Description
This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is a flavorful and easy one-pot Italian-inspired meal featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a rich tomato sauce with bell peppers, mushrooms, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, it comes together quickly using the Instant Pot for juicy, melt-in-your-mouth chicken served over pasta or rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Oil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 7 chicken thighs (skin and bone in)
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion (chopped in chunks)
- 1 medium red bell pepper (chopped in chunks)
- 1 medium green bell pepper (chopped in chunks)
- 10 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
Liquids and Seasonings
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup dry sherry (optional; omit for Whole30 compliance)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 teaspoons garlic paste (or 3 cloves garlic, crushed)
Instructions
- Sear the Chicken: Heat a sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and when hot, place the chicken thighs skin side down. Sauté for 3 minutes until browned, then flip and cook for another minute. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables in Instant Pot: Turn on the Instant Pot to the sauté function. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once hot, add chopped onion and red and green bell peppers. Sauté for 3 minutes until slightly softened.
- Add Mushrooms and Seasonings: Add the sliced mushrooms along with salt and pepper, and sauté for an additional 1 minute to develop flavor.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Place the seared chicken thighs back into the Instant Pot. Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, dry sherry (if using), oregano, basil, bay leaf, and garlic paste. Stir gently to combine.
- Pressure Cook: Seal the Instant Pot lid and ensure the venting knob is set to seal. Select the pressure cook button, set to high pressure on normal mode, and set timer for 13 minutes.
- Release Pressure: When cooking finishes, either allow the pressure to release naturally or carefully perform a quick release by turning the venting knob to vent position while wearing an oven mitt.
- Serve: Transfer the chicken and sauce to a serving dish or serve directly from the Instant Pot. Ladle over cooked pasta or rice, add your favorite vegetables, and enjoy this hearty Italian classic.
Notes
- This is a modern twist on traditional Italian chicken cacciatore, streamlined for the Instant Pot to save time on a busy weeknight.
- Dry sherry adds depth but can be omitted for Whole30 or alcohol-free variations.
- Using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs helps keep the meat juicy and flavorful.
- Serve over pasta, rice, or even creamy polenta for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 243 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 107 mg
