Easy Ina Garten Chicken Cacciatore Recipe That Wows Every Time

Chicken cacciatore transforms ordinary poultry into a rustic, soul-warming Italian classic that speaks directly to comfort food lovers.

Mediterranean roots and hearty ingredients blend seamlessly in this legendary hunter-style dish that promises robust flavors and tender meat.

Fragrant herbs and rich tomato sauce create a symphonic culinary experience that feels both elegant and homey.

Professional chefs and home cooks celebrate this recipe’s versatility and deep cultural significance.

Wine-kissed and perfectly seasoned, the dish brings warmth to any dining table with its complex yet approachable profile.

Layers of traditional ingredients merge into a harmonious meal that satisfies both sophisticated palates and weeknight dinner cravings.

Each bite tells a story of Italian countryside cooking, inviting you to savor every delectable moment: prepare to fall in love with this timeless recipe.

Why Ina Garten’s Chicken Cacciatore Hits the Spot

• Savor Hearty Flavor Explosion: This chicken cacciatore bursts with rich, robust taste from carefully browned chicken, caramelized vegetables, and a deep wine-infused tomato sauce that dances on your palate.
• Master Quick Weeknight Comfort: Easily prepared in under an hour, this one-pan wonder transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal that delivers maximum satisfaction with minimal kitchen effort.
• Enjoy Versatile Cooking Technique: The recipe showcases professional chef techniques like browning meat, deglazing with wine, and creating a complex sauce, allowing home cooks to develop impressive culinary skills while creating a delicious dinner.
• Relish Nutrient-Packed Meal: Packed with protein from chicken, vitamins from vegetables, and balanced with a lean cooking method, this dish provides a wholesome meal that doesn't compromise on flavor or nutrition.

Crucial Elements for Ina Garten Chicken Cacciatore

• Chicken Thighs, Chicken Breasts: Classic meat cuts with rich flavor and tender texture, preferably bone-in and skin-on for more depth.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance the chicken's natural taste and create a flavor base.
• All-Purpose Flour: Light coating that helps create a golden-brown crust and thickens the sauce slightly.

• Onion, Red Bell Pepper: Foundational vegetables that provide sweet and slightly tangy flavor to the sauce.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that adds depth and traditional Italian character to the dish.

• Dry White Wine: Adds acidity and complexity to the sauce, helping to deglaze the pan.
• Canned Whole Tomatoes: Primary sauce base with rich, bright tomato flavor.
• Chicken Broth: Provides additional depth and moisture to the cooking liquid.
• Capers: Briny, tangy ingredient that adds a signature Mediterranean touch.
• Dried Oregano: Classic Italian herb that brings authentic herbal notes.
• Fresh Basil: Finishing herb for bright, fresh flavor and visual appeal.

Cooking Ina Garten Chicken Cacciatore Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare Chicken for Cooking

• Pat chicken thighs and breasts dry with paper towels
• Season both sides generously with salt and pepper
• Lightly dust chicken pieces with all-purpose flour, shaking off excess

Step 2: Brown The Chicken Perfectly

• Heat olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat
• Carefully place chicken pieces in the pan
• Cook for 5 minutes on each side until golden brown
• If pan is crowded, brown chicken in 2 batches
• Transfer browned chicken to a clean plate

Step 3: Create The Aromatic Sauce Base

Cook vegetables until onions become translucent, about 5 minutes

Pour in wine and reduce by half, approximately 3 minutes

Add remaining sauce ingredients and stir

Step 4: Simmer Chicken in Sauce

• Return chicken pieces to the skillet
• Ensure chicken is mostly covered by sauce
• Reduce heat to low
• Simmer chicken breasts for 30 minutes
• Simmer chicken thighs for 20 minutes
• Check internal temperature reaches 165°F

Step 5: Finish and Serve

• Remove chicken from sauce
• If sauce seems thin, continue cooking 3 more minutes
• Skim any excess fat from surface
• Arrange chicken on serving platter
• Spoon sauce over chicken
• Garnish with fresh chopped basil leaves
• Serve hot with pasta or crusty bread

Pointers for a Fantastic Ina Garten Chicken Cacciatore

• Infuse Depth with Slow Cooking: Reduce heat to achieve meltingly tender chicken that absorbs every nuanced flavor from the rich sauce.
• Unlock Hidden Flavors: Deglaze pan with wine, scraping up browned bits that create an intensely delicious foundation for the entire dish.
• Maximize Golden Exterior: Brown chicken pieces individually in batches, ensuring each morsel develops a stunning caramelized crust without steaming.
• Select Superior Ingredients: Pick bone-in chicken with skin attached, guaranteeing maximum taste and succulent meat throughout cooking process.
• Elevate Final Touch: Sprinkle freshly torn basil leaves moments before serving, transforming the rustic dish with bright, herbal notes.

