Chicken Cacciatore is a flavorful, rustic Italian dish made with seasoned chicken that is submerged in a mouthwatering tomato sauce with peppers, onions, garlic, and fresh herbs. This was one of my favorite recipes growing up. I decided to make my own version but with a twist, adding eggplant, peppers, and more! This is a simple one-pot dish that is easy to make. Served over pasta, rice, or quinoa, this is a filling dish that can feed the entire family.
For more tasty, saucy dishes, try our Cheese Stuffed Meatballs or Avocado Pesto Pasta next!
I love an easy one-pot dish! Chicken Cacciatore is one of my favorite one-pot meals to make. It is incredibly flavorful, healthy, and a nice change from your typical chicken dish. The sauce is made completely from scratch. While that may sound challenging, it is actually quite simple. All you need is a can of organic diced tomatoes along with some fresh herbs, peppers, garlic, and seasonings to make this hearty sauce. I like to add eggplant whenever I made tomato sauce simply because I love the complexity it adds to the sauce while making it even more healthy and heartier.
For this recipe you will need:
- Chicken: You can use bone-in chicken or boneless. I prefer to use bone-in chicken because as the dish is simmering, the bones help to create a rich, robust sauce.
- Diced Tomatoes: You’ll need at least a 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes, possibly more (~10 oz) if you like your chicken extra saucy! San Marzano Italian Chopped Tomatoes are the best for this recipe.
- Eggplant: This is completely optional. I LOVE eggplant and find it helps to create a thicker, more robust sauce. If you want, you can skip the eggplant and skip this step when cooking.
- Peppers: The more peppers the better! Red and Green peppers are great additions to this dish. One each would complement the sauce perfectly.
- Seasonings: The seasonings you need for this dish are simple: Italian Seasoning, Oregano, Dried Parsley, Salt, and Pepper. I like to season my chicken with Cayenne Pepper just to give the chicken an extra kick.
- Fresh Herbs: The secret to a mouthwatering sauce is to use herbs! I love adding fresh basil and oregano to this dish. When I made this dish I only had sage on hand and it worked perfectly as well!
What do you serve with Chicken Cacciatore?
Chicken Cacciatore is a great dish to serve over pasta, rice, or quinoa. You’ll serve the chicken with a generous helping of the sauce and whatever you place under the chicken will soak up the flavors of the sauce, which makes for heavenly bites throughout the entire meal. These Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes are a great option!
How can I make this flavorful Chicken Cacciatore dish at home?
There are three ways that I will share with you to help so that you can make this dish no matter what cookware you have at home. There are a few ways you can make this dish. What is most important is that you take the time to lightly pan-sear the chicken before adding it to the sauce. Crucial Step!
Option 1:
My video and instructions below show how to make chicken cacciatore on the stovetop in a cast iron (or oven-safe skillet). The chicken is seasoned first and then transferred to the stove where it is lightly pan-seared. This step not only enhances the flavor of the chicken but also seals in the flavor while creating a perfect golden crust. After the chicken has been cooked for about 4 minutes on each side, it is removed from the heat and set aside. If you are following this method, simply follow the instructions below.
Option 2:
If you would like to cook this dish in the oven, you have two options:
- If you are using a cast-iron or oven-safe skillet, you can sear the chicken, set it aside, then make the sauce as instructed below. Instead of allowing the chicken to cook over a low simmer, you can transfer the chicken to the oven at 400°F for 30-45 minutes (or until it reached an internal temperature of 165°F).
- If you do not have an oven-safe skillet, you can first sear the chicken, then transfer the chicken and all of the recipe ingredients into an oven-safe baking dish. Then, you will bake the dish in the oven at 400°F for 30-45 minutes (or until it reached an internal temperature of 165°F).
Option 3:
If you would like to cook this dish in the slow cooker, you simply pan-sear the chicken first. Then, transfer the chicken and all the ingredients into the Crockpot. Cook on High for 4-5 hours or on low for 5-8 hours.
