This Easy Chicken Cacciatore is a cozy, flavorful one-pan chicken dinner you'll want to make again and again. Juicy chicken simmered in a rustic tomato sauce with bell peppers, mushrooms, and herbs-it's an Italian classic made weeknight-easy.
If you love simple, hearty chicken recipes like my Marry Me Chicken and Creamy Paprika Chicken, you'll love this quick chicken cacciatore. Pair it with pasta or creamy polenta, and you've got the perfect Mediterranean-inspired meal.
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What is Chicken Cacciatore?
Chicken Cacciatore, which means "hunter-style chicken" in Italian, is a classic Italian dish. It's traditionally made by braising bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces in a rich tomato sauce with onions, bell peppers, garlic, herbs, and sometimes wine.
My version keeps all the classic Italian flavor but streamlines the process. Instead of slow-braising for hours, this easy chicken cacciatore comes together on the stovetop in just about 30 minutes!
The secret is using boneless, skinless chicken thighs (which cook quickly) and jarred marinara sauce (I love Rao's for its homemade flavor). And a splash of chicken broth gives the sauce that slow-cooked taste-like it's been simmering all day.
Why You'll Love This Dish
- One-pan meal - Easy to make and even easier to clean up
- Faster than traditional cacciatore - All the rich, comforting flavor in a fraction of the time
- Mediterranean-inspired - Packed with heart-healthy ingredients like olive oil, colorful vegetables, and fresh herbs
- Kid-friendly - Mild, cozy flavors the whole family will love
- Perfect for meal prep - Tastes even better the next day
🩺 Doctor's Tips
As a physician, I love how this dish fits beautifully into a Mediterranean-style diet - one of the most researched and heart-healthy eating patterns.
- It's loaded with colorful, antioxidant-rich vegetables like peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
- The combination of lean protein from the chicken and fiber from the veggies helps keep you satisfied and supports steady blood sugar.
- Pair this easy chicken cacciatore with a whole grain or high-fiber side (like quinoa or whole wheat pasta) to make it even more satisfying and nutrient rich.
Ingredients
Ingredient notes and substitutions. See recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredient list.
- Chicken thighs: I use boneless, skinless thighs for quick cooking and juicy results; bone-in thighs also work if you prefer a more traditional version, just extend the cooking time.
- Jarred marinara sauce: Using a high-quality sauce like Rao's saves time but keeps the flavor authentic and rich
- Vegetables: I use a combination of onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms to add natural sweetness and color; you can also use carrots
- Chicken broth: A little broth adds depth and creates that slow-simmered flavor without hours of cooking; I use reduced sodium chicken broth to control the sodium
- Herbs and spices: I use oregano, basil or parsley, chili flakes (optional for heat) and garlic; fresh or dried both work. You can also use Italian seasoning.
- Wine (optional): Adds complexity; you can use red or white depending on what you prefer, or substitute chicken broth
How To Make Easy Chicken Cacciatore Step-By-Step
See recipe card at the bottom of the post for full recipe details.
- Step 1- Heat olive oil in a large braising dish or Dutch oven and sear chicken on both sides until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2- Add the vegetables and sauté until softened. Stir in the garlic and herbs.
- Step 3- Deglaze the pan with wine, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom. Add the marinara sauce and chicken broth.
- Step 4- Return chicken thighs to the pan, nestling them into the sauce. Cover and simmer 8-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, then uncover and simmer a few more minutes until the sauce thickens. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Chef's Tips
- To thicken the sauce, simmer the dish uncovered for the last 5 minutes.
- This dish reheats beautifully- it's perfect for leftovers or meal prep.
- For a more traditional chicken cacciatore, you can use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs; just increase the cooking time to 35-40 minutes until fully cooked.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With This Dish
Pair your Chicken Cacciatore with these simple sides for a cozy, complete meal:
- Pasta: Spaghetti, linguine, or penne to soak up the sauce
- Polenta: Creamy polenta or my cauliflower polenta
- Mashed potatoes: Try my mashed potatoes with goat cheese and caramelized onions or celeriac (celery root) puree for a lower-carb option.
- Crusty bread: Perfect for dipping into the tomato sauce. Try my delicious pan con tomate (Spanish Tomato Bread) recipe or cheesy cauliflower bread for a lower carb option.
- Side salad: Try a Mediterranean chopped salad, kale and quinoa salad or a simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette.
This recipe is part of my 35 Easy Stovetop Chicken Thigh Recipes Collection.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work well, but they cook slightly faster than thighs. Keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.
Absolutely! Bone-in, skin-on chicken will give a more traditional cacciatore flavor, but increase the cooking time to about 35-40 minutes until fully cooked.
Yes! The flavors actually deepen overnight. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
Yes! Let it cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
You can adapt it by swapping chicken for hearty vegetables like eggplant or zucchini, or use plant-based chicken alternatives. Cook times may vary.
