Prep: 15 Minutes Cook: 6 to 8 hours on the low setting. Numbers of Serves: 6 Serves.

chicken-cacciatore-american-homemade-recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 to 4 pounds), cut up and skin removed
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained or 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup white wine or water
  • Hot cooked pasta

  • Instructions

    Place sliced onions in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the chicken, seasonings, tomatoes, tomato sauce, mushrooms and wine or water.

    Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken juices run clear. Discard bay leaf. Serve chicken with sauce over pasta.

    Yield: 6 servings


    For Nutritional And Health Benefits

    This delicious and appetizing dish has numerous benefits for human health, which not only energizes the body but also strengthens the immune system. The chicken meat used in it is an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is essential for muscle growth and repair. Along with this, the frequent use of tomatoes makes this dish rich in powerful antioxidants like lycopene, which helps in improving heart health and reducing body inflammation. Garlic and onion not only enhance the aroma and taste of this dish, but the natural elements present in them keep the digestive system healthy and help in controlling blood pressure. Herbs like basil and oregano play an important role in protecting the body from various diseases. This whole food is an excellent and balanced combination of carbohydrates, proteins and essential vitamins that is very suitable for a healthy lifestyle as it is very low in fat compared to traditional dishes and is an excellent choice for maintaining weight in moderation.

    For Pro Tips And Substitute Ingredients

    To make this traditional and unique Italian dish perfect and extremely flavorful, it is very important to take care of some special things. When you cook food on low heat, the most common mistake is to repeatedly lift the lid of the pot, which causes the steam and temperature inside to escape and the meat to remain tough, so avoid lifting the lid frequently. To give the meat a more lively flavor, you can lightly fry it before placing it on low heat so that its outer surface becomes golden and its natural juices are preserved inside. If you want to make this recipe more healthy and nutritious, use whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta, which will provide the body with plenty of fiber. Also, if you do not want to use white grape water, you can add apple cider vinegar or lemon juice and a little water from the water, which will maintain its sweet and sour taste and also increase its effectiveness.

    For Serving And Storing

    The presentation of this wonderful and fragrant dish should be as special as its taste. Serve it over hot pasta and be sure to have a salad of fresh leafy vegetables dressed with olive oil and lemon juice to balance its heaviness. If you like, you can also serve it with garlic bread, which tastes great with its gravy. If there is any leftover after eating, do not throw it away at all, but after cooling to room temperature, seal it in an airtight container and refrigerate it, where it will stay perfectly fresh for three to four days. When you want to use it again, heat it on the stove over low heat instead of in the microwave, and if the gravy seems too thick, add two to three tablespoons of water or broth to restore its original crunch, aroma and great taste, and make it taste like freshly cooked food.