Rooster Cacciatore (Italian Rustic Rooster with Tomatoes)

Chicken cacciatore is a rustic Italian chicken dish made from peppers and mushrooms braised in tomato sauce.

Chicken hunter

Goes well with pasta, polenta or mashed potatoes. This is the version that my mom always made for us as a kid, that I have always loved. I modified mom’s recipe to make it a little leaner by removing the chicken skin and fat and using less oil. For more ways to make this delicious dish, check out my Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Recipes.

Chicken cacciatore over pasta

What does Cacciatore mean?

“Cacciatore” means hunter in Italian, and alla cacciatora means “hunter’s meal”. It’s a hearty, tomato-based stew made with chicken (sometimes rabbit), onions, garlic, peppers, and mushrooms.

How to cook chicken cacciatore

This simple chicken recipe can be broken down into just a few steps. While it will take some time to cook, most of the time will be gone while the sauce is simmering.

  • chicken: Season the chicken legs with salt and pepper and fry them in the pan for a few minutes.
  • vegetables: Add peppers, onion and garlic and sauté until onions are soft. Then add the mushrooms and cook for a few minutes. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper.
  • sauce: Pour in the mashed tomatoes, broth and oregano, cover the pan and bring the sauce to a simmer. Simmer for 25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Herbs: Sprinkle in the fresh basil five minutes before cooking the sauce.

What Goes With Chicken Cacciatore?

You can serve chicken cacciatore with your favorite type of pasta, rice, or polenta. Try it as a low-carb alternative to spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.

I like to cover my cacciatore with a good grated cheese like pecorino romano and eat it with a hearty piece of bread to soak up the sauce. You can also serve it with a salad or roasted vegetables as a side dish.

Variations:

  • If you don’t like mushrooms, use extra peppers.
  • Use baby bellas or white mushrooms.
  • Swap the chicken broth for dry white wine.
  • If you prefer white meat, you can use boneless chicken breasts instead of thighs.

A pot of chicken hunters

Pasta with chicken sauce.

More Italian Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:

Chicken hunter

288 Calories
22.5 protein
43 carbohydrates
4.5 Fats

Preparation time: 10 Minutes

Cooking time: 45 Minutes

Total time: 55 Minutes

Chicken cacciatore is a rustic Italian chicken dish made from peppers and mushrooms braised in tomato sauce.

  • 6th Chicken thighs, (or on the bone) skinned and trimmed
  • Olive oil spray
  • 1 Red pepper, chopped
  • 1 Cup chopped mushrooms
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 2 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 (28 oz) can shredded tomatoes
  • 1/4 Cup fat free chicken broth, more if necessary
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
  • 1/4 Cup freshly chopped basil leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 6th cups cooked whole wheat pasta
  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

  • In a large, heavy frying pan, heat the pan over a medium to high flame and sprinkle with cooking oil.

  • Add the chicken pieces to the pan and sauté just until brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.

  • Add peppers, onion, and garlic to the pan and sauté over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes until the onion is tender, then add mushrooms and fry for another 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

  • Add tomatoes, broth and oregano. Cover the pan and bring the sauce to a simmer.

  • Simmer over low heat until chicken is just cooked through, about 25 minutes.

  • Add the chopped basil 5 minutes before the sauce is ready.

  • Serve over 1 cup of pasta.

Chicken cacciatore variations:

  • If you don’t like mushrooms, use extra peppers.
  • Use baby bellas or white mushrooms.
  • Swap the chicken broth for dry white wine.
  • If you prefer white meat, you can use boneless chicken breasts instead of thighs.

Portion: 1Thighs, 3/4 cup sauce, 1 cup pasta, Calories: 288kcal, Carbohydrates: 43G, Protein: 22.5G, Fat: 4.5G, Saturated fatty acids: 1G, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 379mg, Fiber: 7.5G, Sugar: 7.5G

Blue Smart Points: 7th

Green smart points: 8th

Purple Smart Points: 3

Points +: 8th

Keywords: Chicken Cacciatore, Frozen Meals, Weight Watchers Chicken Cacciatore

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