Weeknight Chicken Cacciatore Recipes

WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• The chicken: Heat a dry skillet on high for 1 minute, then add the oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides and add to the pan. Brown chicken, about 2-3 minutes per side, reducing heat to medium after 1 minute. Remove and pour out any dark oil.
• The sauce: To the same skillet, add more oil and sweat the onions, 3-5 minutes (add more olive oil as needed). Add garlic, thyme, and bay leaf, followed by white wine. Reduce white wine until almost dry, then add tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and toss. Add the chicken back to the pan, along with the olives. Cook 10 minutes, occasionally moving the sauce around until it thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Assembly: Spoon the sauce onto a serving platter. Remove the bay leaf and thyme. Add fresh oregano followed by chicken.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the chicken pieces with 1 teaspoon of each salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour to coat lightly.
• In a large heavy saute pan, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the chicken pieces to the pan and saute just until brown, about 5 minutes per side. If all the chicken does not fit in the pan, saute it in 2 batches. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside. Add the bell pepper, onion and garlic to the same pan and saute over medium heat until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juice, broth, capers and oregano. Return the chicken pieces to the pan and turn them to coat in the sauce. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Continue simmering over medium-low heat until the chicken is just cooked through, about 30 minutes for the breast pieces, and 20 minutes for the thighs.
• Using tongs, transfer the chicken to a platter. If necessary, boil the sauce until it thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Spoon off any excess fat from atop the sauce. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, then sprinkle with the basil and serve.

THE BEST CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Working in batches, cook the chicken until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer the browned chicken to a plate or baking sheet.
• Discard the oil. Put the pot over medium heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring, until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the pancetta with a slotted spoon to a small plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the carrots, celery and onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and oregano and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the wine and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid is reduced by about two-thirds, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and reserved pancetta. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Reduce the heat to low and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Cover partially and cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavors come together, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the chicken skin-side up to the sauce, cover and transfer the pot to the oven. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken pieces to a serving platter and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
• If necessary, skim off any fat from the surface of the sauce with a large spoon or ladle and discard. Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the chicken and top with more parsley.

WEEKNIGHT CROCK POT CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Brown chicken in olive oil in skillet on both sides.
• Remove chicken from skillet and place in the bottom of crock pot.
• Deglaze bottom of skillet with red wine, stirring to get up all the browned bits.
• Add the tomato sauce and tomato paste and stir until mixed well.
• Stir oregano, basil, bay leaf, and garlic into sauce.
• Place mushrooms, onions, olives, celery, and green pepper over the chicken in the crock pot.
• Pour the sauce over all.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken is done.
• Check consistency of sauce in crockpot.
• If it needs thickening, whisk together flour and water in a small dish.
• Remove chicken and bay leaf from crock pot, discarding bay leaf and keeping chicken warm.
• Stir flour slurry into sauce and cook, covered, on high, for 5-10 minutes, or until thickened.
• Serve chicken with vegetable sauce spooned over, garnished with parmesan cheese (if desired).