• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Dinner » Chicken Cacciatore

Published: July 3, 2019 Last Modified: July 3, 2019 By Sara 28 Comments

Chicken Cacciatore

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Chicken Cacciatore Recipe | Italian Chicken #chicken #peppers #mushrooms #olives #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This recipe for chicken cacciatore is a classic dish made with braised chicken and an assortment of vegetables, all cooked together in a flavorful tomato sauce. It’s an easy dinner that the whole family will love!

When it comes to dinner time, chicken dishes are always at the top of my list. My kids adore chicken and green beans, chicken casserole and this hearty chicken cacciatore.

Chicken Cacciatore Recipe | Italian Chicken #chicken #peppers #mushrooms #olives #dinner #dinneratthezoo Chicken Cacciatore Recipe | Italian Chicken #chicken #peppers #mushrooms #olives #dinner #dinneratthezoo

Chicken cacciatore with chicken thighs, peppers, olives and mushrooms in tomato sauce.

These days, I’m totally in comfort food mode, and there’s no better way to do comfort food than a classic like Italian chicken cacciatore. This dish contains tender braised chicken and hearty vegetables in a savory tomato sauce. Add some pasta on the side and dinner is served!

What is chicken cacciatore?

The word cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian, which refers to a dish being prepared in a hunter style. Hunter style dishes typically contain onions, herbs, bell peppers, tomatoes and wine. Chicken cacciatore contain all of these ingredients, plus other flavors such as olives and mushrooms.

Browned chicken thighs in a skillet.

How do you make chicken cacciatore?

This dish starts with bone in chicken thighs, which are seared to golden brown perfection. The thighs are removed from the pan, and a combination of onions, peppers, mushrooms and olives get cooked until tender. The chicken goes back into the pan with the vegetables, along with tomatoes, white wine and tomato sauce. Everything cooks together in the oven until the chicken is tender. The finishing touch is a sprinkle of fresh parsley, then you’ll be ready to eat.

Peppers, mushrooms and olives in a pan.

Tips for Cacciatore

  • I use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs here because I think they have the most flavor, but you could substitute boneless skinless thighs or even breasts if you prefer.
  • This dish makes great leftovers and can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge. It’s also a great meal prep option!
  • While I typically serve my cacciatore over spaghetti, it’s also great served over polenta or a short pasta such as orzo.

Chicken cacciatore in a skillet with tomato sauce, peppers and mushrooms.

Cacciatore Variations

There are so many different ways to customize this dish to your family’s tastes.

  • Vegetables: Try orange or yellow peppers instead of the red and green, or cremini mushrooms instead of button mushrooms. You can also add other veggies such as carrots or zucchini to the mix.
  • Cheese: Try adding a sprinkling of parmesan over the finished dish, or melt some fresh mozzarella over the top.
  • Olives: Instead of kalamata olives, you can use ripe black olives or any variety of green olives.
  • Spicy: Add 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes if you prefer a little heat in your food.

Braised chicken served over spaghetti.

Whether it’s bright and sunny outside or cold and dreary, this Italian chicken cacciatore always hits the spot. What’s your favorite comfort food? This cacciatore is definitely at the top of my list!

More easy dinner ideas

  • Beef Noodle Casserole
  • Shrimp Alfredo
  • Bacon Wrapped Chicken
  • Sausage and Pepper Pasta
  • Honey Mustard Chicken
Chicken cacciatore with chicken thighs, peppers, olives and mushrooms in tomato sauce.
Print Pin
5 from 21 votes

