Saucy Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
This beloved Chicken Cacciatore recipe embodies the essence of Italian cuisine with its rich tomato sauce and succulent chicken, promising a comforting meal any night of the week.
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless chicken thighs
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 green bell pepper chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 cup white wine
- 1 can Italian crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 pound sliced mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Add two tablespoons of the olive oil to a Dutch oven pot and heat over medium high heat.
- Season the chicken thighs with the salt and pepper then place them into the hot oil. Cook for 4 minutes to brown the chicken then flip it and cook the other side. Remove the seared chicken from the pot and set aside. It is not fully cooked, just browned.
- Add the remaining extra virgin olive oil to the pot and lower the heat to medium. Add the onion and bell peppers and saute for about 5-6 minutes to soften the veggies.
- Add the garlic to the pot and cook for one more minute.
- Add the wine and bring it to a simmer. Once simmering, add the tomatoes, Italian seasoning and mushrooms to the pot. Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes over low heat.
- Add the chicken thighs back into the pot. They should be mostly submerged in the tomato sauce. Cover the pot, leaving it slightly cracked, then simmer for another 20 minutes.
- Serve the chicken thighs whole, covered in sauce over some pasta. Sprinkle each serving with grated parmesan cheese and chopped basil or fresh parsley.
Notes
- Optimizing Chicken Flavor and Texture: If using chicken breasts instead of thighs, it's important to avoid overcooking to maintain tenderness. Sear the breasts quickly on both sides, then simmer in the sauce just until cooked through, about 15 minutes. This prevents them from becoming tough and dry. For even better results, pound the breasts slightly before cooking to ensure they cook evenly and stay juicy.
- Enhancing Sauce Flavor: While the recipe calls for white wine, you can substitute with a dry red wine like Chianti or Cabernet Sauvignon to deepen the flavor profile of the sauce. This variation can add a rich, robust character that complements the tomatoes and herbs beautifully. If opting out of alcohol, a good quality, low sodium chicken broth can also add depth without the wine.
- Vegetable Variations for Seasonal Cooking: The recipe is flexible with the vegetables used. Depending on the season, you can incorporate different types of mushrooms, such as morels in spring or chanterelles in fall, to add unique flavors and textures. Similarly, you can swap out bell peppers for other seasonal vegetables like zucchini or eggplant for a twist on the traditional recipe, adjusting the cooking times accordingly to ensure all components are tender.