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Easy Skillet Chicken Cacciatore

By: Rosemary Published: Updated on: January 16, 2023

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This Easy Chicken Cacciatore made in a skillet on the stovetop is a fast and easy dinner recipe. A delicious and hearty chicken dish made with fresh ingredients. Italian Comfort Food never tasted so good!

Chicken in a dish with sauce.

This is one of those recipes that bring back so many childhood memories. My mother would make this chicken cacciatore at least once a week and it was one of our favourites.

I consider this the perfect Italian Comfort food, my family loves it too.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Chicken – pieces – chicken breasts or chicken thighs
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic – 1-2 cloves minced
  • Olive oil
  • Onion – chopped
  • Pepper – bell peppers chopped
  • Tomatoes – canned chopped tomatoes
  • Water – or you can add chicken broth if you prefer
  • Bay leaf – 1 fresh bay leaf
  • Oregano – ground oregano
  • Basil – dried or fresh basil
  • Hot red pepper flakes – optional

Other traditional vegetables you can use are sliced mushrooms or chopped celery and or carrots. You can also add some chopped Italian parsley if you wish.

Chicken cacciatore in a white and red baking pan.

How to make Chicken Cacciatore

Sprinkle the chicken with a little salt and pepper. In a large pan heat the olive oil, then add the chicken and cook on medium-high heat until browned on one side, flip and move the chicken to one side of the pan.

Add the chopped onion and garlic, cook until onion is translucent then add the peppers, tomatoes, water, bay leaf, oregano, basil, hot pepper flakes and salt, bring to a boil.

Simmer until the chicken is tender and sauce has thickened. Serve immediately.

Chicken cacciatore was probably one of the first Italian recipes, along with her amazing Meatballs that my mother made and reminded me of her Italian roots.

What does Chicken Cacciatore mean?

From living in Italy and asking a lot of questions, I have discovered that “cacciatore” means “hunter” and does not necessarily mean made with chicken or in a tomato sauce, it was oven made with rabbit or game meat.

Apparently it originated in Tuscany and is considered a true Italian Comfort dish. Made with tomatoes, onions, peppers and sometimes even carrots and celery. Therefore Chicken Cacciatore and Chicken Hunter Style are the same dish.

Should you rinse the chicken before cooking?

Salmonella, Campylobacter and other harmful bacteria live on raw chicken. Washing or rinsing the chicken will not remove any harmful live bacteria such as salmonella or campylobacter from it.

In fact it can worsen it by helping the bacteria to spread throughout your kitchen. Whereas cooking the chicken thoroughly will eliminate any bacteria.

Chicken Cacciatore in a baking pan.

How to make Chicken Cacciatore in the oven?

I would definitely brown the chicken 3-4 minutes on each side as written in the recipe first, then lightly brown the garlic and onion. Then move them to an oven safe baking pan or dutch oven, add the remaining ingredients stir to combine.

Cover the baking dish with foil or lid and bake in a pre-heated 375F (190C) oven for approximately 25 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 20-30 minutes, chicken is done when the internal temperature is 165F (74C).

Can I add wine to the recipe

Yes you can add either red wine or white wine, although the traditional method is with red wine, I think 1/4-1/3 a cup would be enough.

Once you have browned the chicken remove it from the pan, add the garlic, onion and chopped peppers and sautee for about 4-5 minutes, add the wine and cook on medium/high until wine has evaporated approximately 2-3 minutes. Then continue with the recipe.

How to store Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore should be stored in an airtight container and can be kept for up to 4-5 days in the fridge. It can also be stored once it has cooled completely in a freezer safe container for up to two months.

I love the spicy tomato sauce filled with the taste of onions and peppers and the aroma in the house makes everyone’s mouth water.

I find that this recipe is best made in the morning, let it sit for the day refrigerated and then re-heat it in the evening, but if you are like us and can’t wait that is ok too, because  what you have is an amazing chicken cacciatore on a plate.

What can be served with Chicken Cacciatore?