Chicken Cacciatore

This recipe for chicken cacciatore is a classic dish made with braised chicken and an assortment of vegetables, all cooked together in a flavorful tomato sauce. It's an easy dinner that the whole family will love!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 445kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil , divided use
  • 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (can substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts)
  • 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced bell peppers (I used both red and green)
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced onion
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 2 teaspoons garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives pitted and halved
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes do not drain
  • 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste.
  • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees,
  • In a large deep pan heat 2 teaspoons of olive over medium high heat. Season the chicken generously on both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Place the chicken, skin side down in the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes or until deep golden brown.
  • Flip the chicken and cook on the other side until browned, 5-6 minutes.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and place on a plate.
  • Add the remaining teaspoon of olive oil to the pan along with the onions, peppers and mushrooms.
  • Cook for 7-9 minutes or until vegetables have softened and are starting to brown. Add the garlic and olives and cook for 30 seconds. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper.
  • Add the wine to the pan and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes or until wine has reduced by half.
  • Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir until well combined.
  • Place the chicken back in the pan on top of the tomato-vegetable mixture. Spoon some of the tomato mixture over the chicken.
  • Cover the pan and put it in the oven. Bake for 35 minutes or until chicken is done.
  • Remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 523mg | Potassium: 870mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2165IU | Vitamin C: 84.9mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2.9mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!

This post was originally published on March 15, 2016 and was updated on July 3, 2019 with new content.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Dinner, Gluten Free, Light & Healthy, One Pot Meals

FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

    ​
    ​

    Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

    « Broiled Salmon Fillets
    Rotisserie Chicken Recipe »

    Comments

    1. Cookingismylego says

      September 27, 2022 at 3:55 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious, flavours are amazing, we’ll be making this again definitely!
      we served with pasta and added a few chilli flakes to the sauce too..

      Reply
    2. Lynn Wray says

      July 14, 2022 at 4:06 am

      5 stars
      I used loved how the flavors came together! I added a California mix of vegetables and served over cheese tortellini. It was an instant hit.

      Reply
    3. Mo says

      November 12, 2021 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      First time making chicken cacciatore, and this recipe is wonderful!! I’d use boneless skinless thighs next time, but really a matter of personal preference. So yummy either way!

      Reply
    4. Jo says

      February 3, 2021 at 5:56 pm

      5 stars
      Made this over the weekend and they were a hit! My family really enjoyed this chicken cacciatore! Thank you

      Reply
    5. Jen says

      February 3, 2021 at 5:39 pm

      5 stars
      A great classic recipe, I hadn’t had this since childhood, It was great to recreate those kitchen memories.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More

    Winter Soups

    Manhattan clam chowder with tomatoes, potatoes, vegetables and bacon.

    Manhattan Clam Chowder

    A bowl of lasagna soup topped with ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.

    Lasagna Soup

    A bowl of white bean soup with Italian sausage, tomatoes and spinach.

    Tuscan White Bean Soup

    A bowl of creamy gnocchi soup topped with chopped parsley.

    Chicken Gnocchi Soup

    Turkey soup with egg noodles and colorful vegetables in a pot.

    Turkey Soup Recipe

    A pot of turkey chili served with cornbread.

    Turkey Chili Recipe

    More Posts from this Category

    Featured Recipes

    This recipe for lemon pepper chicken with butter sauce is a simple recipe that's ready in just 20 minutes! The perfect dinner for a busy weeknight.

    Lemon Pepper Chicken

    A plate of grilled salmon fillets garnished with lemon and herbs.

    Grilled Salmon with Garlic and Herbs

    Steak kabobs with mushrooms, red onion and bell peppers, brushed with garlic butter.

    Steak Kabobs with Garlic Butter

    This recipe for Cajun jambalaya pasta is full of andouille sausage, shrimp, Cajun spiced chicken and vegetables, all served over creamy pasta. A hearty meal that's perfect for an everyday dinner or for entertaining! #savoryoursummerrecipes #ad

    Cajun Jambalaya Pasta

    FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

    Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

      ​
      ​

      Categories

      Sites I am featured In
      PRIVACY POLICY ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2022.
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • RSS
      • Twitter
      • About Me
      • Contact Me
      • All Recipes
      • Dinner
      • Appetizers
      • Dessert
      • One Pot Meals
      • Slow Cooker
      • Asian Food