Italian Chicken Cacciatore

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🍗 Italian Chicken Cacciatore (Hunter-Style Chicken)

Serves: 4–6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45–55 minutes

Total Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes

🌿 Ingredients

  • 4–6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or a mix of thighs and drumsticks)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, sliced
  • 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup dry red wine (or white wine if preferred)
  • 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ¼ cup pitted Kalamata or black olives (optional but delicious)
  • 2 tbsp capers (optional)
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

🔥 Instructions

1. Sear the chicken

  1. Pat chicken pieces dry and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  3. Add chicken, skin side down, and brown for 4–5 minutes per side until golden.
  4. Remove chicken and set aside (it will finish cooking later).

2. Cook the vegetables

  1. In the same pan, add onions and bell peppers; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
  2. Add mushrooms and cook another 3–4 minutes until they release their moisture.
  3. Stir in garlic and cook 1 more minute until fragrant.

3. Deglaze and build the sauce

  1. Pour in the wine to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
  2. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth.
  3. Bring the sauce to a simmer.

4. Combine and simmer

  1. Return the browned chicken to the pan, nestling it into the sauce.
  2. Cover and simmer on low heat for 35–40 minutes, until the chicken is tender and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
  3. During the last 10 minutes, stir in olives and capers (if using).

5. Serve

  • Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
  • Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

🍝 Serving Suggestions

  • Serve over buttered pasta, polenta, or creamy mashed potatoes.
  • A side of garlic bread or roasted vegetables completes the meal.
  • Don’t forget a glass of Chianti or Sangiovese for the full Italian experience.

💡 Tips & Variations

  • Use boneless chicken thighs for a faster, easier version (reduce simmer time by 10–15 minutes).
  • Swap wine for chicken broth + 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar if you prefer an alcohol-free option.
  • Add a few fresh rosemary sprigs or bay leaves for extra depth.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day — the flavors deepen overnight!

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