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Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

This instant pot chicken cacciatore recipe is my twist on a classic Italian dish for the ultimate weeknight dinner. Tender, juicy chicken braised in a mouthwatering gravy and served over pasta or rice…does it get any better than that?

A pan of chicken behind two bowls with pasta and chicken in them

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 the dishes are similar, I definitely get a hankering for each of them for different reasons.

The difference between the two is: this instant pot chicken cacciatore has a touch of sherry and chicken marengo has a good dose of (usually) red wine.

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I love the simplicity of the instant pot chicken cacciatore. If I made this on the stove top, it would have taken over an hour. I heart you, IP.

My mom loved her pressure cooker too but I didn’t think much of it. Now that I’ve used one, I’m hooked and try to find more recipes to make in it.

When my mom used to make pressure cooker chicken cacciatore, we used to gobble it up with smiles on our faces.

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A blue green deep dish filled with pasta with chicken and red gravy over it
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Ingredients and substitutions

  • Olive oil – I always use extra virgin olive oil because of the peppery and delicious taste.
  • Onion – I use Vidalia onions because I love the slightly sweet taste but if you prefer to use a yellow onion, that’s fine.
  • Bell Peppers – I use two different colors – green and red. The red gives it a slightly sweet taste and the green pepper is more conventional.
  • Mushrooms – I enjoy baby portobellos in this recipe but white button mushrooms are fine too.
  • Chicken thighs – I used organic free-range chicken thighs with the skin on and bones in for this recipe but you can use boneless and skinless thighs if you prefer.
  • Crushed tomatoes – I use a 28 ounce can.
  • Chicken broth – I enjoy Trader Joe’s free-range organic broth.
  • Dry sherry – Feel free to omit this though it does flavor the gravy quite nicely. Omit this if you are doing Whole30.
  • Herbs – I use dried organic oregano and basil.
  • Bay leaf – It is always a great addition to tomato sauce.
  • Salt – I use fine grain sea salt.
  • Pepper – Use as much as you want. I can’t because hubby is sensitive to it.
  • Garlic paste – I love this paste because it’s quick, easy and truthfully, no one knows the difference. The only thing that may be remarkable about this paste and garlic cloves is there aren’t noticeable chunks of garlic floating around. If you love chopping garlic, one teaspoon of garlic paste = one clove of garlic.

Helpful tips

  • I’ve made this recipe with chicken thighs that have the skin and bones intact and with skinless chicken thighs without the bone. It’s delicious both ways.
  • If you do use boneless and skinless, there is no need to brown them. You will also change the pressure cook time to 10 minutes.
  • This recipe can be made without dry sherry but it’s so flavorful, I say try it like this first.
  • The thighs I used were huge so I decided to brown them outside of the Instant pot, mainly because I wanted the skin to stay attached and sometimes that doesn’t happen when you are sautéing in the deep IP insert. But if you don’t want to use another pan and don’t care about tearing the skin, sauté the chicken in the IP.
  • I also don’t usually sauté the veggies anymore when I use the IP but I chose to because I wanted them to shrink somewhat since the thighs were so big and I didn’t want to overfill the instant pot.
  • Some people prefer chicken breasts more than thighs, use whichever you prefer.

How to make easy instant pot chicken cacciatore

Pre-step

Get your Instant pot and a sauté pan if you’re going to sauté the chicken outside of the pressure cooker, as I did.

Step one

Gather red pepper, green bell pepper, onion and mushrooms.

Peppers, onions and mushrooms on the table

Step two

Chop the onion and bell peppers into chunks and slice the mushrooms.

Cut up onions and peppers in a metal bowl with chicken in the background

Step three

Open the can of crushed tomatoes and gather the herbs, bay leaf, salt, pepper, chicken broth and sherry. (You don’t need to put the herbs in the can, I just did it for the photo.)

Crushed tomatoes in the can with herbs and bay leaf with broth, sherry and garlic in the background

Step four

Either sauté the chicken thighs in the pressure cooker with 1 tablespoon of olive oil or do as I do and heat up a sauté pan on medium. Add olive oil and once that heats up, add the chicken skin side down and sauté for 3 minutes. Flip and sauté for 1 minute more.

