Tender chicken simmered in a rich tomato sauce with onions, garlic, herbs, and mushrooms. That’s chicken cacciatore. It’s the kind of dinner that makes the whole kitchen smell like something slow and steady is happening, even if you started it after work.

A skillet of classic chicken cacciatore simmered in a rich tomato sauce with mushrooms, olives, and red peppers, garnished with fresh parsley and served on a rustic wooden table.

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Sometimes called “Hunter’s Stew,” the chicken cacciatore recipe varies from family to family. This version keeps things simple but bold, letting the tomatoes, wine, and aromatics build a rich sauce while the chicken becomes fall-apart tender. It’s weeknight-friendly but impressive enough for guests. Serve it over pasta, rice, or even spaghetti squash, and you’ve got a simple Italian chicken dish that feels perfect.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Deep, rich tomato flavor enhanced with red wine gives this dish incredible depth and warmth, all cooked together in one comforting pan. It’s hearty, satisfying, and filling enough to stand on its own, yet perfect served over spaghetti, creamy polenta, or with crusty bread. Think of it as one of the most forgiving braised chicken recipes. And like many classic Italian chicken dishes, it tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld and deepen.

Top-down view of spaghetti served with chicken cacciatore, featuring tender chicken, capers, mushrooms, and fresh herbs.

Pro Tip: Sear the chicken well before simmering. That golden crust adds serious depth to the final sauce.

Classic Chicken Cacciatore Ingredients

Ingredients for classic chicken cacciatore arranged on a countertop: bone-in chicken thighs, crushed tomatoes, mushrooms, red bell pepper, onion, garlic, capers, olives, olive oil, dried herbs, red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, and red wine.

See the recipe card for exact measurements.

How To Make Classic Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken thighs searing in a skillet until golden brown.

Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large high-sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear on all sides until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Remove chicken and set aside.

Sautéed mushrooms and onions with sliced red peppers and minced garlic in a skillet.

Step 2: In the same skillet, add onions and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Add more olive oil if needed.
Cook for 4-5 minutes until the onions soften and the mushrooms release moisture. Add garlic and bell pepper. Cook another 2-3 minutes until fragrant.

Tomato sauce, olives, capers, and peppers added to the skillet.

Step 3: Pour in the red wine to deglaze the pan. Add crushed tomatoes (with juices), oregano, red pepper flakes, olives, and capers. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.

Chicken returned to the skillet and simmered in the sauce until tender and fully cooked.

Step 4: Return the chicken and any juices to the pan. Cover partially and simmer over medium-low heat for 30-35 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and the sauce thickens.

A bowl of spaghetti topped with chicken cacciatore, mushrooms, olives, and bright tomato sauce, with the skillet in the background.

Expert Tips

A chicken thigh cacciatore recipe is more forgiving and stays tender even with a longer simmer. Chicken cacciatore with chicken breast cooks faster and can dry out if overcooked.
Deglaze properly with wine to capture all the browned bits from searing. Those bits build the depth that makes this homemade chicken cacciatore taste complete.
This easy chicken cacciatore is made with mushrooms and onions as a base.
Make it ahead if you can. The flavor settles and deepens overnight, which is why leftover is the best chicken cacciatore.

Serving Ideas

Serve this chicken cacciatore over pasta or rice for a cozy, sauce-forward meal that feels complete without much else on the table.
For a lighter option, try chicken cacciatore with spaghetti squash. The strands soak up the sauce while keeping the plate balanced.
Add a simple green salad and crusty bread to turn it into one of those effortless Italian family dinner ideas that work any night of the week.

A fork lifting spaghetti and chicken cacciatore coated in rich tomato sauce, with olives and capers visible in the dish.

Tried this healthy chicken cacciatore recipe? I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment below and give the recipe a star rating so others can find it too.

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