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Pollo all Cacciatora on a table in bubbling red tomato sauce, with seared chicken thighs, fresh green herbs, and crusty bread and butter.
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5 from 1 vote

Rustic Pollo alla Cacciatora Recipe

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Hunter’s Chicken, Rustic Pollo alla Cacciatora (Hunter’s Chicken) — A Cozy Italian Classic You’ll Crave
Servings: 4 people
Author: Anthony Rodriguez
Cost: 35

Ingredients

  • 6 count bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or a mix with drumsticks and a breast
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 count small yellow onion thinly sliced
  • 1 count large carrot diced
  • 2 count celery stalks diced
  • 4 cloves garlic cloves smashed
  • 1 cup dry white wine I prefer Pinot Grigio
  • 1 can 28 oz can San Marzano whole tomatoes crushed by hand 
  • 1/4 cup kalamata olives pitted and halved
  • 2 tbsp capers drained
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 
  • 1 count 1 bay leaf 
  • Salt + pepper to taste 
  • chili flakes  optional, for heat
  • fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Sear the Chicken
    Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven. Season chicken well with salt and pepper. Brown both sides until golden, 5–6 minutes per side. Set aside.
  • Make the Aromatic Base
    Add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pan. Sauté until soft and fragrant, about 8 minutes.
  • Deglaze
    Pour in the white wine. Scrape up the browned bits with a wooden spoon. Simmer 3–4 minutes until reduced.
  • Add Sauce Ingredients
    Stir in crushed tomatoes, olives, capers, rosemary, bay leaf, and chili flakes.
  • Simmer
    Return chicken to the pot. Cover and simmer 35–40 minutes, until chicken is tender and sauce is thickened.
  • Serve
    Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve over creamy polenta, rice, or crusty bread.

Notes

  • This dish only gets better after a day in the fridge. Make ahead and warm up on low for 10 minutes on the stove.
  • If your sauce tastes flat, add a pinch of sugar or a squeeze of lemon.
  • Want to level up? Add anchovy paste or sautéed mushrooms in
  • Chicken: Bone-in = deep flavor. Skin-on = crispy golden sear.
  • No olives or capers? Add a splash of red wine vinegar or chopped sun-dried tomatoes.

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 395mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 206IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg