Chicken cacciatore, or to translate, is a "hunter-style" chicken dish that originated in Italy. This style of cuisine is one that uses onions, tomatoes, and spices.

The combination of these ingredients, along with other delicious flavors detailed in the recipe below, truly makes this dish one to write home about!

Easy Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Nutrition per serving: 330 calories, 10 g fat, 31 g protein, 28 g total carb, 7 g fiber

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 lb chicken breast, boneless and skinless
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1, 28-oz can tomatoes, crushed, no salt added
• 1, 14.5-oz can tomatoes, Italian plum
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• 2 Tbsp capers, chopped
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1 handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the extra-virgin olive oil and brown chicken breasts for 3 or 4 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from pan and season with salt and pepper.

2. Return skillet to stove, reduce heat to medium and add the remaining olive oil. Add onion and allow to cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and bell peppers along with the tomato paste and saute about 5 minutes.

3. Deglaze the hot pan with the white wine then add crushed tomatoes, plum tomatoes, chicken stock, capers, tomato paste, and parsley. Cover and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

4. While simmering, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to the sauce. Simmer sauce 10 minutes longer to finish cooking the chicken and to allow the flavors to combine. Recommended to serve with Italian flat beans.

Other Ways to Prepare Chicken Cacciatore

There are many ways to prepare chicken cacciatore, including baked in the oven or cooked to perfection in a slow cooker.

How to Bake Chicken Cacciatore

Baking chicken cacciatore is also a simple way to assemble a delicious dinner dish. Using the same ingredients detailed above, follow these 5 steps to bake chicken cacciatore:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

2. In a large ovenproof pan*, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken breasts with sea salt and pepper and brown on both sides in the hot oil. Remove the chicken and set aside.

3. In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and brown for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and peppers and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

4. Deglaze the pan with the wine, allow to simmer about 1 minute, then add the tomatoes, capers, and chicken stock. Return the chicken to the pan and bring to boil.

5. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake, uncovered, for about 45 minutes or until the chicken is tender and cooked through. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F.

*If you do not have an ovenproof pan, prepare in a nonstick pan then transfer to a baking dish.

Preparing Chicken Cacciatore in a Slow Cooker

As if preparing chicken cacciatore could not have gotten simpler… It can simply be prepared in a slow cooker with marginal attention on your end.

Here is how to come home to dinner cooked and waiting to be plated:

1. Add the chicken, onion, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, stock, and wine to a slow cooker. Season with parsley, salt, and pepper.

2. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until chicken is cooked through.

3. Remove chicken from slow-cooker and stir capers into the sauce then serve as desired.

Bonus Tips to Prepare Chicken Cacciatore

Other ingredients tips and modifications for chicken cacciatore may include the following:

• Our recipe uses lean chicken breast to lower the saturated fat and overall fat content. However, feel free to use chicken thigh or other chicken pieces and cuts as desired.

• Interchange liquids you may have on hand. This includes using dry red wine over white and chicken broth instead of stock.

• Tweak veggies to preference, including adding mushroom and carrots and omitting the bell peppers.

• Enrich flavor with other favorite herbs and spices such as chopped rosemary, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning.

No matter how prepared, chicken cacciatore is one simple, yet mouthwatering recipe that stands the test of time!