHITE WINE: I recommend using a dry white wine like chardonnay or pinot gris. 
  • CHICKEN BROTH: Low-sodium chicken broth works the best so that you can better control the final saltiness of the dish. 
  • CRUSHED TOMATOES: Will be the bulk of the sauce. They provide more tomato texture than tomato sauce, but are more saucy than diced tomatoes. The perfect medium. 
  • CAPERS: They come in two varieties: capote and non-pareil. Non-pareil are smaller and are what I recommend for this recipe. 
  • OREGANO: Adds a pungent, herby flavor. 
  • CRUSHED RED PEPPER: Optional for a little bit of heat. 

Step by Step Photos and Instructions: 

One of my favorite things about this dish is that you can make it all in one pan. Follow along with these step by step photos and instructions.

  • STEP #1: Season chicken liberally with salt and pepper and then dredge in all purpose flour. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • STEP #2 Cook chicken thighs, in batches if necessary, until browned. 
  • STEP #3: Reserve two tablespoons of pan drippings. Add in onion, garlic, bell pepper and mushrooms. Cook 3 minutes or until vegetables soften a bit. 
  • STEP #4: Add in tomato paste, stir well. Cook 1 minute. 
  • STEP #5: Add in wine to deglaze the pan. Be sure to scrape up any brown bits that have accumulated at the bottom. That is where the flavor is! Add in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, capers, oregano and crushed red peppers, if using. 
  • STEP #6: Return chicken to the pan, nestling the pieces next to each other. Cover and cook for 25 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 20 – 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened slightly. 

You can serve Chicken Cacciatore with polenta, rice, crusty garlic bread or, our favorite way, over pasta. 

Storage and Leftovers: 

This reheats well. Simply zap it in the microwave until warmed through. Eat within a few days. 

Recipe FAQ: 

What does it mean to deglaze the pan?

It sounds fancy but it basically means adding liquid to a hot pan. This will cause all the browned bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan to release. So much flavor lies in these bits, it’s a great way to add flavor to any dish.

What is cacciatore sauce made of?

Traditionally cacciatore is a tomato based sauce made with various vegetables like bell peppers, onions and mushrooms. You’ll also find flavors of oregano and wine.

Looking for more chicken dishes? Here are some of my most popular chicken recipes:

Chicken Adobo is a Filipino classic and this version in the Instant Pot is a family favorite!

Indian Butter Chicken is full of flavor. Tender chicken thighs are simmered in a rich buttery tomato sauce.

Lemon Pepper Chicken is chicken marinated in a mixture of spices, lemon juice, lemon pepper, garlic and olive oil and then sautéed it until tender and juicy. An easy light meal! 

Note: Originally published in 2009. Updated in 2024 with a new recipe, new photos, step by step photos and nutrition information.

Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore is a rustic dish made with chicken thighs simmered in a rich tomato sauce with vegetables, capers, wine and oregano.  
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 644 kcal

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds Bone-in chicken thighs about 8
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • kosher salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 ounces crimini mushrooms sliced
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper ribs and seeds removed, sliced
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine I used Pinot Grigio
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons non-pareil capers
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
  • Dredge chicken in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Cover and set aside.
  • Reserve two tablespoons of pan drippings, add onion, garlic and bell pepper, and mushrooms. Cook 3 minutes. Or until vegetables start to soften.
  • Add in tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
  • Add wine, cook another 3 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, capers, chicken broth, tomato sauce and oregano.
  • Return chicken to pan, turn in sauce to coat. Cover and cook for 25 minutes. Uncover and cook another 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

Notes

Nutrition information for estimation purposes only. 

Nutrition

Calories: 644kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 39gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 189mgSodium: 1153mgPotassium: 1452mgFiber: 6gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 800IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 127mgIron: 6mg
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Keywords: capers, chicken, comfort food, italian, italian food, tomato, tomato sauce

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Recipe Rating




  • Reply
    Mrs. L
    March 13, 2009 at 11:10 am

    Chicken Cacciatore is one of my favorite dishes, though I haven’t made it in a while. I think I have all the ingredients so I need to put making this on my list!

    • Reply
      Deseree
      March 13, 2009 at 2:45 pm

      Thanks Mrs. L!

    Des

    Hey! I'm Des!

    Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

    Read more »

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