Storing Ina Garten Chicken Cacciatore

• Freezer Batch Prep: Divide chicken cacciatore into individual meal-sized portions before freezing. Wrap each portion tightly in freezer-grade plastic wrap, then place inside heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn and maintain optimal taste quality for future meals.
• Glass Container Storage: Transfer cooled chicken cacciatore to glass containers with tight-sealing lids. Glass prevents flavor absorption and allows easy microwave reheating. Stack containers efficiently in the refrigerator, keeping meals organized and accessible within the recommended 3-4 day consumption window.
• Vacuum Sealing Method: Use a vacuum sealer for maximum freshness and extended storage life. Pack chicken cacciatore in vacuum-seal bags, removing all air to prevent oxidation and bacterial growth. This technique preserves texture and flavor, extending potential storage time up to 4-6 months in the freezer.

Tasty Variations on Ina Garten Chicken Cacciatore

• Rustic Mediterranean Chicken: Replace capers with chopped green olives and add diced eggplant for extra Mediterranean flavor. Include a pinch of smoked paprika to enhance the depth of the sauce.
• Spicy Southern Chicken: Incorporate chopped jalapeños and a dash of cayenne pepper into the sauce. Use bourbon instead of wine for a southern-style kick and serve with cornbread on the side.
• Herb Garden Chicken: Swap oregano for fresh thyme and rosemary. Add a handful of chopped fresh parsley at the end. Include white wine with a splash of lemon juice to brighten the overall flavor profile.
• Mushroom Hunter's Chicken: Sauté mixed wild mushrooms alongside the onions and peppers. Include a splash of marsala wine and a dollop of crème fraîche at the end to create a rich, earthy version of the classic dish.

Final Thoughts on Ina Garten Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken cacciatore whispers rustic Italian countryside secrets through its rich, layered flavors.

Ina Garten’s recipe transforms simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that connects generations.

Hearty chicken nestles within a robust tomato-based sauce that speaks of comfort and tradition.

Mediterranean herbs dance alongside capers, creating a symphony of taste that lingers on palates.

Wine-infused depths reveal complexity with each carefully crafted bite.

Savor this classic dish, share its story, spark conversation, and invite friends to experience pure culinary joy – you’ll find connection through this timeless recipe that celebrates both flavor and heritage.

Ina Garten Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

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4.7 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Chicken Cacciatore brings rustic Italian comfort straight to your kitchen with tender chicken braised in a rich tomato sauce. Packed with herbs, peppers, and authentic flavors, this classic dish promises a satisfying meal you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.

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Ingredients

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Meat:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 2 chicken breasts with skin and backbone, halved crosswise

Seasonings and Dredging:

• 2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• ½ cup all-purpose flour, for dredging
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano leaves

Vegetables, Liquids, and Herbs:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• ¾ cup dry white wine
• 1 (28-ounce / 794 grams) can of diced tomatoes with juice
• ¾ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons drained capers
• ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves

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Instructions

1. Prepare the poultry by generously seasoning chicken thighs and breasts with salt and black pepper, then lightly dust with all-purpose flour to create a delicate protective coating.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high temperature. Carefully brown the chicken pieces until a golden crust forms, approximately 4-5 minutes per side. If the skillet becomes crowded, cook the chicken in multiple batches to ensure even browning. Transfer the seared chicken to a clean plate.
3. In the same skillet, sauté diced bell peppers, chopped onions, and minced garlic until the onions turn translucent and soft, about 4-5 minutes. Season with an additional pinch of salt and black pepper to enhance the aromatics.
4. Deglaze the pan with white wine, allowing the liquid to reduce by half and scrape up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. This process takes roughly 2-3 minutes.
5. Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, briny capers, and dried oregano to create a rich, complex sauce. Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
6. Return the browned chicken pieces to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Ensure each piece is partially submerged. Reduce heat and simmer, covering the skillet partially with a lid.
7. Cook the chicken until it reaches the proper internal temperature – approximately 25-35 minutes for breasts and 20-30 minutes for thighs. The sauce should thicken and the chicken should be tender and fully cooked.
8. Remove the chicken and arrange on a serving platter. If the sauce appears too thin, continue simmering for an additional 2-3 minutes to achieve desired consistency. Skim off any excess surface fat.
9. Pour the aromatic sauce over the chicken, garnish with fresh chopped basil leaves, and serve immediately with your preferred side dishes.

Notes

• Transforms ordinary chicken into a restaurant-worthy dish with minimal kitchen effort.
• Freezer-friendly meal that maintains incredible flavor when reheated days later.
• Maximizes taste by letting ingredients meld together during slow, gentle cooking process.
• Offers incredible flexibility for adapting to different protein preferences and dietary needs.
• Delivers authentic Italian comfort food with simple, straightforward preparation techniques.
• Creates a stunning one-pan meal that impresses family and guests without complicated steps.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 457 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 712 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 106 mg