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    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Instant Pot / Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

    Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

    Published: May 1, 2020 by Anna 25 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is pure comfort food! Made conveniently in the pressure cooker, this Italian classic is made with chicken thighs and flavorful tomato sauce with veggies.

    Similar to my Instant Pot Chicken Marsala, this dish is saucy and perfect served with mashed potatoes, rice or pasta.

    Chicken with tomato sauce in the Instant Pot.

    This classic Italian hunter's stew dish is pure comfort food! The chicken is fall-apart tender and cooked in the veggie-loaded sauce. It tastes like it's been cooking all day but it only took 12 minutes or pressure cooking time! It's a rustic dish made with the convenience of a modern small appliance and I am obsessed with it.

    Ingredients:

    • boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
    • salt and pepper
    • olive oil
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • yellow onion
    • red bell pepper
    • carrots
    • mushrooms
    • diced tomatoes (1 can)
    • tomato paste
    • Italian seasoning
    • black olives
    • chicken broth

    How to make Chicken Cacciatore in the Instant Pot?

    • Heat up oil in the Instant Pot.
    • Seasoning chicken and brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove onto a plate.
    • Add more oil and saute veggies (garlic, onion, pepper).
    • Add Italian seasoning and stir in. Saute for a couple of minutes.
    Satueing chicken and veggies in pressure cooker.
    • Add carrots, mushrooms and saute for 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Add chicken broth and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Add diced tomatoes and olives.
    • Place chicken thighs back in the Instant Pot.
    • Lock the lid, set pressure valve to sealing position and press "manual" button.
    • Set timer to 12 minutes to cook on HIGH pressure.
    • Once done, press "cancel/off" and let the IP release pressure naturally.
    Veggies with stock and chicken in the pressure cooker.

    What to serve with this Chicken Cacciatore?

    Since this dish is very saucy, I like to serve it with mashed potatoes, a side of a salad (like my Perfect Caesar Salad), and sourdough bread or Focaccia bread. You will need it to soak up every bit of the delicious sauce!

    Rice, quinoa, or pasta is also great with this chicken. Feel free to use what you like!

    Chicken thighs vs. chicken breasts

    I prefer and recommend chicken thighs for this dish because they are more flavorful. Also, they make this dish very affordable since the thighs are the cheapest cut of meat you can buy. If you don't have or don't like thighs, by all means, feel free to use breasts.

    Expert tips:

    • Saute the Italian seasoning with veggies to "activate" the dried herbs and ensure that the dish is flavorful.
    • It is very important to deglaze the bottom of the pot after browning the meat and sauteing the vegetables. This will prevent the dish from burning on the bottom which can lead to the IP not being able to build the pressure.
    • Serve whole chicken thighs with sauce or shred the meat and mix in.
    • To freeze: cool the dish completely, then portion out into freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge, then heat up with 1/2 cup of water in the Instant Pot.
    Chicken with tomato sauce, veggies on a white plate.

    More Instant Pot dinner recipes:

    • Pot Roast
    • Sweet Garlic Chicken
    • Chicken Thighs with gravy

    For more recipes using the digital pressure cooker, feel free to browse our Instant Pot Category. Also, check out my Instant Pot Guide for Beginners, filled with all the info you need to get started with your new appliance! Seeing BURN message on your IP? Read my Instant Pot Burn Message post to learn why and how to save your dish.

    If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀

    Chicken cacciatore in the Instant Pot.

    Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

    Author: Anna
    This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is pure comfort food! Made conveniently in the pressure cooker, this Italian classic is made with chicken thighs and flavorful tomato sauce with veggies.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    coming to pressure 8 mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 320 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 to 5 boneless skinless chicken thighs
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
    • 1 red bell pepper chopped
    • 2 medium carrots chopped
    • 4 baby Bella mushrooms washed and sliced
    • 15 oz can diced tomatoes
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1 cup black olives halved
    • 3/4 cup chicken broth or stock

    Instructions
     

    • Press the "Saute" button and add 1 tablespoon of oil to your Instant Pot.
    • Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper on all sides.
    • Brown chicken in the oil, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
    • Remove chicken onto a plate.
    • Add more oil to the IP and add garlic, onion, and pepper. Saute, stirring often, until the onion is almost translucent.
    • Add Italian seasoning and stir in. Saute for 1 minute.
    • Add carrots and mushrooms, saute for 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Add half of the chicken broth and deglaze the bottom of the pot. That means scraping any cooked-on bits with a wooden spoon. This will prevent the burn message.
    • Add remaining broth, tomato paste, diced tomatoes and olives. Stir well. Place chicken back in the IP.
    • Close the lid, set valve to "sealing" position (the newer models do it on their own). Make sure the Instant Pot is set to cook at high pressure.
    • Press the "manual" or "pressure cook" button and set timer to 12 minutes. The IP will beep after a few seconds and it will start building up pressure. This can take about 5 to 8 minutes.
    • Once the cooking cycle is done, press the "cancel/off" button. Let the IP release pressure on it's own. That means do not touch the pressure valve.
    • Once the pressure valve pin is down, carefully open the lid away from your face. Let the dish sit for a few minutes while you set the table.
    • Serve whole pieces of chicken with the sauce or shred the meat and stir in.

