Chicken Cacciatore (Pollo alla Cacciatora)

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Chicken Cacciatore (Pollo alla Cacciatora) is Hunter’s chicken stew, rustic Italian classic with chicken thighs and drumsticks, mushrooms, and olives simmered in red wine to get rustic sauce served with your favorite pasta! Authentic stovetop version.

Chicken Cacciatore (Pollo alla Cacciatora) is Hunter’s chicken stew, rustic Italian classic with chicken thighs and drumsticks, mushrooms, and olives simmered in red wine to get rustic sauce served with your favorite pasta! Authentic stovetop version.


 

For decades, my grandmother used to prepare suppers for a group of Italian hunters after the hunting day was done.
They would arrive in the countryside early in the morning with their hunting dogs, down Grappa and espresso, change their outfits and then go into the forest. At sunset, they would return and have rich supper that always included Grandmother’s soup followed by Chicken Cacciatore and tagliatelle.

Chicken Cacciatore  (Pollo alla Cacciatora) is Hunter’s chicken stew, rustic Italian classic with chicken thighs and drumsticks, mushrooms, and olives simmered in red wine to get rustic sauce served with your favorite pasta! Authentic stovetop version.

 

Chicken cacciatore recipe ingredients were variable, as the vegetables depended on the season. The best flavors released from the kitchen in the autumn, when mushrooms and vegetables were harvested to be canned for winter. There was abundance everywhere. Onions, garlic, and tomato salsa thicken the sauce amazingly so there is no need to use any thickening ingredient. And the flavours releasing, my oh my ……

Dry red wine, Tomato Salsa and mushrooms are my personal must-includes. The rest is up to your own preferences. You can add vegetables, crushed tomatoes, bell peppers, Mediterranean spices, or white wine, as you desire. I have one tip about wine thou: use the best one you have; it is the key ingredient!

Good wine is the most important chicken cacciatore ingredient and make it fabulous, rustic, simple and hearty Italian dish you and your family will enjoy every single time.

 

Why is this dish called chicken cacciatore?

Chicken cacciatore is Italian country fare. Cacciatore means hunter, so the dish is “hunter-style” (in Italian, pollo alla cacciatora). It is central Italy traditional dish, originating from the Renaissance times.

Chicken Cacciatore  (Pollo alla Cacciatora) is Hunter’s chicken stew, rustic Italian classic with chicken thighs and drumsticks, mushrooms, and olives simmered in red wine to get rustic sauce served with your favorite pasta! Authentic stovetop version.

 

What to serve with chicken cacciatore?

Our favourite version is tagliatelle or any other pasta shape. You may also serve it with mashed potatoes, cheesy garlic bread, polenta, or rice.

How long does chicken cacciatore last in the fridge?

It is safe to eat for four days but it never lasts that long at our home.

Can you store your leftovers in the freezer?

Of course. Just let it cool completely and then wrap it in a freezer bag or airtight container. That way, your Italian chicken dish lasts for up to 8 weeks. When ready to eat, place in the fridge overnight to thaw before reheating.

 

What does chicken cacciatore mean in English?

It is Hunter Style Chicken. There is simplified definiton of this cacciatore recipe: chicken fried in olive oil, seasoned with herbs, and simmered in tomatoes and white wine.

 

What is the difference between chicken parmesan and chicken cacciatore?

While chicken parmesan is usually a baked dish made from boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chicken cacciatore is a stew made from chicken thighs and/or drumsticks. In Chicken Cacciatore, you do not need to use cheese or parmesan, and the sauce is spicy, unlike chicken parmesan. Also, when preparing cacciatore recipe, you may use boneless chicken tights.

So, as you can see, the possibilities are endless while creating this simple yet rich delicious recipe and once you find your version you will return to it over and over again. Besides, it can be served over any leftover side dish you have, ready under one hour.

Who could ask for more? 😊

If you love chicken recipes, there are some more at our creative place to find:

More chicken recipes at 2pots:

 

Tortilla Chicken Soup Recipe

One Pan Chicken Enchilada Bake

Chicken with Chili Dumplings

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Sheet Pan Chicken with Harvest Vegetables

Greek Chicken Soup with Semolina and Vegetables

 

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Chicken Cacciatore (Pollo alla Cacciatora)

Chicken Cacciatore (Pollo alla Cacciatora) is Hunter’s chicken stew, rustic Italian classic with chicken thighs and drumsticks, mushrooms, and olives simmered in red wine to get rustic sauce served with your favorite pasta! Authentic stovetop version.

Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Chicken Cacciatore (Pollo alla Cacciatora)
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4
Author 2pots2cook

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 4 chicken drumsticks
  • Salt to taste
  • Smoked bacon, sliced and chopped to taste
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 3 spring onions, finely chopped
  • 3 Tbsp tomato salsa
  • 1 small peperoncino
  • ½ bouillon cube
  • ½ cup dry red wine
  • 1 cup button mushrooms, whole (canned)
  • 12 olives
  • Pinch of rosemary and oregano
  • ½ cup water
  • Pinch of sugar
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Salt the meat to taste.
  2. In medium sized skillet, fry chicken in butter until it turns golden on all sides. It should take 10 minutes.

  3. Add bacon, garlic and spring onions and fry for 3 minutes.

  4. Add wine, bouillon cube, water, tomato salsa and sugar and let it boil slowly for 15 minutes.

  5. Add peperoncino, oregano, rosemary, mushrooms and olives and boil for another 5 minutes.

  6. Serve garnished with pasta or gnocchi.

Chicken Cacciatore  (Pollo alla Cacciatora) is Hunter’s chicken stew, rustic Italian classic with chicken thighs and drumsticks, mushrooms, and olives simmered in red wine to get rustic sauce served with your favorite pasta! Authentic stovetop version.

 

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