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Creamy Skillet Chicken Cacciatore has the most amazing creamy red sauce with peppers, mushrooms, and fresh basil. The chicken is tender and juicy and on the dinner table in 30 minutes!
Warm your home with this flavorful dish that brings out all the feel goods. The wonderful smell will draw everyone to the kitchen within minutes. Unstuffed Pepper Skillet, Italian Orzo and Sausage Skillet or Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Vegetable Skillet are a few one skillet meals for you to enjoy!
Creamy Skillet Chicken Cacciatore
I realized that it is getting pretty close to the babies arrival so we have been going full force trying to get everything ready to go. We have been finishing our basement which has been quite the project. We are only about 3 weeks away from having it completed and I can’t wait to have a fun space for the family once baby arrives.
Right now we have both of our girls bedrooms next to each other but one of the rooms is used as a playroom. All of this will move to a playroom that we made in the basement and we will be able to put the babies room together. We are cutting it really close but that seems how life is! I ordered the babies furniture finally and I am starting to envision this sweet little girl that will be coming to our home. It is starting to feel more real!
We have been so busy with our basement and life in general that I love when I can make a delicious and easy recipe for the family. Chicken Cacciatore is one of my favorites. It is such a classic recipe with its red sauce with mushrooms, basil, and served over hot pasta. I customized the sauce to our families taste… bring on the creaminess, and it was a huge success!
How Do You Make Creamy Skillet Chicken Cacciatore?
- Season the chicken with Italian seasoning and salt and pepper. In a large skillet add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat to medium high.
- Cook the chicken about 3 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 165 degrees and brown on each side. Set aside the chicken on the plate.
- Add one tablespoon olive oil to the skillet and add the garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Sauté until tender.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer until thickened.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet until heated through. Serve over hot pasta and garnish with fresh chopped basil and parmesan cheese if desired.
What Does Cacciatore mean?
Cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian. In cuisine, alla cacciatora refers to a meal prepared “hunter-style” with onions, herbs, usually tomatoes, often bell peppers, and sometimes wine. Cacciatore is popularly made with braised chicken or rabbit.
You might be getting some quick and easy meals from here on out from the preggo Recipe Critic. But I still enjoy cooking for my family. But thats the thing! You don’t have to make it difficult to give your family a restaurant quality meal. And this meal is made in just one pot and on the dinner table in just 30 minutes!
Can You Make Chicken Cacciatore in a Slow Cooker?
Yes! This is a great slow cooker meal!
- Lightly brown the chicken in a skillet. Add the chicken to the slow cooker. Add the Italian Seasoning on top of the chicken.
- Continue to sauté the following ingredients for the sauce.
- Once cooked, you will add the sauce to the slow cooker on top of the chicken.
- Cook on low 4 to 6 hours until the chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can You Make Chicken Cacciatore Ahead of Time?
Yes! This is a great recipe that can be made ahead of time. It reheats well too!
What is the Best Way to Reheat Chicken Cacciatore?
- Microwave: Place leftovers in a microwave safe container. Heating 1 minute at a time.
- Oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place leftovers in an oven safe baking dish. Cover with foil and bake 15 to 20 minutes until warm.
- Stove top: Place leftovers in a cooking pan and cover with lid. Cook over medium heat until warm. Stirring occasionally.
Does Chicken Cacciatore Freeze Well?
Yes! Although, I recommend making this dish fresh and reheating within the week for best results. This does make a great freezer meal too. Using an airtight container to store it or a freezer safe bag works best when freezing. When ready to reheat the Chicken Cacciatore, thaw the freezer package, then chose a reheating method from above.
What Goes Well With Creamy Skillet Chicken Cacciatore?
Semolina pasta, gnocchi, rice or egg noodles are great! Large cut, lightly seasoned roasted potatoes to decorate the dish look professional. A side of spinach or broccoli quickly sautéed in a bit of olive oil, butter and garlic can add some variety too!
Not only is this red sauce perfectly creamy, it has tender peppers, fresh basil, mushrooms and the perfect blend of spices. Add some tender and juicy pan fried chicken and serve it over some pasta and you have the perfect meal.
