Chicken Cacciatore (Hunter Style Chicken)

Chicken cacciatore, an Italian hunter-style chicken braised in a tomato-based sauce with onions, garlic, and white wine.

PREP TIME COOK TIME TOTAL TIME

10 mins 70 mins 80 mins

SERVINGS

4 to 6 servings

This recipe calls for added wine, which is traditional. It does add to the flavor. If you have a dietary restriction that prohibits wine, just omit.

Ingredients

• 1 (4-pound) chicken, cut into serving pieces, trimmed of excess fat (or 3 1/2 to 4 pounds of chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on)

• Salt

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced root to tip, about 1 1/2 cups

• 1 red or green bell pepper, seeded, sliced into 1/4-inch-wide slices

• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, thickly sliced

• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

• 1/3 cup white or red wine

• 2 1/2 to 3 cups peeled and chopped, firm ripe tomatoes, with their juices, or 1 (28-ounce) can of plum tomatoes in their juice

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon dry thyme (or 2 teaspoons fresh, chopped)

• 1 teaspoon oregano (or 2 teaspoons fresh, chopped)

Method

1. Brown the chicken: Pat the chicken dry. Season on all sides with salt. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Working in batches so that you don't crowd the pan, place the chicken pieces skin side down in the pan. Cook until nicely browned, about 5 minutes, then turn over and lightly brown the other side. Remove chicken to a bowl, set aside. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat. If you have less than 2 Tbsp of fat in the pan, add more olive oil until you have about that much oil coating the pan.
   

2. Sauté the onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, & garlic: Add the sliced onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms to the pan. Increase the heat to medium high. Cook until the onions are translucent, and the mushrooms have given up most of their moisture, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic to the pan and cook a minute more.
   

3. Deglaze pan with wine, add tomatoes, spices: Add the wine and scrape up any browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Simmer until the wine is reduced by half. Add the tomatoes. Stir in the pepper, thyme, oregano, and about a teaspoon of salt. Test and taste to adjust. Simmer uncovered for another 5 minutes.
   

4. Add chicken back to pan, partially cover, cook until tender: Place the chicken pieces on top of the tomatoes and onions, skin side up. Lower the heat and cover the skillet with the lid slightly ajar. Cook the chicken on a low simmer, turning and basting from time to time. Cook until the thighs are tender, about 30 to 40 minutes.