Description
Chicken Cacciatore is a classic Italian dish featuring succulent bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs simmered in a rich tomato sauce with bell peppers, mushrooms, garlic, and aromatic herbs like rosemary and Italian seasoning. Garnished with fresh basil and parsley, this hearty meal is perfect served over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 ½ tsp salt, divided
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tbsp capers, drained
For Garnish:
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure crisp skin, then season all over with 1 tsp salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat Olive Oil: Warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat to prepare for searing.
- Sear Chicken Skin-Side Down: Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 8-10 minutes until the skin becomes golden brown and crisp.
- Flip Chicken: Turn the chicken thighs over and cook for another 3 minutes to sear the other side, then remove from skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same skillet, add chopped onion, red bell pepper, and sliced cremini mushrooms.
- Season and Cook Vegetables: Sprinkle the remaining ½ tsp salt and sauté the vegetables for about 7 minutes until they soften and release their flavors.
- Add Garlic and Herbs: Stir in minced garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and the fresh rosemary sprig; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Tomatoes and Other Ingredients: Pour in crushed tomatoes, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and drained capers, stirring to combine everything.
- Simmer Sauce: Bring the sauce mixture to a gentle simmer to meld the flavors.
- Return Chicken to Skillet: Nestle the seared chicken thighs back into the skillet, spooning the sauce over each piece.
- Simmer Covered: Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 30-35 minutes until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Finish and Garnish: Remove the rosemary sprig, then sprinkle the dish generously with fresh chopped basil and parsley.
- Serve: Serve the Chicken Cacciatore warm, ideally paired with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the savory sauce.
Notes
- Make sure to dry the chicken thoroughly before searing to get a crisp skin.
- You can substitute cremini mushrooms with button mushrooms if preferred.
- For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes along with Italian seasoning.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and make great reheated meals.
- To make the dish gluten-free, serve with gluten-free pasta or rice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
