Delicious chicken, colorful vegetables, and a tangy tomato sauce come together in this authentic chicken cacciatore dish to make a hearty, home-cooked meal that will please any taste buds.
Chicken cacciatore is a classic Italian dish that is sure to satisfy. This rustic hearty stew features chicken simmered in a tomato-based sauce with vegetables herbs and wine. With complex flavors and simple preparation, chicken cacciatore makes a wonderful meal for any occasion. In this article, we will explore an authentic recipe for chicken cacciatore along with tips, variations and serving suggestions.
What is Chicken Cacciatore?
Cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian. Chicken cacciatore is a hunter-style dish, meaning the chicken is braised in a sauce. Traditionally, cacciatore recipes involve simmering meat and vegetables to create a one-pot meal.
The sauce is key to great chicken cacciatore. Onions, carrots, celery, bell peppers, garlic, white wine, and tomatoes are often added. Herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano and basil add aromatic flavor. The bones and vegetables add a deep, rich flavor to the sauce as the chicken simmers. The end result is chicken that falls off the bone in a rustic tomato sauce.
An Authentic Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
This recipe produces excellent homemade chicken cacciatore with great depth of flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
- All-purpose flour, for dredging
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 8 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 tsp. dried basil
- 1⁄4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Pat the chicken pieces dry and season all over with salt and pepper. Dredge lightly in flour.
- In a large skillet, heat 1⁄4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces in batches and brown on both sides, about 3-5 minutes per side. Remove browned chicken to a plate.
- Add onions, carrots, celery and bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté 5 minutes until starting to soften. Add mushrooms and garlic and sauté 3 minutes more.
- Stir in wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let wine reduce by half, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Nestle chicken pieces into the sauce along with any accumulated juices from the plate.
- Bring sauce to a gentle simmer, then lower heat. Simmer uncovered for 45-60 minutes until chicken is very tender and sauce is thickened.
- Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Variations
- Use bone-in chicken thighs for richer flavor.
- Add chopped olives, capers or anchovies.
- Make it spicy with crushed red pepper.
- Finish with fresh basil, parsley or oregano.
- Use red, yellow or orange bell peppers.
- Substitute dried thyme for oregano.
- Add balsamic vinegar for tanginess.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve chicken cacciatore over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes or polenta.
- Enjoy with a side salad or roasted vegetables.
- Pair with crusty bread for dipping in the sauce.
- Garnish with Parmesan cheese.
- Spoon over creamy risotto or cheesy grits.
With its savory sauce, tender chicken and rustic flavors, this recipe makes excellent homemade chicken cacciatore. The aroma as it simmers is intoxicating. Take your time to let the sauce develop rich, complex flavor. The wait is well worth it for this satisfying one-pot meal. Buon appetito!
Italian History and Folklore Behind the Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken Cacciatore, or “Pollo alla Cacciatora” in Italian, translates to “hunters chicken,” a name that reveals much about its humble origins. This dish has a rich history that dates back to the Renaissance period in Italy, though its exact origins have been passed on through folklore stories and tradition.
The term “cacciatora” refers to a meal prepared “hunter-style” with ingredients that a hunter might have had readily available. One popular folklore narrative gives a clue into how this dish came to be. After spending many nights away from home, hunters would return with whatever game they could find and catch. This wasn’t traditionally chicken, but instead, they found birds and rabbits, and sometimes wild boar. Hunters returning would also pick up foraged vegetables and other miscellaneous food products that looked edible.
Their families would cook a healthy (but not always tasty) meal with these meats, herbs, and vegetables they found while out foraging. As time went on and key ingredients became easier to find, this dish became a celebration of the hunter’s safe return and being able to feed the family.
There is a story of travel, family, and the deep joy of a meal shared in every plate of real chicken cacciatore that is simmering. Its a dish that has traveled through the decades, from the forests of Italy to the dinner tables of America, and it has become a cherished part of Italian-American culinary culture.
Wine Pairings for Chicken Cacciatore
- Chianti: Chianti goes well with the tomato-based sauce for chicken cacciatore because it has a lot of acidity and fruity notes. Its lively flavor brings out the best in the chicken and goes well with the herbs in the sauce.
- The rich flavors of the chicken cacciatore go well with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, an Italian red wine with a medium body from the Abruzzo region. It goes well with this dish because it has light tannins and lots of fruit.
How to Make Chicken Cacciatore – The Mediterranean Dish
FAQ
What is cacciatore sauce made of?
Cacciatore sauce is made with mushrooms, onions, red and green bell peppers, garlic, thyme, turmeric, tasty wine, and canned tomatoes that help the sauce stay together. Quick note: if you use whole canned tomatoes, break ’em up a bit so you don’t have massive tomato chunks in there. Aug 14, 2023.
What are the traditional spices for chicken cacciatore?
This classic Italian dish is prepared in the traditional style with tomatoes, peppers, and herbs, including thyme, oregano and rosemary.
How long do you cook chicken cacciatore for?
Bring the tomatoes to a simmer and add the bay leaves and thyme. Finish: Put the chicken pieces in the tomato in a single layer and add any juices to the sauce. Keep the heat low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 30-35 minutes. Shut off the heat and let the chicken rest a few minutes.
What would you serve chicken cacciatore with?
Chicken cacciatore, a braised Italian chicken recipe loaded with veggies and cooked in a fragrant, earthy tomato sauce. The perfect rustic, comfort food dish made in one pot. Serve with pasta or polenta for a complete meal that the whole family will enjoy!.