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Easy Chicken Cacciatore

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Donna Urso
Easy Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken Cacciatore is one of those dishes I have been making for years and years.  It falls in and out of favor from one year to the next.  Right now it is in favor because I've started making it with boneless chicken breasts. 

Traditionally chicken cacciatore is made with bone-in chicken pieces.  I prefer chicken cooked on the bone because I think it is more flavorful than boneless chicken, but there are members of my family who disagree.  I make this chicken cacciatore with boneless chicken when I don't feel like listening to complaints about the bones.

This is really a great recipe to add to your menu rotation.  It is easily made in one pan.  It can be made in advance, refrigerated and reheated, or frozen for later in the month.  This recipe will serve six, but you can easily make adjustments for fewer or more mouths to feed.   Feel free to use bone-in chicken pieces instead of boneless chicken breasts if you prefer.

Let's make it, shall we?

Easy Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients
Serves  6

The Chicken Cacciatore Ingredients
  •  3 whole chicken breasts, (about 12 ounces each), boned, skinned, and cut in half
  •  1 teaspoon  Kosher salt
  •  1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  •  8 ounces white button mushrooms, sliced
  •  1 medium onion, peeled and sliced lengthwise
  •  2 ribs celery, sliced
  •  2 small carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally
  •  1 large clove garlic, minced
  •  1/4 cup dry white wine, I used Pinot Grigio
  •  1 large can diced tomatoes
  •  1/2 red bell pepper, sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
  •  1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
  •  2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
  •  1/4 cup Homemade Chicken Stock, or canned low-sodium chicken broth, skimmed of fat
  •  Olive-oil
  • Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, optional 
Directions 

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Sprinkle chicken breasts with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook in skillet until browned on both sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate. 
Brown the Chicken

Add mushrooms to the skillet.  Let them cook in the pan for 2-3 minutes before stirring to get a nice brown color.  Stir and continue cooking until browned, about 5 minutes; set aside. Reduce heat to low. 
Brown the Mushrooms

Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan.  Add onions, celery, carrots, and garlic; cover, and cook, stirring, until onions are translucent, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the wine to the pan, and raise heat to cook until wine is almost evaporated, about 30 seconds.
Cook the Vegetables
Add the diced tomatoes, red pepper, rosemary, parsley, chicken stock, and remaining salt and pepper; stir to combine. Add chicken and mushrooms; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cover, and simmer chicken until tender, about 30 minutes.
Easy Chicken Cacciatore
I decided at the last minute to add fresh spinach to this dish.  I added it just before serving cooking it just long enough to wilt the spinach.
 
Last Minute Spinach Addition
I also cooked whole wheat penne pasta and added it to the pan before serving.  This was truly a one pan dish.

You can get the printable Easy Chicken Cacciatore recipe by clicking the link.

Enjoy!

Comments

  1. ginJune 7, 2011 at 7:14 AM

    Great photos; I have always loved my mom's chicken cacciatore and she too has always used bone in (but she had choice words if I ever complainted...). I can't wait to try your recipe. Summer is here and I'll have more time in the kitchen, so this is going on my list!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Donna UrsoJune 7, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    Hi Gin.You might want to try this chicken cacciatore with a mixture of boneless breasts and thighs.

    ReplyDelete
  3. amyJune 8, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    I made this tonight, it was so good, and easy, and as I've posted before, I like good and easy:) Thanks for the recipe, it'll be another favorite in my house!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Donna UrsoJune 8, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    Thanks Amy. I'm happy you liked it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 20, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    If this is made ahead and frozen, what are the heating directions. Do you heat frozen or thaw first?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Donna UrsoDecember 20, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    If you make this ahead and freeze it you can cover it well, first with a layer of plastic wrap and then with a layer of aluminum foil. You can heat it directly from the freezer to the oven and you don't need to remove the plastic wrap. Did you know that? I recently learned that from a couple of chefs who own local restaurants. You'll need to cook it for at least an hour. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. The chicken should be 185 degrees F.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousDecember 20, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete

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