This delicious and easy Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore features tender chicken cooked in a flavorful tomato sauce with onions, peppers, and herbs. It's ready in under an hour with only 15 minutes of hands on time, and uses 12 common ingredients. This classic Italian dish makes for a hearty, flavorful, and satisfying meal.
With juicy shredded chicken in every bite, easy clean-up, and a set it and forget it style, you'll love this delicious Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore recipe for any night of the week.
It's also a great freezer meal, meal prep recipe, and postpartum meal for new moms!
This Easy Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is a weeknight dinner that I most enjoy in the cooler months because of it's cozy flavor and stew-like texture. I like serving this recipe to impress at low key dinner parties. It is a true winner in texture and flavor.
Pair it with my Italian Mashed Potatoes, Gluten-Free Baguette, gluten-free pasta, rice, or creamy polenta.
Because this recipe has a great texture after freezing and thawing, I like to make a double batch for meal prep. For more great freezer meals, check out my Savory Pumpkin Stew, No Bean Chili, Italian Minestrone Soup, Kale Lentil Curry, and Pork Green Curry.
For more Instant Pot Recipes, check out my Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup, Tomato Soup with Shrimp, Instant Pot Minestrone Soup, Instant Pot Beef Stew with red wine, and Instant Pot Short Ribs with red wine.
For easy Italian-themed desserts, considering serving Dairy-Free Tiramisu or Stracciatella Vegan Gelato after the main course.
Jump to:
What is a Cacciatore?
A "cacciatore" is a style of Italian meal preparation that pairs a meat with vegetables. It is often in a stew-like form. Common vegetables include tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and bell peppers. Meats can include chicken, beef, rabbit, or lamb.
Wine and herbs are also often included in these dishes. Cacciatore is a long-standing food tradition originating all the way back to 14th Century Italy!
How to make it (with photos)
Ingredients Notes + Substitutions
In true Italian style, you only need common ingredients to make this easy Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore. Fresh veggies, canned tomatoes, herbs, aromatics, and juicy chicken are the soul of this recipe.
- Chicken thighs - Boneless skinless thighs are my preferred cut of chicken because they are juicy and have a rich flavor. Chicken breasts or tenders are a fine substitute. If using a cut of chicken with skin, remove the skin before cooking the chicken. It becomes rubbery when pressure cooked and will need to be removed before serving (if not removed before cooking).
- Vegetables - I enjoy the classic combination of fresh bell peppers and onions. Mushrooms add additional flavor to the savory sauce. In the variations section below, I include other vegetables you may want to consider.
- Tomato paste - Tomato paste adds a richer flavor to the sauce. I definitely recommend including it if you can.
- Mozzarella cheese - Regular mozzarella or dairy-free mozzarella shreds work perfectly well in this recipe, and I've made it deliciously with both. Cheese is not a traditional ingredient, but I find it balances the acidity of the tomato sauce well and is the difference between good and a totally outstanding dish!
- Dry white wine - Wine adds a sophisticated flavor to this instant pot chicken cacciatore that I love! As I always say for wine recipes, the best wine for cooking is one that you also enjoy for sipping. For a wine-free alcohol-free version, simply leave it out. Most of the alcohol will bubble out of the dish while cooking, so even with wine, this recipe is still safe to serve to children.
- Smoked Paprika - Regular paprika will work well too. I simply prefer that extra smoked flavor in pretty much everything!
You also need olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, dried basil, tomato paste, and a can of diced tomatoes to make this recipe.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
For a flavor twist, consider using Italian Seasoning to taste!
Variations
This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore can be easily adjusted to a variety of preferences with these variations. We make all of these variations in my home for different moods and occasions.
- Make it Saucy - For a saucier version of this Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore, substitute canned tomato puree for canned diced tomatoes. This is my current favorite way to make this recipe!
- Beef Cacciatore - Simply swap the chicken thighs for beef stew meat or even ground beef. If using ground beef, you can submerge the entire block of meat in the broth for cooking. Then break up the meat and stir before serving.
- Switch up the vegetables - It is very Italian to use whatever you have on hand. Hearty potatoes, carrots, celery, snap peas, green beans, and cauliflower are all great options to add to this recipe or to substitute for another vegetable.
- Special Occasion Chicken Cacciatore - This similar recipe that I made and wrote for Mashed.com uses the Instant Pot saute function to saute the chicken and vegetables before pressure cooking. While this method takes extra time, it adds a bit more flavor to the Chicken Cacciatore and is a great flourish for a dinner party or special occasion.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making Chicken Cacciatore in the Instant Pot is an easy 3-step process! Simply add the ingredients to the instant pot, cook at high pressure, add the cheese, and enjoy!
