Easy Skillet Chicken Cacciatore

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!

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.

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.

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!

More Delicious Chicken Recipes

• Italian Fried Chicken
• Baked Chicken Parmigiano
• Italian Herb Roasted Chicken and Potatoes

Republished from October 21, 2014.