More Tasty Chicken Dishes
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Recipe
Easy Chicken Cacciatore
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1.75 lbs)
- Salt and pepper
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 medium red or yellow bell pepper, sliced (about 1½ cups)
- 1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup red or white wine (optional)
- 1 ½ cups jarred marinara sauce (I like Rao's)
- ½ cup reduced sodium chicken broth
- Optional garnish: fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
- Heat the oil in large braiser or sauté pan over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and add them to the pot. Cook until browned, about 4 minutes, then flip and cook another 3-4 minutes on the second side. Remove chicken and place on a plate.
- Add the onion, bell peppers, and mushrooms, and season them with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, and oregano and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
- Add the wine and cook 1-2 minutes until reduced, scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the marinara sauce and chicken broth and stir to combine. Nestle the chicken thighs back into the sauce, covering them. Cover the pot and simmer on medium low heat until chicken is cooked through, another 8-10 minutes. Uncover and cook another few minutes until sauce thickens. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
- Serve chicken cacciatore with pasta, polenta or crusty bread.
Notes
- For a more traditional Chicken Cacciatore, you can use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs; just increase the cooking time to 35-40 minutes until fully cooked.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Marissa says
Just look at all of those vibrant colors! I love Chicken Cacciatore and this one looks delicious and simple to prepare - my favorite combination!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Ben Maclain|Havocinthekitchen says
This casserole looks fantastic, Sonali! Perfectly roasted chicken with loads of veggies, mushrooms, and herbs make just the perfect seasonal dish. Pass me a large spoon now, please:)
Gail says
Made this tonight and it was delicious!!!. My son said this recipe is better than the chicken cacciatore recipe that I had been using. There is still some left over stew and I have some left over turkey from Thanksgiving so I will throw that into the stew for my lunch tomorrow.
usha says
A great colorful and simple recipe. Can't wait to try it.
Alisa Fleming says
This is such an unbelievably stunning dish! So healthy, and so doable, too. I've pinned to try it later ... or maybe tonight!
Jenn says
This reminds me of a dish I used to make all the time before I went vegetarian. Now, I would just load it up with double the mushrooms and serve it over rice sans the chicken. The rest of my family, however, would love it just as you wrote it! 🙂
Kelli (The Healthy Toast) says
So pretty!! And I love how easy it sounds! This would be an ideal dinner when hosting family over the holidays.
Kristy from Southern In Law says
This looks amazing! Chicken cacciatore was a dish my Mum always made growing up and one I still love today!
Lindsay Cotter says
This looks so flavorful! What a great dinner for the family!
Brynn at The Domestic Dietitian says
Putting spins on classic dishes are one of my favorites! This looks amazing!
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands says
This looks so colorful and full of flavor! Trying to think of a sub for the chicken, guess I could try Beyond Meat Chicken Free Chicken, so the whole family could enjoy this dish. It would be perfect Sunday night dinner!
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness says
THIS!!! Totally going to be a family favorite - I can sense it. PINNED and ready to devour!
Laura says
Seriously Sonali it's only 7 AM and I want to run to my kitchen and make this! It looks so healthy and delicious!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician says
Haha, thanks Laura!
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says
I'm a huge fan of chicken cacciatore, but my husband isn't so into it for some reason. Maybe if I make your version he'll like it - he likes all your other recipes!! Gorgeous pics as always and I love the new look of the blog (and that there's now a print button on your recipes!!)
Cara says
Dishes like this are the exact reason why I want some enameled cast iron cookware! The colors are amazing, can't wait to give this recipe a try!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician says
I use my braiser all the time! Thanks for stopping by, Cara!
Mona says
What a great chicken recipe! I love that you used chicken thighs. Beautiful color too.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I was born and raised in Orlando, so I was giggling at your boots comment! I TOTALLY still rocked boots and scarves in the 'winter' down there! Anyways, now that we live in NC I can really appreciate a cozy meal on a cold evening, and this cacciatore is EVERYTHING!! This is absolutely gorgeous and the flavors are perfect! PLUS I love that it's quick and easy. Just perfection, girlfriend! Cheers!
amanda -runtothefinish says
Yes please to all this flavor!!! I love finding quick recipes that are so healthy, it's a reminder that we can make it any day of the week!
Elizabeth Shaw says
Well well well-- this looks like I may need to whip this up for dinner as soon as MR.CEO gets home! I never really knew you could buy boneless chicken thighs until Mrs. Haas informed me in our book! Looks like those I have in my freezer now have a home in this recipe :). Hope it cools off a little more for you--- we are in the 80s still!
Gail says
Hi Sonali
This looks delicious. I always use skinless chicken breasts just because they have less fat than the chicken thighs. My question is would the chicken breasts work as well or would they dry out too much. Do you think this would work in a crock pot. I am always looking for crock pot meals. Either way I plan on making it as soon as I purchase all the ingredients. Thanks in advance for your answer
sonaliruder says
Yes you can use chicken breast but it does tend to dry out faster because of the lower fat content. I prefer to use thighs, which stay juicier, but I buy the skinless thighs to cut down on calories and fat. If you use breast meat, make sure you cut back on the cooking time or cook the dish in a crock pot as you mentioned. It's actually a great idea- it will help keep the meat moist and make it easier for you to prepare!