Take chicken out of the pan and set aside. (A)

Step five

Plug in the instant pot and push the sauté button. When it has heated up, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and once that heats up, add the onion and peppers and let them sauté for 3 minutes. Add sliced mushrooms, garlic paste, salt and pepper and sauté for one minute more. (B)

Left - chicken thighs browned and on a plate. Right - onion, pepper and mushrooms in the pan

Step six

Place chicken on top of the veggies. (C)

Step seven

Add crushed tomatoes, herbs, bay leaf, and garlic paste. (D)

Left - chicken thighs on the vegetables in the pan. Right - crushed tomatoes, garlic, herbs on the chicken

Step eight

Place the lid on the instant pot and make sure the venting knob is in the sealed position. Press the manual pressure cook button, make sure it is set to high pressure and set the timer for 13 minutes.

Note for your timing: it takes between 10 – 15 minutes for the IP to come to pressure before it starts counting down the 13 minutes.

Step nine

Once the cacciatore is done, either wait 15 – 25  minutes for the pressure to release naturally or put on an oven mitt and after 5 minutes, carefully vent the pressure by tapping the venting knob until the steam stops escaping and the float valve drops.

Transfer the chicken to your serving dish. I use my Dutch oven.

Cast iron pan filled with chicken cacciatore with two bowls of pasta in the background

Doesn’t that gravy look outstanding? I spoon some pasta on a plate and add the instant pot chicken cacciatore right on top.

Close up of a blue bowl with pasta and the chicken on top

Look at all those chunky veggies!

Now for the overhead view.

Overhead view of the pasta covered with sauce and chicken thighs

I hope you enjoy this instant pot chicken cacciatore recipe as much as Christopher and I do.

Please feel free to leave me a comment!

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOKTWITTERINSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Square photo of two bowls with the chicken cacciatore on pasta

Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

This Instant Pot chicken cacciatore recipe is my twist on a classic Italian dish for the ultimate weeknight dinner. Tender, juicy chicken braised in a mouthwatering gravy and served over pasta or rice…does it get any better than that?
5 from 36 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: chicken cacciatore, easy chicken dish, instant pot chicken, instant pot chicken cacciatore
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Servings: 7 servings
Calories: 243kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
  • 7 chicken thighs (skin and bone in)
  • 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 (omit this if you want this to be Whole30 compliant)
  • 2 teaspoons oregano (dried)
  • 2 teaspoons basil (dried)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 teaspoons garlic paste (or 3 cloves of garlic, crushed)

Instructions

  • Heat a sauté pan on medium. Once that heats up, add 1 tablespoon oil and after that heats up, add chicken skin side down. (You may have to do this in two batches). Sauté for 3 minutes, flip and cook for an additional minute. Remove chicken and set aside.
    2 tablespoons olive oil, 7 chicken thighs
  • Plug the instant pot in and press the sauté button. After it has heated up, add one tablespoon of oil and add the onion and red and green peppers. Sauté for 3 minutes.
    2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 medium onion, 1 medium red bell pepper, 1 medium green bell pepper
  • Add mushroom, salt and pepper and sauté for 1 minute.
    10 ounces mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • Add chicken, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, sherry (if not doing Whole30), oregano, basil, bay leaf and garlic paste
    28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 cup chicken broth, 1/4 cup dry sherry, 2 teaspoons oregano, 2 teaspoons basil, 1 bay leaf, 3 teaspoons garlic paste
  • Seal the IP, make sure the venting knob is set to sealed and push the pressure cook button and set the timer to 13 minutes.
  • Once the pressure cooker beeps that it is done, either let the IP release pressure naturally or put on an oven mitt and carefully release the pressure, by tapping the knob to the vent position for a quick release.
  • Transfer the chicken and gravy over to a serving dish or serve out of instant pot.
  • Ladle some chicken cacciatore over some pasta or rice along with some vegetable.
  • Serve
  • Enjoy
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Notes

Helpful Tips
  • I’ve made this recipe with chicken thighs that have the skin and bones intact and with skinless chicken thighs without the bone. It’s delicious both ways.
  • If you do use boneless and skinless, there is no need to brown them. You will also change the pressure cook time to 10 minutes.
  • This recipe can be made without dry sherry but it’s so flavorful, I say try it like this first.
  • The thighs I used were huge so I decided to brown them outside of the Instant pot, mainly because I wanted the skin to stay attached and sometimes that doesn’t happen when you are sautéing in the deep IP insert. But if you don’t want to use another pan and don’t care about tearing the skin, sauté the chicken in the IP.
  • I also don’t usually sauté the veggies anymore when I use the IP but I chose to because I wanted them to shrink somewhat since the thighs were so big and I didn’t want to overfill the instant pot.
  • Some people prefer chicken breasts more than thighs, use whichever you prefer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 710mg | Potassium: 872mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 876IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3mg
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Originally published May of 2018.

