Discover the joy of delicious and simple weeknight dinners with this flavorful dish.
But hold on! This isn’t any bowl of chicken – it’s chicken Cacciatore! It is one of my family’s favorite dinners, as this hearty and satisfying dish is a cinch to whip up, even on busy weeknights, and has a permanent place in our family meal rotation, especially in winter. Earlier, this recipe was often cooked over an open fire with whatever the hunter caught, like rabbits or birds. With the tender chicken falling off in a rich and rustic veggie-loaded sauce, this stew will refresh your taste palate while exciting your appetite.
Comes together quickly with simple ingredients Is a dump-and-cook meal Perfect for your potluck parties or get together Tastes amazing and never fails to delight you!
Plus, you only need your Instant Pot and 30 minutes to cook this out-of-this-world-delicious meal. And the best part is yet to come – cleanup is a breeze! Now, that’s a win-win situation.
Flour — Using flour for coating the chicken serves many purposes. First, it can help the chicken brown quickly, making it less prone to sticking. On top, they can add a starchy quality to the dish. Olive Oil — Adding olive oil to this quick and easy Chicken Cacciatore recipe makes the fare silkier and more luscious. Onion and garlic — A must-have ingredient for this Easy Chicken Cacciatore recipe. They act as the base of the curry and add flavor to the oil. This way, the taste is better absorbed by the cooked chicken. Likewise, they also help to perk up the texture of the dish. Marinara Sauce — Use high-quality tomatoes as they form the sauce base. The store-bought sauce can also be used. If the tomatoes are acidic, you might need to add sugar to balance them. Crushed Red Pepper — Added to the dish for the much-needed heat and bite. Furthermore, the spice gives it a nice color. Bay Leaf — Added to enjoy another layer of flavor from the dish. Though it only adds a mild distinctive flavor, it can enhance the flavor of the other spices superbly well. Chicken Broth — As chicken broth has a concentrated flavor; it instantly lends richness and smoothness to the Chicken Cacciatore dish. The soup’s foundation, made of aromatics and seasonings, comes out perfectly when the liquid chicken stock is added. Pasta — You can use any pasta to serve the Instant Pot chicken cacciatore recipe. You can use Penne Pasta or any pasta of your liking. I prefer Spaghetti, Penne, or Farfalle as their ridges hold the sauces better, making them more flavorsome. You can also opt for Rotini pasta.
Varied cooking time for a different chicken cut — Chicken breasts cook faster than the other chicken cut. For example, bone-in chicken takes a little longer to cook, with 15 minutes in an instant pot. Likewise, different cuts will have slight variations in the cooking time. If using chicken thighs — Both skin-on-bone and skinless chicken thighs are great for this recipe. It is entirely your preference to use either. Veggie variations — Any veggies of your choice can go into preparing this nutritious Chicken Cacciatore. However, bell peppers and broccoli will work great. So, if you are not a mushroom lover, consider substituting mushrooms with other veggies. The magic of adding wine — Wine enhances the delectability of this recipe manifold by adding a depth of flavor to it. The alcohol burns away while cooking, but the taste of the sauce intensifies with its addition, elevating the overall deliciousness of the dish. Therefore, always take advantage of wine when preparing this recipe. Pasta options — Although any pasta or cooked Spaghetti will work well when preparing this chicken delicacy, angel hair pasta or capellini is an excellent option to consider. Adding the umami wonders — Consider adding soya sauce and fish sauce if you have an affinity for umami flavors. These sauces will bring a flavorsome twist to the dish.
Olives for more appeal — Olives added to the Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore recipe at the end will bring more magical flavor and appeal. Remedy for a runny sauce — A watery sauce can be set right by adding two tablespoons of tomato sauce to it while simmering. The other way to bring the runny sauce to a thicker consistency is to boil it for a while. Take the chicken from the pot and bring the sauce to a boil while sautéing it for a few minutes. It will take a few minutes to come to the desired consistency. Add the chicken back to the pot and mix well. For wine connoisseurs — If you are serving this delicious dish with wine, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris is an excellent choice to consider. Deglazing is a must — When cooking in the Instant Pot, always remember to deglaze the insert, as any burnt food bits stuck to its base will cause the BURN message. Continuous deglazing and scraping of the food from the bottom of the Instant Pot Insert will prevent the burn message from flashing. Varying spiciness — This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is perfectly spiced for those who prefer spiciness in moderation. But if you love spicier food, add more chili flakes or try cayenne peppers instead of the chili flakes and dig into the hot spicy delicacy.
This recipe uses mushrooms. But if you want to try some other veggies of your choice, feel free to go ahead. Instead of mushrooms, try some bell peppers, potatoes, artichokes, and broccoli. All of these make excellent alternatives. Shallots can replace onions in this recipe, which will taste great. White wine can be substituted with red wine, bringing a beautiful flavor. If you don’t prefer broth for any reason, consider adding water. Avocado oil makes a great alternative to olive oil in this recipe. You can use either.
Follow the step-by-step instructions to make the best Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore Recipe for Beginner Cooks
It is so easy and flavorsome that you will be tempted to schedule this every day and love to devour it with garlic knots or dinner rolls for a more filling meal! And don’t forget to share it with your family and friends.
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