This Chicken Cacciatore Recipe is an excellent weeknight meal—quick to prepare and full of flavor from tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, capers, and aromatic herbs.
The careful layering of ingredients is what makes this the best Chicken Cacciatore recipe to come from your kitchen.
Why You Must Make
- This Chicken Cacciatore is packed with savory, crowd-pleasing flavor.
- Use bone-in chicken breasts or thighs (or a mix). Cooking on the bone boosts flavor and yields juicier meat.
- A classic Italian-style entree that’s restaurant-worthy yet easy enough for weeknights.
How to Make
With your chicken and pantry items ready, this dish comes together quickly following a few simple steps.
- Dredge the chicken in seasoned flour, then brown all sides in olive oil. The flour helps both texture and sauce-thickening.
- Sauté the vegetables, then deglaze the pan with wine before adding tomatoes, capers, broth, and oregano.
- If you use wine (white or red), deglazing adds depth—most alcohol cooks off while the flavor remains.
- Return the chicken to the pan, simmer in the sauce until cooked through, and finish with fresh basil.
- Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, polenta, or pasta. A buttery Parmesan mashed potato is especially good with this sauce.
Tips for Streamlining Weeknight Meals
- Prep a flavor base ahead of time. Classic combinations—mirepoix or celery, onion, and bell pepper—save time and boost flavor. Chop enough for two meals and freeze half.
- Pre-cut fresh or frozen vegetables are great time-savers when schedules are tight.
- Measure and prep ingredients earlier in the day or the night before to speed up cooking.
- In a pinch, use convenient sides like boxed rice mixes; not every element has to be homemade.
- Store leftover chopped onion in a zip-top bag for later use.
- Cook extra and freeze leftovers for another easy meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken Cacciatore, or “hunter’s chicken,” is an Italian-style dish typically prepared with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, herbs, and wine. The method can be applied to other proteins as well.
Both red and white wine work well. Wine is optional but adds depth; choose what you prefer or have on hand.
If you omit wine, add a bit more chicken broth or a splash of vinegar for brightness. Wine acts as a flavor enhancer, but the dish is still delicious without it.
You May Also Like:
- Easy Chicken Stir Fry
- Chicken with Garlic and Parsley
- Homemade Chicken Parmesan
- More of the Best Chicken Recipes
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Chicken Cacciatore
20 minutes
45 minutes
1 hour 5 minutes
4 servings
A classic Italian dish with tomatoes, peppers, and herbs for an easy, comforting dinner.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts with skin and backbone
- 2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- ½ cup flour, for dredging
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 14-ounce bag Birds Eye Recipe Ready Chopped Seasoning Blend (or one medium onion and one red bell pepper, seeded and chopped)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ¾ cup dry white wine (vermouth works well)
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons drained capers
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a large zip-top bag.
- Add chicken breasts one at a time and shake until each is evenly coated with flour.
- Set the floured chicken on a plate while you heat the oil.
- In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and brown on each side, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the chopped vegetables and garlic; sauté over medium heat until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the wine and simmer until reduced by about half.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes with their juice, chicken broth, capers, and oregano.
- Return the chicken to the pan, turning to coat in the sauce, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.
- Serve over Parmesan mashed potatoes, rice, polenta, or pasta and sprinkle with fresh basil.
Recommended Products
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Nonstick Sauté Pan with Lid
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 700
Total Fat: 28g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 19g
Cholesterol: 166mg
Sodium: 33032mg
Carbohydrates: 41g
Fiber: 10g
Sugar: 13g
Protein: 64g
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