Chicken Cacciatore

Begin by pulling out a large pot. This dish is a one pot meal, so you need a big pot. Bring to a medium heat on your stovetop.

As the pot is heating up, season your chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper. Add the flour to a large ziploc back, and toss in the chicken. Seal and give the bag a good shake, making sure you lightly coat all of the pieces of chicken with the flour.

Next, add the olive oil to the heated pot, letting it come to a shimmer. Take the chicken out of the bag, shaking to remove any excess flour, and add it, skin down into the pot. Add all of the chicken pieces, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook for about 4-6 minutes per side, then remove them to a plate. We will finish cooking the chicken in the sauce.

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rest of your vegetables, or have them prepared in advance.

Once you remove the chicken from the pot, toss your chopped onion, garlic, and red bell peppers into the pot, and cook until the onion is a bit tender, or begins to sweat. Add in your wine and increase the heat to a medium-high heat. You want to cook the wine until it reduces, making the beginning of a great gravy.

Next, toss in your tomatoes, some salt and pepper, oregano, stock, and your capers. Bring to a boil.

Then, submerge, as best you can, the chicken into your cacciatore sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for about 25 minutes.

When you are ready to plate, take a serving bowl, something with slight depth, and add the cooked pasta. Then top with the chicken cacciatore, serving family style, alongside a basket of crusty Italian bread.

Your end result is a fall off the bone, tender chicken that is smothered with probably the best gravy in this world. The great hint of wine, and brininess from the capers is just something that keeps you eating. It is a dish that halts a conversation at the table, only coming up to say things like “wow”, “oh my”, “holy moly”. Yes, it is that good. Oh yeah, and the bread. Use the bread as your dunking tool, making sure to sop up all of the delicious cacciatore sauce.

If you are looking for an easy throw together meal, and one you could probably put in a slow cooker while you go to work, this would be the one you are looking for. I hope you enjoy.