This instant pot chicken cacciatore recipe is so tasty and easy that it makes for a great weeknight meal! The chicken is tender, the gravy is unbelievable, and the instant pot does most of the work!
When I was growing up, we had chicken cacciatore a lot. My mom alternated between serving us this delicious dish and serving chicken marengo. And even though these two chicken dishes are similar, I definitely get a hankering for them each for different reasons. For one thing, this instant pot chicken cacciatore doesn’t have wine and the marengo does.
I love the simplicity of the instant pot (pressure cooker) chicken cacciatore. I’ve talked talked about loving my instant pot before, but I can’t even tell you how it has simplified my life. Now when I think of making dinner or something for the blog, the first thing I ask myself is, “Hmmm, can I make it with my instant pot?”
How to Cook Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Step one: Gather red bell pepper, green bell pepper, onion and mushrooms.
Step two: Chop onion and bell peppers into chunks and slice the mushrooms.
Step three: Add a 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, sherry, oregano, basil, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
Step four: Plug in the instant pot and push the Sauté button. When it has heated up, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil along with the skinless, boneless chicken thighs. Let them cook for 2 minutes on one side, flip them and continue cooking for another minute. Remove the chicken and set aside.
Step five: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the IP again, add the onion and peppers and let them sauté for 3 minutes. Add sliced mushrooms and garlic paste and sauté everything together for one minute more.
Step six: Lock the IP and set it to pressure cook for 10 minutes. Note for your timing that it takes a good 10 minutes for the IP to come to pressure. When it does, it will start counting down the 10 minutes.
Step seven: Once the cacciatore is done, either wait 10 – 15 minutes for the pressure to release naturally or put on a oven mitt and carefully vent the pressure by tapping the release for about a minute before locking it into the vent position.
Transfer the chicken to your serving dish. I use my Dutch oven.
Doesn’t that gravy look outstanding? I plate some pasta and broccoli and ladle the chicken cacciatore right on top.
Look at all those chunky veggies!
Other popular chicken recipes on Dishes Delish:
I hope you enjoy this instant pot chicken cacciatore recipe as much as Christopher and I do.
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And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
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This quick and easy chicken recipe is so delicious, it will taste like you slaved over it for hours!
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 6 chicken thighs boneless and skinless
- 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
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup dry sherry
- 2 teaspoons oregano dried
- 2 teaspoons basil dried
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic paste
Turn your instant pot to sauté. Once it has heated up, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, then the chicken. Sauté for 2 minutes on one side and 1 minute on the other. Remove chicken and set aside.
Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and add onion, red and green peppers and sauté for 3 minutes.
Add mushroom and garlic paste and sauté for 1 minute
Add chicken, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, sherry, oregano, basil, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
Seal the IP, make sure the valve is set to sealed and push the pressure cook button and set the timer to 10 minutes. It will take an additional 10 minutes for the pressure to build until the timer starts to count down.
Either let the IP release pressure naturally or put on an oven mitt and carefully release the pressure, by tapping the vent over and over for a quick release.
Transfer the chicken and gravy over to a serving dish or serve out of IP
Ladle some chicken cacciatore over some pasta or rice along with some vegetable
Serve
Enjoy
You will have extra red gravy. I usually ladle it over pasta! I did not add the pasta in the calorie count! If you prefer breast meat - same timing if the breasts are boneless, but 13 minutes with bone in.
I love chicken cacciatore though we only had it occasionally when I was a kid. Great way to use the instant pot! I love all that gravy!
Thanks so much Katie!
Chicken is my any-time-of-the-day go-to-protein and this chicken cacciatore looks awesome.
Thank you Jo!
I don’t have an Instant Pot just yet, but I may have to get one to try this out! Looks so delicious and comforting! All I’d need is a big hunk of bread for dunkin’ 😉
Mmmm. Dunking bread in this delicious gravy is simply divine. One of the things hubby loves best about this recipe is that there is plenty of leftover gravy to dollop on pasta!! Thanks Dawn!
Loved the recipe , and how you have explained it . Chicken is my favorite and I would love to try this recipe in instant pot
Thank you Swati! I appreciate it!
This really convinces me that I need to get the Instant Pot asap. This chicken looks fantastic and it is so easy to make! Love this recipe.
Edyta, I know that IP’s are hyped, but let me tell you, I am so glad I got mine! Even if you don’t make this recipe, it’s so easy and fun to use!
I love chicken cacciatore, and I can’t even remember the last time I had it. This looks great….and since I don’t have an instant pot….I will try it in the regular pressure cooker. This is a great way to feed a family.
Thank you Gloria!! It really is yummy and the pressure cooker would cook it perfectly!
2 questions, can you use bone-in chicken thighs? If so, any guess on how much longer it would take? And can you use minced garlic instead of the paste? Can’t wait to try this!
