Pollo alla Cacciatora (Hunter's Chicken Stew)
Bone-in chicken braised with peppers, olives and rosemary in tomato sauce until it falls off the bone.
Made with Basic tomato sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 10
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.88 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a wide casserole over a medium-high heat and brown the thighs skin side down for 6 minutes, then turn and brown for 3 minutes. Lift out onto a plate.
9 min - 2
Tip off all but 1 tablespoon of fat. Add the peppers and mushrooms and cook for 6 minutes until starting to colour. Add the garlic for 1 minute.
7 min - 3
Pour in the wine and let it bubble for 2 minutes, scraping up the brown bits.
2 min - 4
Add your ready made basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe), the rosemary, olives and capers. Return the chicken, skin side up, and bring to a simmer.
- 5
Cover and cook gently for 35 minutes, then uncover for 10 minutes to thicken. The chicken should be tender, with no pink at the bone.
45 min - 6
Taste, adjust the seasoning and serve with polenta, rice or crusty bread.
Tips
- Brown the chicken properly first. The browned bits left in the pan give the sauce its depth.
- Keep the skin above the liquid while it braises so it stays a little crisp.
- Swap the wine for chicken stock if you prefer to cook without alcohol.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use chicken breast?
Yes, but add it for the last 20 minutes only, as breast dries out in a long braise. Thighs and drumsticks give a richer, more tender result.
Is cacciatore gluten free?
Yes, as written. It uses no flour or stock cube, so it is gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free.
Can I make it in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the chicken and veg first, then cook everything on low for 6 hours. Add the olives and capers for the last 30 minutes.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
