Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
What’s for dinner? Are you after an IP chicken dinner that is quick and easy? This recipe for the best instant pot chicken cacciatore or should I say Italian chicken stew is for you.
A comforting Italian tomato stew made with simple kitchen staple ingredients and it is fully packed with flavour from garlic, mixed herbs, tomato and chilli. This easy instant pot chicken stew recipe is perfect for busy weeknight dinners and great for meal prepping.
What Is Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken cacciatore is a classic Italian hunter’s stew made with onions, tomatoes and herbs with occasional use of bell peppers, mushroom and wine.
Cacciatore is made with braised chicken or rabbit but today I would be showing you how to make this delicious stew in your instant pot electric pressure cooker with bone-in chicken thighs.
The chicken falls off the bone nicely, one word for this chicken stew delicious!
This delicious Italian chicken stew is usually slowed cooked but thanks to an instant pot pressure cooker, you can have this cacciatore chicken from your kitchen to your table under 30 minutes. This is one recipe your family would enjoy.
Jump to RecipeWhy This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore Is The Best
- This dish is packed full of flavour and it only uses a handful of ingredients. This instant pot chicken cacciatore recipe is so quick to make and you can make it a dump and go recipe, but I prefer to saute the onions and sear the chicken a bit before I continue cooking.
- Compared to the slow cooker version, this pressure cooker chicken cacciatore only requires 8 minutes cook time and the overall flavour of the dish is not compromised.
- It makes a great weeknight night dinner, especially for fussy kids. I made this hunter-style dish without mushroom and bell peppers to please my darling daughter. She would pick them out if they are not covered with cheese.
- Chicken cacciatore is a comforting dish that doesn’t put a dent in your pocket, it is inexpensive and utterly delicious. Don’t even get me started on the sauce. it is amazing.
- You can serve this dish with just about anything.
Ingredients For Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Bone-in chicken thighs: this is my favourite chicken part, but you can also use skinless boneless chicken thighs or chicken breasts.
Olive oil
Tomato paste
Garlic: fresh cloves or granules
Canned chopped tomatoes: substitute with passata
Salt and ground black pepper
Mixed herbs: substitute for Italian herbs, oregano or basil
Chicken bouillon powder: substitute with chicken stock cubes or sock
Fresh thyme to garnish
Chopped onions
Chilli powder: optional, I added for a little kick
Worcestershire sauce: this is totally optional but what to serve with chicken cacciatore an unusual additions on my recipes, I mostly add this sauce to tomato sauce.
Other ingredient variations include
Mushroom
Bay leaves
Red wine
Parmesan cheese to garnish
Chopped bell peppers
Make this simple Italian sauce in your crockpot (slow cooker) on high for 3 hours or low between 6 and 8 hours. Alternatively, cook on the stove top over medium heat and simmer for an hour.
How To Make Chicken Cacciatore In Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of this page
Prep the ingredients and season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
Saute the Chicken: Turn on the IP and select the saute button, add oil and heat until hot. Add the chopped onions and saute until translucent and soft, then followed by the chicken thighs, sear for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until slightly browned (you might need to work in batches with the chicken pieces). If working with more than 4 pieces of chicken thighs, add all the chicken back to the inner pot and carefully stir to combine.
Add the rest of the ingredients: Pour the crushed tomatoes over the chicken, add the tomato paste, bouillon powder, garlic granules, herbs and gently stir to combine ensuring you don’t have anything stuck to the bottom of the pan to avoid getting “burn” notice. Cancel the sauté function. (This whole process should take about 6 minutes)
Lock the lid of the instant pot securely and set the valve to sealing. Select manual or pressure cook button and set on high pressure for 8 minutes. Once the chicken cacciatore has finished cooking, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes and carefully do a quick release. Open the lid, stir the stew to combine, garnish with fresh herbs of choice and serve as desired.
What To Serve With Chicken Cacciatore
Serve this instant pot chicken cacciatore over mashed potatoes, polenta, pasta, crusty bread like this garlic bread but my go-to is rice, fried plantain and steamed broccoli.
Other IP Chicken Recipes On The Blog
Pressure cooker shredded chicken
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Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 6 pieces Bone-in chicken thighs about 1kg
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/3 cup onions chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 1½ canned chopped tomatoes 600g
- Salt and ground black pepper to season
- ½ tablespoon mixed herbs
- ½ tablespoon chicken bouillon powder
- Fresh thyme to garnish
- Chilli powder use as desired
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Prep the ingredients and season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Turn on the IP and select the saute button, add oil and heat until hot. Add the chopped onions and saute until translucent and soft, then followed by the chicken thighs, sear for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until slightly browned (you might need to work in batches with the chicken pieces). If working with more than 4 pieces of chicken thighs, add all the chicken back to the inner pot and carefully stir to combine.
- Pour the crushed tomatoes over the chicken, add the tomato paste, bouillon powder, garlic granules, herbs and gently stir to combine ensuring you don’t have anything stuck to the bottom of the pan to avoid getting “burn” notice. Cancel the sauté function. (This whole process should take about 6 minutes)
- Lock the lid of the instant pot securely and set the valve to sealing. Select manual or pressure cook button and set on high pressure for 8 minutes. Once the chicken cacciatore has finished cooking, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes and carefully do a quick release. Open the lid, stir the stew to combine, garnish with fresh herbs of choice and serve as desired.
Notes
Slow cooker and Stove Top options
Make this simple Italian sauce in your crockpot (slow cooker) on high for 3 hours or low between 6 and 8 hours. Alternatively, cook on the stove Top over medium heat and simmer for an hour.Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
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