You guys are going to love this quick and easy skillet meal!
Looking For More Chicken Recipes? Here Are Some!
- Creamy Chicken Marsala
- Lemon Garlic butter Herb Chicken and Asparagus
- Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken
- No Peek Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Easy Baked Cheesy Mushroom Chicken
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Creamy Skillet Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/2 yellow pepper
- 8 ounce mushrooms sliced
- 15 ounce crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- freshly grated parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Season the chicken with Italian seasoning and salt and pepper. In a large skillet add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat to medium high.
- Cook the chicken about 3 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 165 degrees and brown on each side. Set aside the chicken on the plate.
- Add one tablespoon olive oil to the skillet and add the garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Sauté until tender.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer until thickened.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet until heated through. Serve over hot pasta and garnish with fresh chopped basil and parmesan cheese if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was very good. I think next time I might add a little crushed red pepper flakes and sundried tomato. Just needs a little something extra. We did enjoy it.
Chicken Caccatori is my one of my favorites. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes. My family will love it!!
Alyssa could I just substitute whole milk to lower calories? Love your recipes!
I have made this a number of times. The beauty of it is, it is easy enough for a week night meal, but also tasty and elegant enough to serve guests or as a Sunday dinner. I have all ingredients on hand, so I am making tonight. This is a winner, winner chicken dinner!
A friend told me about your site and I saw this recipe and thought why not give it a whirl. The house smelled so good while cooking and I paired it with polenta as one other poster did and even my picky eater loves it ?
I love this dish. The few times I have made it, it comes out so creamy and delicious. Could you post Nutritional Facts about the recipe?
Hi David!!
I am so glad that you like it!! I love this dish as well! I am actually working through my recipes right now to get that information updated. Thanks so much for following along with me!!
Just found this recipe, and so glad I did! I used up some of my garden peppers and crushed up some of my home grown tomatoes. Tasted so fresh! I will definitely make this again!
Very late to the party, but this was excellent. I had leftover polenta to bake up and wanted something saucy for it. This doesn’t make a LOT of sauce, but was perfect for what I needed.
Regarding the tomato issue, it’s always good to think WHY something is how it is. Yes, whole tomatoes are great for sauce…but it would definitely not be done so quickly in a skillet. I’m also of the opinion that a more authentic cacciatore would start with a whole chicken — use the bone-in parts and then what’s left after you store the chicken breasts to make the stock, etc.. I don’t have that time after work!
So yeah, crushed tomatoes are fine, and this is a faster recipe that kills that craving beautifully.
Thank you for sharing this recipe and for all the feedback in the comments. I doubled the sauce as recommended and used full fat coconut milk instead of heavy cream since we are dairy free in my house. What a hit with my husband, I’ve already made this 3 times! I put a batch in the freezer to see if it freezes well for meal batching. Thanks again!
1/4 what of cream? Pint? Quart?
1/4 cup of heavy cream
The recipe is delicious and my family loved it Alyssa!
PS: Lorna, get therapy. If you really feel like you have to be such a witch with a capital B over a very obvious typo on an online recipe, you’ve got much bigger problems than 1/4 CUP of heavy cream baby!
Red Peppers are great too and Half & Half if don’t have heavy cream.
This was just fabulous! Our house had the best aroma while cooking. My husband is the most picky eater & he finished his plate, mushrooms and all. I added capers, which added a little twist. I love all your recipes. Great job!!!!
Made this tonight and really enjoyed it! A nice and easy “comfort meal”. I cut up a whole red pepper and half a yellow pepper. My daughter told me to put in more peppers next time! I do wish it gave a little bit more sauce. Seemed as soon as I put the chicken back into the pan, the sauce drastically lessened. ?
Thank you for yet another recipe, Alyssa! Can’t wait to see which one I will try next!
What kind of Italian seasoning would you specifically recommend? I am gonna try this for the first time and want to use the right one 😀 Can’t wait to make it, looks so delicious!
I love McCormick Italian Seasoning. Enjoy! It is a delicious recipe!
Great recipe Alyssa!
Thanks,
Alan
Can you substitute something for the mushrooms I’m allergic
You are welcome to omit the mushrooms.