Hi Karen! Yes, you can use bone in thighs and 2 cloves of minced garlic. Just add 5 minutes to the pressure cook time and that should do it. It’s super delicious and you’ll have lots of extra gravy (red sauce) for pasta, etc. I hope you enjoy it! Elaine
Just wanted to come back and say I made it and loved it! It was delicious! Served it over egg noddles and it was a big hit! Thanks!
Yay Karen! Thank you so much for telling me. I appreciate it and I’m glad you enjoyed it!
This looks perfect for weeknight meals or for meal-prep lunches! Will hopefully have some homegrown peppers from the garden to try it this year..
Ooo, Kelli! Homegrown peppers!! That sounds glorious! And thank you! I appreciate your comment!
I love how you took this Chicken Cacciatore and made it an easy meal in the insta pot. Can’t wait to try this out for dinner soon.
Thanks Sharon!
I’m moving this weekend and an instant pot is one of the first things on my list to buy when I get to my new place. This is going on my list of recipes to make once I get one!
Yahoo! Kathryn, thank you. Have a easy and smooth move!
So first off…I just printed this recipe off for our dinner menu next week. YEAH ! So excited to try this recipe out! Next – I love that you have made this so easy!! Can’t WAIT to try this! Love my Instant Pot!
Yay!! I’m always trying to find more ways to use my instant pot!! I hope you enjoy it!
I keep saying this, but I really do need to just get an instant pot! The flavors here sound bonkers good!
Thanks Kate!! I know. I was a big IP holdout, but not that I’ve had it for a while, I can’t believe I lived without!
We love chicken cacciatore but it’s been a long time since we had it! Chicken and fish are our go-to protein and making the bird cacciatore style gives it lots of flavor. Thanks for reminding me of this recipe.
Thanks Marisa 🙂 I appreciate your comment!
I’m still getting used to the Instant Pot that I have, so I’m always looking for foolproof recipes that I can try as I learn its ins and outs. Can’t wait to give this one a try!
Thanks Kitty! It’s a great and comforting recipe!
Instant pot is really amazing. I still don’t have it but seriously thinking about getting one. This chicken looks absolutely delicious. My family would love this recipe. It sounds very flavorful and I love all the veggies that are inside.
If there’s one thing I love it’s pasta with veggies in red gravy! Mmmmm. Chicken is a bonus.
I have been seriously procrastinating on getting an instant pot…this recipe is just screaming at me making me want to get one right now just to be able to make something that looks this delicious so quickly…
Thanks Femi! IP’s are really awesome. 🙂
This makes me want to get into the Insta Pot madness! This recipe looks so yummy and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
It really is Rezel! I finally got one a while back and haven’t regretted it at all!
Wow I’m loving all the flavors in this Instant Pot Chick Cacciatore recipe, one more great recipe for my Instant Pot.
Thanks so much Michelle!
Can you make it with chicken breast and if so how long should I cook it? It looks delicious!
Hi Julie! If it has the bone, then 13 minutes. If not than I would say the same as the thighs which is 10 minutes! I hope you enjoy it. It’s so tasty! I updated the recipe card to reflect the time in the notes section. 🙂
I love this! Everything looks healthy, colorful, and full of bursting flavor. The perfect dish to make with all of the lovely peppers popping up in my garden right now. And, as always, your photos are lovely. I wish I had your eye!
Aww. Thanks Jenni! I really appreciate it!
Thank you for the recipe. Will try it on the weekend for sure. Especially in the winter season in Sydney.
Thanks Bella!! 🙂 It’s so comforting in the winter!
Do you remember Chicken Tonight? As a teenager that jar of chicken cacciatore seemed gourmet! Glad there’s a scratch version for my adult palate!
Hi Kitty! I don’t remember Chicken tonight, I’m assuming it was jarred cacciatore? Thanks so much for your comment!
This recipe looks and sounds so delicious and I’m crying because I don’t own an instant pot! I’m going to try it the old-fashioned way for now, but as soon as I make room in a cabinet…
I hear you Anne! I didn’t want to get it but then when I did, I couldn’t believe how easy it is to use!
I have a different brand of pressure cooker than an IP, are you setting your pressure to low, medium or high?
Mkorsch! I always set it to high!
I want to make this recipe. It looks delicious. Is it possible to cook the pasta in the instant pot? I’ve read other recipes that break the pasta and lay it on the top.
Hi Joyce! I’ve never tried cooking pasta in the IP before but I did some research. Here’s what I have deduced. You have to cook the recipe as written and then carefully do a quick release. Once it’s safe to open, fish out the chicken and set it aside and cover with foil to keep warm. Add the pasta of your choice and seal the IP again. Cook on the manual pressure cooking setting on high for 4 minutes and when it beeps that it’s done, let it naturally release for 5 minutes and THEN do a quick release. I hope this makes sense. Good luck. I’d love to know how it is cooking the pasta in the sauce. I hope you enjoy the recipe and thank you so much for your comment!