Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore Recipe (2024)

Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore Recipe Tips and Variations

Can use any chicken cut— You can prefer any chicken cut to prepare this super delicious recipe; the choice is yours. However, chicken breasts stay juicy and hold on together without falling apart during the cooking and simmering, and I recommend using them.

Varied cooking time for a different chicken cut— Chicken breasts cook faster than the other chicken cut. For example, bone-in chicken takes a little longer to cook, with 15 minutes in an instant pot. Likewise, different cuts will have slight variations in the cooking time.

If using chicken thighs — Both skin-on-bone and skinless chicken thighs are great for this recipe. It is entirely your preference to use either.

Flavorsome addition— Marinara sauce adds tons of flavor and saucy creaminess to this traditional Chicken Cacciatore dinner. You can use the store-bought marinara sauce for this recipe or churn a freshly prepared homemade marinara sauce to kick it up a notch.

Veggie variations — Any veggies of your choice can go into preparing this nutritious Chicken Cacciatore. However, bell peppers and broccoli will work great. So, if you are not a mushroom lover, consider substituting mushrooms with other veggies.

The magic of adding wine— Wine enhances the delectability of this recipe manifold by adding a depth of flavor to it. The alcohol burns away while cooking, but the taste of the sauce intensifies with its addition, elevating the overall deliciousness of the dish. Therefore, always take advantage of wine when preparing this recipe.

Browning chicken is essential— Browning helps seal the chicken’s juices, which aids in adding extra flavor to the dish. Therefore, this part of the cooking process should not be skipped.

Pasta options — Although any pasta or cooked Spaghetti will work well when preparing this chicken delicacy, angel hair pasta or capellini is an excellent option to consider.

Adding the umami wonders— Consider adding soya sauce and fish sauce if you have an affinity for umami flavors. These sauces will bring a flavorsome twist to the dish.

A quick deglazing— Deglazing the dish after cooking is recommended as it aids the browned bits sticking to the bottom of the Instant Pot to come off quickly.

Olives for more appeal — Olives added to the Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore recipe at the end will bring more magical flavor and appeal.

Remedy for a runny sauce— A watery sauce can be set right by adding two tablespoons of tomato sauce to it while simmering. The other way to bring the runny sauce to a thicker consistency is to boil it for a while. Take the chicken from the pot and bring the sauce to a boil while sautéing it for a few minutes. It will take a few minutes to come to the desired consistency. Add the chicken back to the pot and mix well.

Bringing glamour to the dish— Garnish your freshly prepared Chicken Cacciatore with capers or with parsley and lemons, and add a hint of glamour to this delicacy.

For wine connoisseurs— If you are serving this delicious dish with wine, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris is an excellent choice to consider.

Deglazing is a must — When cooking in the Instant Pot, always remember to deglaze the insert, as any burnt food bits stuck to its base will cause the BURN message. Continuous deglazing and scraping of the food from the bottom of the Instant Pot Insert will prevent the burn message from flashing.

Gluten-free recipe— The only gluten content in this recipe comes from the pasta. So, if you plan to make this dish gluten-free, swap the pasta with white rice, and you are sorted.

Varying spiciness— This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore is perfectly spiced for those who prefer spiciness in moderation. But if you love spicier food, add more chili flakes or try cayenne peppers instead of the chili flakes and dig into the hot spicy delicacy.

Interesting substitutions— This dish can be customized according to your choice. Here is how you can bring in a few customizations:

• This recipe uses mushrooms. But if you want to try some other veggies of your choice, feel free to go ahead. Instead of mushrooms, try some bell peppers, potatoes, artichokes, and broccoli. All of these make excellent alternatives.
• Shallots can replace onions in this recipe, which will taste great.
• White wine can be substituted with red wine, bringing a beautiful flavor.
• If you don’t prefer broth for any reason, consider adding water.
• Avocado oil makes a great alternative to olive oil in this recipe. You can use either.