Description
This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is a flavorful and hearty Italian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken thighs braised in a rich tomato-based sauce with bell peppers, mushrooms, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it combines the convenience of pressure cooking with traditional braising flavors, served best over pasta or rice for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 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 & Canned Goods
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup dry sherry (omit for Whole30 compliance)
Herbs & Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black 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. Once hot, place chicken thighs skin side down and sauté for 3 minutes until browned. Flip and cook for an additional minute, then remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables in Instant Pot: Plug in the Instant Pot and press the sauté button. When heated, add remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then add chopped onion and red and green bell peppers. Sauté for 3 minutes until softened.
- Add Mushrooms and Seasonings: Add sliced mushrooms, salt, and pepper to the sautéed vegetables. Cook for 1 more minute, stirring frequently.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Return seared chicken to the pot. Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, dry sherry (optional), dried oregano, dried basil, bay leaf, and garlic paste. Stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Pressure Cook: Seal the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the venting knob is set to seal. Select the pressure cook button, set it to high pressure with normal mode, and set the timer for 13 minutes.
- Release Pressure: When cooking is complete and the Instant Pot beeps, either allow the pressure to release naturally or carefully perform a quick release by moving the venting knob to vent using 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 and serve with a side of vegetables. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
- This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is a modern twist on a beloved Italian classic, perfect for achieving tender, juicy chicken with minimal hands-on time.
- You can omit the dry sherry if seeking a Whole30 compliant version.
- Serve over your choice of pasta or rice to soak up the delicious sauce.
- The dish can be made ahead and reheated, flavors deepen with time.
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
