Here’s a classic, hearty Chicken Cacciatore recipe—Italian “hunter-style” chicken cooked in a rich tomato, herb, and vegetable sauce 🍅🍗
🍗 Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken pieces (legs and thighs work best)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper (red or green), sliced
- 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
- 250g mushrooms (optional), sliced
- 1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes or 4 fresh tomatoes blended
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or water
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil (or Italian seasoning)
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
- 2 bay leaves
- Fresh parsley for garnish
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Brown the chicken
- Heat olive oil in a large pan or pot
- Season chicken with salt and pepper
- Brown on both sides until golden
- Remove and set aside
2. Sauté vegetables
- In the same pot, cook onions and bell peppers until soft
- Add garlic and mushrooms, cook for 2–3 minutes
3. Build the sauce
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute
- Add crushed tomatoes, broth, and all herbs/spices
- Mix well
4. Simmer with chicken
- Return chicken to the pot
- Add bay leaves
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 35–45 minutes
- Stir occasionally until chicken is tender and sauce thickens
5. Finish and serve
- Remove bay leaves
- Garnish with fresh parsley
- Serve hot
🍽️ Best served with
- Pasta 🍝
- Rice 🍚
- Mashed potatoes 🥔
- Crusty bread 🥖
⭐ Tips for best flavor
- Use bone-in chicken for richer taste
- Let it simmer slowly for deeper flavor
- Add olives or capers for a traditional Italian touch
If you want, I can also give you:
🔥 spicy Chicken Cacciatore version
🍷 restaurant-style wine sauce version
🍝 pasta pairing recipe
🍲 or a quick 30-minute version for busy days
