Easy Chicken Cacciatore
This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ChooseSmart #CollectiveBias
Posted By Savita
Chicken Cacciatore, flour dredged pan-seared hunter-style chicken, braised in fortified liquid, served with pasta for a comforting family meal! This Italian classic comfort meal often disappear from my family dinner table, in minutes!! Make it oven or in slow cooker, instructions are included for both.
Chicken Cacciatore, also known as Hunter's Chicken is a rustic 'hunter-style' braised chicken cooked in fortified liquid made with onion, herbs, garlic, wine, and tomatoes. Pan-seared chicken absorbs lots of flavor from all these aromatics and tastes juicy, tender, and comforting.
Also, while braising chicken, cooking liquid and veggies turn into a slow-simmered rich sauce..... pour it over pasta... and..
oh my my!! Does it taste delicious? Heavenly!
Just 20 minutes of initial prep and pan-searing dredged chicken, rest all cooking is taken-care in the oven or in covered pan on the stove-top. Such less work and so much flavor makes it perfect for an informal family gathering.
Other than stove-top or oven, 'Slow Cooker' is one of my favorite way to braise chicken for Chicken Cacciatore. Here is, how I cook it in Slow Cooker.
Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
1. Skip step 1. Follow steps 2 to 4 to sear chicken for crispy and brown texture and also to saute peppers to pickup all the flavors.
2. For step 5, transfer all ingredients in slow cooker. (No need to change any ingredient measurements.) Cook in slow cooker at low for 4-5 hours.
3. In evening, boil pasta or rice and transfer to a platter. Top with Chicken Cacciatore and sauce. Garnish with sauce and enjoy!
You can serve this rustic family-chicken-dinner with side of rice or pasta ( like I served here) or a loaf of bread.
I usually don't blog on Sundays but I was so excited to share this post with you all! Today's Chicken Cacciatore Family Meal is sponsored by my local Smart & Final Warehouse Store.
Last week, September 15, I had privilege of attending preview day of grand opening of Smart & Final store in Tustin, California.
Smart & Final had always been one of our favorite stores for one-stop-shopping. I mean, from fresh organic produce to bulk household supplies, Smart & Final carries everything in very economical rates without a warehouse club fee.
Since we moved to Tustin, nearest Smart & Final had been not so near. I'm so excited that now I have a new store, SO near my apartment. Plus the fact that it is Smart & Final Extra (Superstore), it is even better! We really enjoyed surfing through aisles at Smart & Final on preview day and were SO happy to spot many of our favorite sections in store.
Today, I have shared my family's favorite, Chicken and Pasta dinner which you can cook, even today, for Sunday Supper! I would love to hear, what are your family-favorite meals?
Have a great day! -Savita
Few more family-style chicken dinners:
Ingredients
- Chicken Dredge
- 1.5 lbs Chicken (4-5, skin-on chicken thighs and legs, or use just chicken thighs)
- 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- Salt and Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- Chicken Cacciatore
- 2 Cup Tomatoes (one 14.5 can First Street Canned tomatoes in juice)
- 2 Red Bell Pepper (thick, lengthwise slices)
- 1 Cup Red Onion (half of a large onion, thick half moon slices Or use yellow onion)
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1 tbsp Capers
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (adjust per taste)
- 2 Garlic (large cloves, minced, about 1 tbsp when minced)
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil (I used La Romnella Extra Virgin Olive oil)
- 1/4 Cup White Wine
- 1 tsp Salt (adjust per taste)
- Black Pepper (adjust per taste)
- 1 lbs Pasta (I used La Romanella Fusilli)
- 1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese (or more, as per taste)
Directions
-
1. Set oven to preheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour. -
2. Heat olive oil and butter in a heavy-bottom skillet or dutch oven. Place chicken skin down in pan (don't overcrowd pan). -
3. Brown chicken on both sides (about 4 minute each side), then remove to a clean plate. Repeat with any remaining chicken. Once done, discard any fat in the pan. Additional Notes:
Don't wipe the pan. Just pour-off the fat and use fresh in next step. -
4. With heat on, add fresh 1 tbsp oil. Add sliced onions, garlic, and peppers. Stir fry for 1 minute. Now, add oregano, capers, red pepper flakes, some black pepper, and salt. Stir, then pour in wine. Let the alcohol cook-off for 1 minute. -
5. Add in canned tomatoes with juice and chicken back into the pan, skin side up. Cover the pot with tight lid, and put it into the oven for 25 minutes. Remove lid and increase heat to 375 degrees. Cook for an additional 10 minutes. -
6. While chicken cacciatore is cooking, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta water (reserve 1/4 cup). Mix in 1 tsp olive oil in pasta and set aside. Additional Notes:
If chicken is out of the oven by this time, you can mix in some parmesan cheese in pasta for more flavor. -
7. Remove pan from the oven. There is just enough liquid in the pan to make nice sauce for pasta. If you want to reduce the sauce down, remove chicken and veggies, then cook the sauce until it thickens to your liking. -
8. Transfer cooked pasta on a large platter (if pasta siting since long, freshen up pasta in bowl with few tbsp of reserved pasta water). Spread peppers and tomato from pot over the pasta, then place chicken pieces on top. Spoon juices from the pot over the chicken and pasta. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and some grated Parmesan (as per taste). Serve and enjoy!
Savita's Recipe Notes:
Stove Top Chicken Cacciatore To cook on stove top, follow all steps as-is up-to step 4. Then, continue cooking in step-5 on stove on low-medium heat for 25 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked.
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