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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, briny capers, and dried oregano to create a rich, complex sauce. Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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