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chicken cacciatore recipe

Easy Chicken Cacciatore recipe

Rustic, hearty, and bursting with flavor, this easy chicken cacciatore brings the warmth of an Italian countryside kitchen to your home. With tender chicken, herby tomato sauce, and briny olives, it's a cozy, comforting classic you'll come back to again and again.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 520 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pan or Dutch oven
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Tongs
  • Knife and Cutting Board

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken

  • 4 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
  • 4 chicken drumsticks
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

For the Sauce

  • 1 onion sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 rosemary sprigs fresh
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 anchovy fillets optional, minced
  • 1 cup mushrooms sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup red wine Pinot Noir or dry red
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth low sodium
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes 14 oz / 400g
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives pitted
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • parsley optional, chopped for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Season chicken with salt and pepper. Sear in olive oil until golden on both sides. Remove and set aside.
  • In the same pan, sauté onions with rosemary and bay leaves until softened. Add garlic and anchovies, mashing into the oil.
  • Add mushrooms and red pepper. Cook until softened and juices evaporate.
  • Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Deglaze with red wine, reduce by three-quarters.
  • Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, oregano, salt, and pepper. Return chicken to the pan, skin-side up.
  • Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Uncover, add olives, and simmer for another 10 minutes to thicken.
  • Serve over polenta, mashed potatoes, or pasta. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, swap chicken for mushrooms or eggplant. Skip the anchovies or sub with a splash of soy sauce for umami. Store leftovers for up to 4 days — the flavor improves overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 40gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 760mgPotassium: 900mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 900IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Chicken Cacciatore, comfort food, Rustic Italian
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