    Notes

    1. Serve this dish with pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.
    2. To freeze: cool the dish completely, then portion out into freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge, then heat up with 1/2 cup of water in the Instant Pot.
    3. Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 1170mg | Potassium: 922mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 6450IU | Vitamin C: 54mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

    More Instant Pot Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. K Jett says

      August 10, 2022 at 11:45 am

      Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m currently blessed to have an over abundance of tomatoes. So will use fresh tomatoes in lieu of canned. Will cook the tomatoes first to cook out some of their water. May add tomato paste if its too thin. Either way I’m sure it will be tasty.

      Reply
      • Anna says

        September 03, 2022 at 10:28 pm

        That sounds perfect! I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    2. Barb C says

      April 12, 2022 at 6:32 pm

      5 stars
      So quick and easy and deluciius

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 10, 2022 at 9:37 pm

        Thank you so much, Barb!

        Reply
    3. Melissa says

      June 21, 2021 at 8:30 pm

      Sounds delicious but is it possible to cook the rice at the same time in the instant pot?

      Reply
    4. Tracey Person says

      January 02, 2021 at 11:44 am

      We don't care for mushrooms, do you have a suggestion for a substitute? If not, do I need to alter the recipe in any way if I omit them? Thanks, I'm looking forward to trying this recipe!

      Reply
      • Barb C says

        April 12, 2022 at 6:33 pm

        I used white button

        Reply
    5. DJ says

      December 06, 2020 at 11:33 am

      Loved the recipe, really tasty. But no mention on when to add the bell pepper. When should that be added. Also, no need to let the IP release pressure on its own. That can take 30 min. I released after 10 min by turning the pressure valve. Also, the chicken came out fine, but the chicken thighs were not whole, but rather completely broken apart. Would love a suggestion on how to prevent that from happening. Thanks

      Reply
      • Yolanda says

        January 23, 2022 at 9:54 pm

        Tge bell pepper is added in step 5.

        Reply
    6. Felicity Thambyah says

      November 29, 2020 at 7:30 am

      5 stars
      Very tasty. Made tonight and doubled recipe. Only added half amount of water. Came out very saucy but thin so thickened with corn flour. Method doesn't mention when to add capsicum but I just added with carrot step. Adding this recipe to my list for bulk cooking meals for freezer. I served with cauliflower rice for myself, regular rice for husband and pasta for kids (rice and pasta were already cooked in frige so was just using up all leftovers, normally wouldn't serve so many different options haha)

      Reply
      • Anna says

        November 29, 2020 at 5:46 pm

        Thank you, Felicity! I am so glad the cacciatore was a hit!

        Reply
    7. Lorna Weber says

      November 17, 2020 at 8:43 am

      I’m going to try this today, but with bone-in thighs. Will follow IP instructions for bone-in cooking and let you know!

      Reply
    8. Laura says

      October 08, 2020 at 5:24 pm

      5 stars
      My boyfriend made this chicken cacciatore for dinner last night and it was SO GOOD. He doubled the recipe so we’d have leftovers, and I was excited to eat it again for the 2nd night in a row. Chicken falls apart and there’s lots of tasty sauce for putting over pasta (or cauliflower rice for a healthier option). We also served with French bread. Kids ages 5 and 7 approved as well so I’d say it was a hit! Will definitely make again.

      Reply
    9. Rachel says

      August 09, 2020 at 5:41 pm

      Can you make with chicken breasts and would you change the pressure time?

      Reply
    10. ishtar says

      July 21, 2020 at 12:18 pm

      Yum yum yum even better the next day!!! Thanks CCS!!

      Reply
    11. Audrey says

      May 04, 2020 at 2:21 pm

      5 stars
      This is now my favorite comfort food ever! I love how saucy this dish is! Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 04, 2020 at 10:31 pm

        Comfort food for sure! Thank you, Audrey!

        Reply
    12. Eden says

      May 04, 2020 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      So happy with how this turned out! Incredibly easy to make and delicious! Thank you for this recipe!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 04, 2020 at 10:32 pm

        Thank you, Eden! I am so glad it was a hit!

        Reply
    13. Natasha says

      May 04, 2020 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      The sauce and chicken is so full of flavor! I served this to my family the other night with mashed potatoes and pasta and it was a hit!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 04, 2020 at 10:32 pm

        That's fantastic! Thank you, Natasha!

        Reply
    14. wilhelmina says

      May 03, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      5 stars
      This turned out amazing! Incredible flavor and the chicken was juicy and fall-apart tender. Delicious!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 04, 2020 at 10:32 pm

        Awesome! Thank you, Wilhelmina!

        Reply
    15. Julia says

      May 03, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! My Hubby just made this for dinner and we can't get enough! The sauce is incredible and the chicken falls apart. Delicious! I can't wait to have it again.

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 04, 2020 at 10:33 pm

        I love that! So glad it was a hit! Thank you, Julia!

        Reply

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