If you like you can serve this chicken cacciatore recipe over rice or pasta or just as it is with some wonderful, crusty, Italian bread that soaks up all that yummy, mouth-watering sauce.

Whatever way you serve it, I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did and as much as my family does now. Buon Appetito!

Chicken in a dish with sauce.

More Delicious Chicken Recipes

Chicken in a dish with sauce.

Easy Skillet Chicken Cacciatore

Rosemary Molloy
This Easy Chicken Cacciatore made in a skillet on the stovetop is a fast and easy dinner recipe. A delicious and hearty chicken dish made with fresh ingredients.
4.43 from 35 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 253 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 4-6 pieces chicken (legs or breasts with skin removed if desired) (legs or breasts with skin removed if desired)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1-2 dashes pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1-2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large pepper chopped
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (14 ounces) (400 grams with juice nothing else added)
  • 1 cup water or chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon basil or 4-5 fresh basil leaves
  • 1-2 dashes hot pepper flakes if desired

Instructions
 

  • Sprinkle the chicken with a little salt and pepper. In a large pan heat the olive oil, then add the chicken and cook on medium-high heat until browned on one side, flip and move the chicken to one side of the pan.
  • Add the chopped onion and garlic, cook until the onion is translucent then add the pepper, tomatoes, water, bay leaf, oregano, basil, hot pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon of salt, bring to a boil.
  • Cover the pan and simmer for 20 minutes then remove the lid for the rest of the cooking approximately 25 minutes until the chicken is tender (chicken is cooked when the internal temperature is 165F / 74C and the sauce has thickened, stir occasionally. After about 30 minutes taste for salt and add if necessary). Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

To make the recipe in the oven – I would definitely brown the chicken 3-4 minutes on each side as written in the recipe first, then lightly brown the garlic and onion. Then move them to an oven safe baking pan or dutch oven, add the remaining ingredients stir to combine. Cover the baking dish with foil or lid and bake in a pre-heated 375F (190C) oven for approximately 25 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 20-30 minutes, chicken is done when the internal temperature is 165F (74C).
If you wish to add wine -You can add either red wine or white wine, although the traditional method is with red wine, I think 1/4-1/3 a cup would be enough. Once you have browned the chicken remove it from the pan, add the garlic, onion and chopped peppers and sautee for about 4-5 minutes, add the wine and cook on medium/high until wine has evaporated approximately 2-3 minutes. Then continue with the recipe.
Chicken Cacciatore should be stored in an airtight container and can be kept for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. It can also be stored in a freezer safe container once it has cooled completely for up to two months.

Nutrition

Calories: 253kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 607mgPotassium: 296mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1050IUVitamin C: 49.8mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1.4mg
Keyword a one dish easy dinner recipe, chicken cacciatore, skillet chicken, stovetop chicken cacciatore recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Republished from October 21, 2014.

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  2. Rose says

    5 stars
    Only thing I did different was I cut the peppers in strips and added sugar to the sauce. It was sweet and delicious.

    Reply

  3. linda says

    5 stars
    I made it today and it was very easy and tasty! Plan on making it again next week. A new recipe for my repertoire! Thank you!

    Reply

  7. Angela Sciurca says

    5 stars
    I always look forward to your recipes. This is one my Sicilian grandmother made, and now I have made it for 70 years. The only thing I Ido differently l is to add green stuffed olives at the end, and do not include bay leaf, only because I do not care for the taste. Thank you for all the inspiration..

    Reply

    • Rosemary says

      Hi Josn, I cover it for about 20 minutes and then remove the cover to thicken it and finish cooking the chicken. Hope that helps.

      Reply

    • Rosemary says

      Hi Dale I usually serve it with Italian crusty bread, but either rice or pasta would be good, whichever you prefer.

      Reply

    • Rosemary says

      Hi Hushee it is dried oregano and basil although sometimes I throw in some fresh basil also if I have it. Have a great weekend.

      Reply

  13. Stephanie says

    I love chicken cacciatore and this one looks perfect!! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!

    Reply

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