Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Ready in just over an hour, this rustic, Italian-inspired dish is a weeknight winner.

Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Photo: Southern Living
Active Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs 10 mins
Yield:
4 (serving size: 2 thighs, 1 cup sauce)

Instant Pot recipes have come to the rescue time and time again against busy weeknights. In the winter season when the cold air is simply overwhelming, there's only one thing on our mind: a hot and hearty dish that fills us up. This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore has earned a top spot in our recipe collection—made with homemade cacciatore sauce and extra tender chicken, it's hard not to love this dish. Red wine, chopped vegetables, and pitted olives come together to create an extremely luscious sauce. While chicken thighs simmer in the succulent sauce, further enriching this dish into a hearty delight. Ready in just over an hour, this rustic, Italian-inspired dish is a weeknight winner. Pair this chicken cacciatore with dry red wine, toasted bread, or pasta. For a low-carb option, substitute in cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.

Ingredients

  • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 1/4 lb.)

  • 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 medium (8 oz.) yellow onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)

  • 1 (8-oz.) red bell pepper, chopped (1 1/4 cups)

  • 2 medium-size (5 oz. total) carrots, chopped (1 cup)

  • 2 medium garlic cloves, minced (about 1 Tbsp.)

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 1 (15-oz.) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes

  • 1/2 cup dry red wine

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth

  • 3 thyme sprigs

  • 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced (about 2 oz.)

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves and torn fresh basil leaves

  • Hot cooked egg noodles

Directions

  1. Select SAUTÉ setting on a programmable pressure multicooker (such as Instant Pot). (Times, instructions, and settings may vary according to cooker brand or model.) Select HIGH temperature setting, and allow to preheat 3 minutes. Meanwhile, remove skin from chicken by slipping fingers under the skin and pulling it off; discard skin, and pat chicken dry. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper evenly over all sides of chicken. Add oil to cooker. Add 3 or 4 chicken thighs to cooker. Cook until golden brown on bottoms, about 5 minutes; flip and cook until other side is browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer thighs to a plate. Repeat process with remaining thighs.

  2. Add onion, bell pepper, carrot, and garlic to cooker, and cook, stirring often, until vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add tomatoes and wine; cook, stirring occasionally, until wine is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth and thyme, and nestle chicken thighs into mixture.

  3. Press CANCEL on multicooker. Cover cooker with lid, and lock in place. Turn steam release handleto SEALING position. Select MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK setting. Select HIGH pressure for 12 minutes. (It will take 5 to 8 minutes for cooker to come up to pressure before cookingbegins.)

  4. When cooking has finished, let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Carefully turn steam release handle to VENTING position, and let steam fully escape (float valve will drop). (This will take 1 to 2 minutes.) Remove lid from cooker, and transfer thighs to a plate. Return cooker to SAUTÉ setting on HIGH, and cook sauce until reduced and thickened, about 5 minutes. Add olives and butter, stirring until butter is melted. Stir in parsley and basil; discard thyme sprigs. Serve sauce and chicken over hot egg noodles.

Related Articles