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From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.

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84 Comments

  1. 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!

  2. 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’ 😉

    1. 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!

  3. Loved the recipe , and how you have explained it . Chicken is my favorite and I would love to try this recipe in instant pot

  4. 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.

    1. 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!

  5. 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.

  6. 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!

    1. 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

      1. 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!

  7. 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..

    1. Ooo, Kelli! Homegrown peppers!! That sounds glorious! And thank you! I appreciate your comment!

  8. 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.

  9. 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!

  10. 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!

  11. I keep saying this, but I really do need to just get an instant pot! The flavors here sound bonkers good!

    1. 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!

  12. 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.

  13. 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!

  14. 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.

  15. If there’s one thing I love it’s pasta with veggies in red gravy! Mmmmm. Chicken is a bonus.

  16. 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…

  17. This makes me want to get into the Insta Pot madness! This recipe looks so yummy and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!

  18. Wow I’m loving all the flavors in this Instant Pot Chick Cacciatore recipe, one more great recipe for my Instant Pot.

  19. Can you make it with chicken breast and if so how long should I cook it? It looks delicious!

    1. 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. 🙂

  20. 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!

  21. Thank you for the recipe. Will try it on the weekend for sure. Especially in the winter season in Sydney.

  22. 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!

    1. Hi Kitty! I don’t remember Chicken tonight, I’m assuming it was jarred cacciatore? Thanks so much for your comment!

  23. 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…

    1. 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!

  24. I have a different brand of pressure cooker than an IP, are you setting your pressure to low, medium or high?

  25. 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.

    1. 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!

    2. This sounds so good! I have a new instant pot and have been looking for recipes to try, this one is on my list to make real soon!

  26. I can’t wait to try this. I haven’t made chicken Cacciatore in forever because it takes so long doing it the regular way. I think this is going to be great.

  27. I love this dish. It’s easy enough for daily rotation, and pretty and awesome enough to serve for special occasions. 🙂

  28. This instant pot chicken cacciatore recipe looks really appetizing! My family will love to have this during our weeknight dinner. That tender chicken and delicious gravy made this recipe perfect.

  29. I made your recipe for a gathering the other day and everyone kept asking for the recipe. It was totally a hit!

  30. Cacciatore is one of my favorites but to be honest it is time-consuming so using the Instant Pot to make this recipe is genius! What a time saver.

  31. This was such a delicious  dish; love all the perfectly balanced flavors! Can’t wait to make this again later this week!

  32. Very interesting. I would have ever thught about eating a pasta dish with a chicken bit with skin and bones, it really sounds new to me. As much as I would like to say that I would go for skin-and-boneless, I know those are crucial in giving much more flavour. Could be a very interesting experience to me!

  33. Oh my goodness! This chicken cacciatore recipe looks and sounds amazing! I love that this is another great recipe that I can use my Instant Pot with! Score!

  34. Loved all the ingredients and the flavors in this recipe. Its a delight to enjoy chicken dish in this form.

  35. This chicken with pasta look so comforting! Plus, I love that you make it in Instant Pot! It make the whole process so much easier! Will save the recipe and try it next week!

  36. I love that you made this in the Instant Pot! It’s a life saver for busy weeknights, especially this time of year! And this chicken dish is so hearty for fall. Great recipe Elaine!

  37. Oh my God, this looks delicious! The flavors are perfect for me and love that it’s so easy to make. I love using my instant pot as much as I can. And I know what i’m making for my next meal.

  38. This chicken cacciatore is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at our house. I’m loving it because the instant pot does most of the work and the kids will love it because of all the delicious ingredients.

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