Name: Rustic Chicken Leg Cacciatore (Thighs and Drums)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil; 3 1/2 lb chicken legs (drums and thighs), skin on, bone in; 1 medium onion, diced; 1 red pepper, diced; 1 Tbsp garlic, minced; 8 ounces mushrooms, quartered; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; 2/3 cup red wine; 28 oz can crushed tomatoes with basil; basil leaves, as garnish; salt; black pepper; 1lb pasta, cooked according to instructions or zucchini noodles or gluten free pasta

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This rustic Italian chicken leg cacciatore recipe is cooked for 45 minutes on the stovetop. Bone in chicken thighs and drumsticks are simmered in crushed tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, peppers, garlic, and herbs.

Chicken thighs cooked in a red cast iron pot with a marinara sauce and basil leaf garnish. Serving spoon inside the pot. Top view.

Chicken leg cacciatore can also be made in a crock-pot on low for 4-6 hours.

Serve rustic Italian chicken cacciatore over spaghetti or zucchini noodles for keto, low carb, gluten free, whole30, and paleo. Add a little Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese if you like.

Ingredients on a wood cutting board: whole mushrooms, whole red pepper, measuring cup of red wine, whole garlic, half an onion, small bowl of capers, and container of red tomato sauce.

Tomato Sauce Is The Base of Cacciatore Recipes

Chicken cacciatore is a rustic Italian dish that is made in a tomato based sauce with other ingredients such as herbs, onions, peppers, mushrooms, capers, wine, Italian seasoning, whatever your heart desires.

Use crushed tomatoes for this chicken leg cacciatore recipe. Crushed tomatoes are a mixture of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce or puree and gives the marinara a lighter texture.

Top down view of ingredients: 5 chicken legs on a white plate; diced mushrooms, red peppers, and onions on a white plate, a small container of capers, and a small container of diced garlic. — *Add any ingredients you have and like. Capers is pictured because I sometimes will throw those in too.*

Chicken Legs, Thighs, Drumsticks For Cacciatore

Use 3 ½ pounds of bone in, skin on chicken legs. This should be around 6 chicken legs.

One chicken leg gives two pieces per person - one chicken thigh and one chicken drum.

Don't like bone in chicken or chicken skin? Buy ~ 2 ½ lb of boneless skinless chicken thighs instead. Follow recipe instructions exactly the same.

Searing or Not Searing Chicken Legs

Searing the chicken legs adds texture and layer to the sauce later.

Having said that it is not necessary to sear the chicken first if you don't want to or don't have the time.

Throw all the ingredients besides the chicken in a pot, bring to a simmer, add the chicken and cook covered for 45 minutes.

Top down view of a red stockpot with chicken in a red tomato sauce. Fresh basil plant on the side.

Different Ingredients For Rustic Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken skin and bones are very flavorful and add thickness and richness to this rustic cacciatore sauce.

Having said that any dark meat chicken can be used for this cacciatore recipe. Dark chicken meat examples include chicken legs, wings, thighs.

Want to reduce the calories in this Chicken Cacciatore recipe? Don't eat the skin or buy boneless and skinless chicken thighs.

Don't like or have red wine? White wine can also be used or just skip the wine all together.

Add any ingredients to this cacciatore sauce to create your dream marinara. Try olives, anchovies, capers, pepperoncinis, celery, carrots, basil, oregano, rosemary, or whatever!

Chicken thighs cooked in a red cast iron pot with a marinara sauce and basil leaf garnish. Serving spoon inside the pot. Side view,

Things In My Kitchen:

6 quart cast iron pot - This pot is perfect & affordable for slow cookin' in a dutch oven pot.
6 quart programmable crock-pot - Throw everything in, stir, set, and walk away.

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Rustic Chicken Leg Cacciatore (Thighs and Drums)

Chicken thighs cooked in a red cast iron pot with a marinara sauce and basil leaf garnish. Serving spoon inside the pot. Close up.

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EatSimpleFood.com

Author: beckie
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Yield: 6
Category: Main Dish
Method: Crockpot / Instapot / Braised
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

1 ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
3 ½ lb chicken legs (drums and thighs), skin on, bone in
1 medium onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
8 ounces mushrooms, quartered
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅔ cup red wine
28 oz can crushed tomatoes with basil
basil leaves, as garnish
salt
black pepper
1lb pasta, cooked according to instructions or zucchini noodles or gluten free pasta

Instructions

Salt and pepper the chicken.
Bring a large stockpot to medium high heat and add enough oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Sear the chicken 3-5 minutes per side or until golden brown. You may need to do this in batches. Set seared chicken aside on a plate or bowl. (Searing chicken is optional).
Reduce heat to medium and add onions, peppers, and mushrooms. Cook covered ~ 6 minutes or until onions are translucent and liquid has cooked off .
Add garlic and a little olive oil if needed and cook an additional 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
Stir in Italian seasoning.
Add chicken back to pot.
Add wine and cook uncovered ~ 5 minutes or until reduced by half.
Add crushed tomatoes and stir.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook covered ~ 45 minutes or until chicken is tender.
Add salt to taste and garnish with basil.

Notes

Want to reduce the calories in this recipe? Don't eat the skin or buy skinless chicken thighs instead.
Don't want the chicken skin? Two options 1) buy boneless skinless chicken thighs or 2) cook the recipe as is and the skin will fall off the chicken easily when it's done cooking. Remove the chicken skin then.