Regardless of how you choose to make this dish, you will be completely satisfied once it is done. This mouthwatering dish is the ultimate crowd pleaser and is perfect for an easy gourmet dinner at home!
If you like this Chicken recipe, you will love these:
- Lemon Herb Butterfly Chicken: How to Cook a Whole Chicken In 45 minutes!
- Buttermilk Chicken: Juicy, Tender Whole Chicken Made Effortlessly
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup: Creamy, Delicious Soup made with Savory Cashew Cream, Bacon, and Fluffy Gnocchi.
- Grilled Spatchcock Chicken (Grilled Whole Chicken)
- Best Thanksgiving Turkey
Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Thighs (bone-in, skin on)
- 3 Chicken Legs
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 Large Eggplant, cubed
- 1 Large Red Bell Pepper, chopped
- 1 Large Green Pepper, Chopped
- 3-5 Garlic Cloves
- 1/2 Red Onion, Chopped
- 3 tbsp Fresh Herbs (Sage, Oregano, Basil)
- 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 2 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Dried Parsley
- 1 tsp Salt, plus more to taste
- 1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper, plus more to taste
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper, optional
- 4 tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Season both sides of the the chicken with salt, pepper, oregano, and cayenne pepper.
- In a large cast-iron, heat 2 tbsp Olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces to the pan and saute for 4-5 minutes on each side to form a golden brown crust. Cook the chicken in two batches if all of it does not fit in the pan. Once done, transfer the chicken to a pan and set aside.
- Add onion to the pan and saute for 3 minutes, or until tender. Then, add garlic and saute for an additional 2 minutes. Add eggplant (optional) and saute for 10 minutes, or until golden-brown.
- Add the tomatoes with their juice and fresh herbs. Add the chicken back to the sauce, making sure to chicken is submerged in the sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the dish, allowing it to simmer for 30-40 minutes.
- Serve the chicken over pasta, rice, or quinoa. Sprinkle with basil and Enjoy!
Nutrition
27 comments
This cacciatore was delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Kristen! I am glad you liked!
Looks so delicious and I love anything one pot! The less cleaning the better! Will try this one 🙂
Hi Nart! I’m with you on that!
Drooling over this delicious dish. Look at that color. I will make this for my family soon
Hi Kushigalu! Hope you and your family enjoy!
There is nothing better than a one-pot meal and this one is making my mouth water! All of these ingredients working together looks amazing!
Thanks Kacey!
This is definitely the perfect comfort food. It’s easy, very flavorful, and with plenty of vegetables, I don’t need to prepare another dish. 🙂
Hi Anita! Yes, don’t you love a good all-in-one dish!
I think chicken cacciatore needs to make a comeback. It has everything you need in one dish!
I agree, its such a good classic!
This Chicken dish looks so delicious! I love one-pot meals so this is right up my alley! The addition of eggplant and other veggies sound amazing!
Love a one pot meal! This sounds so full of flavor!
This looks so flavorful and delicious! I can’t wait to try!
This looks absolutely delicious!! I use to eat this as a child. Now I have to make it.
Same! This meal definitely brings back memories for me!
As much as I love chicken I have never made Chicken Cacciatore!! New recipe for me to try!
What a luscious sauce!!! I love how its full of my favorite veggies!! Will be perfect over rice!!
This dish has made its debut into our weekly meal rotation! It is nothing short of amazing. The flavors, and the heartiness of the sauce are awesome. We paired it with some rotini pasta, it was a great weeknight meal.
Yess! That’s great! I am glad you and your family enjoyed the recipe!
I love one-pot meals and this one will be in heavy rotation over the next few weeks!
I love one pot meals! This looks amazing!!!
The flavor you put together is outstanding !!! I’ll guve this a shot for sure
You had me at one-dish with this chicken dish. Easy and delicious.
When the kids eat and don’t talk, it’s a hit. I add mushrooms instead of eggplant. Was convinced there would not be enough liquid, but the thighs and veggies provided enough. Good stuff, thank you
Hi Tony! I am glad to hear your kids enjoyed the dish! Mushrooms sounds like a lovely addition!