- Fill the Instant Pot: Add all the ingredients, except for chicken and mozzarella cheese, to the instant pot. Stir the ingredients together. Then nestle and bury the chicken thighs into the vegetable mixture.
- Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid. Cook for 25 minutes at high pressure. When finished, push the steam release button to manually reduce pressure. When pressure has been fully released, open the pot carefully to avoid steam injury.
- Finishing Touches: Add the cheese, stir in, and shred the chicken with two forks. Serve warm on its own, with pasta, rice, or Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if you like. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Chicken Cacciatore
Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is a really versatile one-pot meal. It tastes great as a low-carb meal on its own, eaten like a soup or a stew. It's also fantastic over a variety of Italian breads and grains.
Here are some ways I enjoy this recipe:
- served over pasta (this gluten-free pasta is my favorite)
- served over rice
- with cooked polenta
- with a side of fresh bread for dipping (try my delicious gluten-free baguette)
- over or alongside Italian Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
Expert Tips
Make the most flavorful Instant Pot chicken cacciatore with these expert tips!
Use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
For the best flavor and texture, boneless skinless chicken thighs are the best cut of chicken to use. If you decide to use skin-on thighs, remove the skin before placing them in the instant pot since it cooks to a rubbery texture in the pressure cooker.
Thicken the sauce.
If you enjoy a thicker sauce, there are two ways to do this. One is to swap canned tomato puree for canned diced tomatoes.
Another is to mix 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch or potato starch with a couple tablespoons of cold water. Then add the mixture to the instant pot after the pressure is released, when the meal is still very hot. Stir the starch mixture in thoroughly and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
If thickening does not occur, turn the pot to a simmer and bring to a boil for 1 minute while stirring constantly. It should thicken quickly and easily.
Do this step after adding the cheese, since cheese also thickens the sauce.
Recipe FAQs
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this delicious Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
Store leftovers in a sealable airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For meal prep, divide into individual storage prep containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. I really like usingย souper cubesย to freeze leftovers.
Follow the recipe instructions as listed, but instead of using the Instant Pot, use a slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or until chicken is tender and shreds easily with two forks.
To freeze this recipe, allow it to cool completely. Then, ladle it into freezer-safe containers. Once frozen, you can easily store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Making chicken cacciatore on the stove is very similar but a bit more hands-on. Follow the instructions but add the ingredients to a pot on the stove, cover, and simmer instead of pressure cooking. It can take an hour or more of simmering to fully cook the chicken to tender and shreddable.
Check the chicken at about 40 minutes. If it is easy to shred with two forks and the vegetables are tender, then the recipe is finished. Otherwise continue cooking until you reach those milestones.
Related easy + Instant Pot dinner recipes to consider...
Looking for more easy Instant Pot dinner recipes like this Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore? Check these out!
Love this recipe?ย Please leave a 5-star ๐๐๐๐๐ ratingย in the comment field below. Thank you!
๐ Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ยฝ red bell pepper diced
- ยฝ green bell pepper diced
- 8 ounces sliced or quartered mushrooms
- ยพ cup yellow onion diced
- ยผ cup dry white wine
- 3 cloves garlic crushed or minced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 14- ounce can diced tomatoes drained
- 1 ยผ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese regular or dairy-free cheese work here
Spices
- ยฝ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ยพ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 ยผ teaspoons salt
- ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Fill the Instant Pot:ย Add all the ingredients, except for chicken and mozzarella cheese, to the instant pot. Stir the ingredients together. Then nestle and bury the chicken thighs into the vegetable mixture.
- Cook: Secure the instant pot lid. Cook for 25 minutes at high pressure. When finished, push the steam release button to manually reduce pressure. When pressure has been fully released, open the pot carefully to avoid steam injury.
- Finishing Touches:ย Add the cheese, stir in, and shred the chicken with two forks. Serve warm on its own, with pasta, rice, or Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if you like. Enjoy!
Mike says
I found this chicken cacciatore in the instant pot recipe on a Facebook forum and have made it three times since then! a stellar recipe!
Lia says
This chicken cacciatore is so creamy and delicious! I made it with ground beef and on the stove since I donโt have an instant pot. Still turned out great!
Jean says
Iโve now tried this with beef and chicken, and we love both versions!
Margaret Fortier says
Made this recipe and LOVED IT!! I look forward to trying many more of your recipes ! Thank you ๐
Jenna in Idaho says
Wowowow! I actually found this blog through the recipe on Mashed. I always wondered how it would turn out if I just threw all the ingredients in the instant pot and let it go. I will definitely be trying this because the other one is a favorite!