Chicken Cacciatore Casserole (aka poulet chasseur) is one of my favorite recipes during the colder months. The taste of a chicken and peppers recipe together with mushrooms is like a savory explosion in your mouth. It's a great recipe if you want to empty your refrigerator with unused vegetables.
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Chicken Cacciatore or poulet chasseur is a traditional Italian dish that's prepared "hunter" style, using a chicken and peppers recipe, button mushrooms, tangy tomatoes and is typically cooked in one skillet. Since chicken is available all year round these days, you can make this dish any time of the year.
Pair Chicken Cacciatore casserole with side dishes like smashed potatoes or a grilled brussels sprouts in balsamic vinegar recipe.
This Stuffed Balsamic Chicken is not so shabby either, and if you are tired of chicken, this Braised Rabbit will be welcome change.
If you are not looking for Whole30 side dish recipes, this dish also pairs well with polenta, grits or corn meal. When I'm not on Whole30, I also pair this with pasta and rice and use the chicken cacciatore sauce as the pasta sauce.
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Ingredients
These are the ingredients you will need to make this Chicken Cacciatore casserole recipe:
- Chicken pieces
- Garlic
- Sweet Red Peppers
- Button Mushrooms
- Bay Leaves
- Dried Oregano
- Dry White Wine or Apple Cider Vinegar
- Tomato purée
- Tomato Paste
- Olive Oil
- Fresh Basil
- Grated Parmesan Cheese (optional)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
With any meal that usually includes a meat, I started off by browning the chicken in olive oil and garlic on both sides. Seasoning each side before I flip it over.
Once the chicken is browned to your satisfaction, add the white wine and let simmer and evaporate a little.
Add your vegetables, peppers and mushrooms and anything else you want to add. Mix in the tomato paste.
Add tomatoes or tomato puree (whichever you are using) to the pan. Also add your bay leaves.
Let the tomato and chicken comes to a boil and simmer. If you are using whole tomatoes, break them up using a wooden spoon.
Cook for about 45 minutes or until the chicken is fork tender. Remove from heat and let stand for about 5 minutes. Serve with your favorite side or on top of pasta or rice.
Hint: Bring to a gentle boil and simmer covered. If the sauce is to watery, simmer with a wooden spoon wedged between the lid and the pan, for the last 10 minutes.
What to serve with Chicken Cacciatore Casserole aka Poulet Chasseur
This dish with mushroom, chicken and peppers is perfect on it's own. But why not pair Chicken Cacciatore Skillet with:
- Rice - serve chicken cacciatore with rice. Use the chicken cacciatore sauce drizzled over the rice.
- Pasta - serve chicken cacciatore over pasta and use the chicken cacciatore sauce mixed in with the pasta
- Cornmeal - serve chicken cacciatore over corn meal and pour the chicken cacciatore sauce over it.
- Potato Gnocchi - serve chicken cacciatore casserole over potato gnocchi or gluten free gnocchi.
Serve with your favorite side dish, garlic sticks or an arugula goat cheese side salad.
Variations
Chicken Cacciatore is a delicious meal. Here are some variations you might want to consider:
- Sweet Peppers - instead of using sweet peppers use green peppers, hot peppers, jalapenos or chili flakes.
- Pescatarian - Instead of using chicken, use dried salted cod (you'll need to soak it for 3-4 days, changing water daily).
- Tuscan Style - make it Tuscan style and substitute the tomato with coconut cream, full fat cream, sundried tomato, and capers
The perfect recipe isn't that far away. I'd love to know how you substituted ingredients to fit your dietary needs. Drop a comment below and let me know!
Reflection: Cooking is like science, you need to experiment with different combinations to come up with the perfect result (for you). But, don't worry if it's not perfect. Pat yourself on the back for trying, you deserve it! Just try and figure out what you did wrong and do it different next time.
Substitutions
Here are some great substitutions if you are looking to swap out some ingredients or fit a certain diet:
- Fresh Tomatoes - use cherry tomatoes or regular tomatoes instead if you don't have tomato puree on hand
- Frozen Chicken Pieces - use frozen chicken if you don't have fresh chicken pieces, just remember to thaw out in the refrigerator overnight
- Ghee - use ghee instead of olive oil or vegetable oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar - use apple cider vinegar instead of dry white wine for a whole30 compatible meal
If you can think of any other way to make this chicken cacciatore casserole dish unique, go for it!
Equipment
You'll want to use a non stick skilled that's large enough for your chicken and vegetables. In addition, you'll want a lid that will fit the skillet when simmering the chicken.
A good cutting board, a wooden spoon and knife will come in handy too!
This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Storage
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for a maximum of 1 month. Make sure that you are using containers that are both microwave and freezer safe.
Thaw out leftovers in the refrigerator overnight and warm up in a skillet or in the microwave.
Top tip
It's recommended to remove the skin before frying. While the skin will get nice and crispy when browning, the crispiness will not hold up during the simmering stage. Once the chicken has simmered for a while the chicken skin will revert to being soft and have an unappealing texture.
FAQ
Cacciatore Sauce is made from tomato puree, sweet peppers and button mushrooms. Tomato paste thickens the sauce slightly. Sometimes people add red pepper flakes for a little bit of heat.
Chicken Cacciatore is a hearty meal on its own. But, you can serve Chicken Cacciatore over pasta or rice. You can also serve it with corn meal or grits, gnocchi or your favorite vegetable.
The best type of pasta to serve with Chicken Cacciatore is a small noodle like penne or rigatoni so that the sauce gets stuck in the pasta holes. An let's not forget to top off your chicken cacciatore pasta dish with parmigiano reggiano.
Chicken Cacciatore and Chicken Chasseur/Poulet Chasseur are essentially the same recipe. Chicken Chasseur is the French name for Chicken Cacciatore.
Other Whole30 Recipes
Recipe Details
Chicken Cacciatore Casserole a One Skillet Meal
Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken bone-in legs, thighs
- 1 Clove Garlic
- 1 Red Pepper or Green
- 2 cups Button Mushrooms sliced
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- ½ cup Dry White Wine or apple cider vinegar
- 400 ml Tomato Puree use 800 ml if you are serving on top of pasta or rice
- 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil or Ghee
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese, grated if serving over pasta
Instructions
- Remove skin from chicken (optional, but recommended)
- In a large skillet, fry garlic in olive oil until flavorful.
- Place chicken in pan and season side up. Brown chicken. Flip, season other side.
- Add white wine and let simmer until partially evaporated.
- Add vegetables and tomato paste
- Add Tomato puree and bring to gentle boil. If you are using whole tomato, try and break up the tomato with a wooden spoon if necessary.
- Add bay leaves and oregano.
- Simmer covered for about 45 minutes until the chicken is fork tender.
- Once done, let stand for 10 minutes.
- If serving over pasta, add parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
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Food Safety
Note that the storage guidelines provided on this page and site are estimates from personal experiences. We are all adults and as an adult you are responsible to ensure that the food you eat is safe to eat. Since, I'm not a food safety expert, you are responsible to review your local guidelines on food storage prior to storing any food left-overs.
Remember to:
- Not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For Canadian Guidelines check Government of Canada's Food and Safety Guidelines, see more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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