Hen Cacciatore
Wish to head to an Italian restaurant (or higher but, an Italian grandma’s kitchen) for dinner tonight? Do that easy Hen Cacciatore! Tender hen thighs stewed with greens in a strong tomato sauce, this conventional rustic Italian stew is hearty, juicy, and surprisingly simple to make!

Why You’ll Love This Conventional Hen Cacciatore Recipe
- An Italian Custom. Cacciatore (pronounced Kah-Chuh-Taw-Ree) means “hunter” in Italian. Thus, hen cacciatore means hen that’s ready alla cacciatore or “hunter-style.” Like Hen Piccata, Hen Marsala, and Baked Hen Parmesan, it’s an Italian dish. You’ll find as many recipes for hen cacciatore as there are Italian grandmothers who make them.
- Straightforward Unique. You don’t must be an skilled chef to make this easy hen cacciatore recipe! To make this recipe as simple as doable, I skip dredging in flour—it’s actually not wanted.
- Comparatively Quick. Conventional hen cacciatore recipes simmer for hours; this recipe hurries up the prep to make it weeknight attainable. (For a low-and-slow, take a look at my Gradual Cooker Hen Cacciatore.)
- Supreme Consolation. Like France’s Beef Bourguignon, it’s made with slow-simmered meat (some conventional variations additionally name for rabbit) and incorporates a wealthy sauce that tastes like love and care.

5 Star Evaluate
“This recipe has turn out to be considered one of my household’s most favourite. It’s simple to organize, serves effectively, freezes simply and is nice over rice, roasted, or mashed potatoes. And naturally pasta.”
— Peter —
Find out how to Make Hen Cacciatore
The Components
- Hen Thighs. Hen thighs are a beautiful alternative for hen stews like this (see additionally Spanish Hen Stew). Darkish meat is very tender, juicy, and forgiving. When you desire chicken, you can also make this hen cacciatore with hen breasts.
- Onion + Inexperienced Bell Pepper + Garlic. A flavorful trio to kick off our cacciatore sauce.
- Dry White Wine. Like Hen Piccata, the addition of wine enhances the opposite flavors on this recipe. Within the “Wine Pairing” part beneath, you will discover some steered varieties.
- Crushed Tomatoes. I used the crushed tomatoes and their juices to construct a wealthy tomato taste for the sauce.
- Mushrooms. Because the mushrooms prepare dinner, they add an earthy taste to the sauce. I like to recommend cremini (child bella) mushrooms or chopped portobello mushrooms, which have extra taste than white button mushrooms.
- Italian Seasoning. An all-in-one-herb mix! Most include basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, sage, or coriander.
- Balsamic Vinegar. For deep taste that makes the sauce style prefer it’s been simmering all day.
The Instructions

- Season and Brown the Hen. Then take away it to a plate.

- Sauté the Aromatics. Pour within the wine to deglaze.

- Simmer. Stir within the tomatoes, mushrooms, seasoning, and vinegar, then simmer to scale back.

- Add the Hen. Lay the hen thighs within the sauce. Simmer partially lined till the hen is cooked by means of. Cube or shred the hen (if desired), or maintain the thighs entire. Serve with herbs like parsley or contemporary basil leaves, Parmesan, and any desired sides. DIG IN!
Find out how to Serve Hen Cacciatore
- With Pasta. Hen cacciatore with pasta is likely one of the finest methods to take pleasure in this rustic dish. You might go for lengthy tendrils of spaghetti or a short-cut pasta, like rigatoni or penne. I like entire wheat for its larger fiber content material.
- Cooked Orzo. Fora rice-pasta hybrid when it comes to style, texture, and consistency.
- Mashed Potatoes. Strive serving with both my Crockpot Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or the Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe.
- Brown Rice. Not as conventional, however nonetheless scrumptious. See Prompt Pot Brown Rice and Find out how to Cook dinner Brown Rice for strategies.
- Creamy Polenta. A basic Italian pairing for cacciatore (see this Creamy Polenta for a recipe).
- Risotto. A easy parmesan risotto can be pretty with cacciatore. You might additionally strive it with my Mushroom Risotto or Prompt Pot Risotto.
Wine Pairing
- For white wine, a dry Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or Chardonnay would pair properly with this dish.
- When you desire pink wine, strive a Chianti or Sangiovese. Since this recipe requires 3/4 cup of wine, I wish to prepare dinner with a white wine that’s adequate to drink. Add slightly to the dish, and drink the remainder of the bottle with dinner.
- Not a wine particular person? Pair an Italian Margarita along with your hen cacciatore as a substitute.

Storage Suggestions
- To Retailer. Place leftovers in fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days.
- To Reheat. Gently rewarm this dish in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low warmth. It’s also possible to microwave, till steaming, if desired.
- To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
What to Serve with Hen Cacciatore
- Salad. A easy inexperienced salad like Arugula Salad is ideal; for one thing extra hearty, strive Italian Antipasto Salad.
- Roasted Greens. Whereas the cacciatore simmers away on the range, pop Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Oven Roasted Greens into your oven.
- Bread. Absorb the yummy sauce with slices of No Knead Focaccia or Rosemary Olive Oil Bread.

Really helpful Instruments to Make Hen Cacciatore
- Skillet. A necessary device in my kitchen for making scrumptious recipes like this hen cacciatore.
- Sharp Chef’s Knife. Simply chop greens, meat, fruit, and extra with a high-quality knife like this one.
- Prompt Learn Thermometer. When you prepare dinner meat typically, I extremely suggest including considered one of these to your kitchen.

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Hen Cacciatore
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Components
FOR THE CHICKEN CACCIATORE:
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 2 kilos boneless skinless hen thighs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 medium inexperienced bell pepper chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ cup dry white wine or low sodium hen broth
- 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 8 ounces sliced child bella (cremini) mushrooms
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar
FOR SERVING:
- Entire wheat pasta or brown rice, polenta, rice, zucchini noodles, or baked and shredded spaghetti squash
- Chopped contemporary parsley or basil
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
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Warmth 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or comparable deep, sturdy pot over medium-high. Season either side of the hen with salt and pepper.
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As soon as the oil is sizzling and shimmering (however not so sizzling it begins smoking), add the hen in a single layer. Cook dinner on the primary aspect for 3 to 4 minutes, till browned, transferring the hen as little as doable in order that it will get a pleasant sear. Flip and brown on the opposite aspect, about 2 extra minutes. Switch the hen to a big, clear plate. The hen doesn’t must be cooked by means of.
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Scale back the warmth to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, onion, and bell pepper. Cook dinner till the greens start to melt, about 4 minutes.
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Add the garlic and prepare dinner for 1 minute, or till the garlic is aromatic.
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Add the white wine. Stir and let simmer till the wine is diminished by roughly half, about 3 minutes.
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Add the tomatoes with their juices, mushrooms, Italian seasoning, and balsamic vinegar, stirring to mix. Carry to a simmer. Let the sauce simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
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Nestle the hen thighs into the tomato sauce, together with any drippings which have collected on the plate. The hen ought to be principally submerged, although some might peek by means of.
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Partially cowl the pot and let simmer 15 to twenty extra minutes, or till the hen is cooked by means of, the sauce is thickened, and the mushrooms are tender.
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When you’d wish to cube or shred the hen, take away it to a slicing board. When cool sufficient to deal with, cube or shred it, then return it to the pot. You can also serve the hen thighs entire.
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Style and season the sauce with extra salt and pepper as desired. When you've chopped or shredded the hen, return it to the sauce and toss to mix and heat by means of. In any other case, serve the hen items entire with a beneficiant quantity of sauce on prime.
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Serve sizzling over pasta, rice, polenta, or veggie noodles, with a giant additional spoonful of sauce and a sprinkle of parsley and Parmesan.
Video
Notes
- TO STORE: Fridge leftovers in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm hen cacciatore in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low warmth.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Diet
Associated Recipes
Because of its versatility and ease, you are able to do a lot with hen. Listed here are a few of my favourite wholesome hen recipes: