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    Home » Instant Pot

    Easy Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

    Published: Apr 18, 2018 / Updated: Mar 2, 2023 / 41 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore recipe has tender, fall-apart chicken and a slow cooked taste without using your oven or stove! Easy, simple, rustic Italian comfort food at its best.

    close-up of Instant Pot chicken cacciatore in a bowl with a spoon

    I've made this electric pressure cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe twice already... the first batch of photos weren't my favorite, so I decided to redo them. The decision wasn't too tough since I really didn't mind eating it a second time. The depth of flavor in the Chicken Cacciatore's sauce is just fantastic.

    Searing the chicken right in the Instant Pot helps seal that flavor in. Like I've mentioned before, that's one of my favorite features of the IP. 🙂

    We've got a delicious combination of herbs in this classic dish along with garlic, carrots, a rich tomato sauce, and Kalamata olives. Can't go wrong.

    Prefer to make this on the stove? I've got you covered with my Easy Chicken Cacciatore.

    What cut of chicken do you use in Chicken Cacciatore?

    I wanted this boneless Chicken Cacciatore recipe to be a no-fuss, family-friendly recipe, so I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You could use bone-in chicken thighs or chicken breasts if you wish. Chicken breasts are typically drier than chicken thighs when you cook them in the Instant Pot or slow cooker, so I generally prefer using chicken thighs for recipes like this.

    ingredients for chicken cacciatore inside an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker

    How to make Chicken Cacciatore in the Instant Pot (summary):

    Sauté the onions in your Instant Pot and then add the chicken. Add the remaining ingredients (except for olives, fresh basil + parsley, and salt & pepper) and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. I then let the pressure naturally release for 15 minutes prior to doing a manual pressure release. The chicken is tender, juicy, and falls apart.

    plate of Instant Pot chicken cacciatore with a sprig of herbs and a cloth napkin

    What to serve with Chicken Cacciatore

    Italian Chicken Cacciatore is great with mashed potatoes or rice. You could also serve it over polenta, pasta, or egg noodles.

    Looking for more easy Instant Pot chicken recipes? Try my Instant Pot Coq au Vin, this Instant Pot whole chicken recipe or my Instant Pot honey garlic chicken recipe.

    close- up of Instant Pot authentic chicken cacciatore in a bowl

    Will you give this easy Chicken Cacciatore recipe a try? Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or comments.

    Yes, you can make authentic Italian Chicken Cacciatore in the Instant Pot! This electric pressure cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe is healthy, easy, and has that delicious traditional taste. You can make it with boneless chicken thighs or chicken breasts if you wish. You will love this classic rustic chicken recipe!

    Easy Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

    This Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore recipe has tender, fall-apart chicken and a slow cooked taste without using your oven or stove! Easy, simple, rustic Italian comfort food at its best. 
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 17 mins
    Inactive time 25 mins
    Total Time 52 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4
    Calories 514 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil 
    • 1/2 medium onion chopped
    • 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
    • 1 (28 fluid ounce) can fire roasted crushed tomatoes with juices
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1 red bell pepper chopped
    • 1 large carrot sliced
    • 6 cloves garlic minced
    • Leaves from 4 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    • 1 tablespoon fresh basil sliced thin
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped

    Instructions
     

    • Add the olive oil and onion to your Instant Pot. Sauté for 3 minutes.
    • Add the chicken to the Instant Pot and cook for 2 minutes/side.
    • Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, red pepper, carrot, garlic, thyme, and oregano. Close the lid and set the valve on "sealing". Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes (it'll take 10-15 minutes for it to get up to pressure). 
    • Once the countdown has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes. You can then manually release the rest of the pressure. 
    • Season with salt & pepper and stir in the olives, basil, and parsley. 

    Notes

    • Serves 4-6.
    • Inactive time indicates the time is takes the Instant Pot to get up to pressure then release pressure.
    • I use this 6-quart Instant Pot.
    • Check out the stovetop version of this recipe.
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 514kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 32gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 166mgSodium: 601mgPotassium: 1180mgFiber: 6gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 4356IUVitamin C: 64mgCalcium: 117mgIron: 5mg
    Keyword Instant Pot chicken cacciatore
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Simple Sausage and Broccoli Pasta
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    1. Cynthia says

      February 5, 2021 at 3:53 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe is soooo delicious! Plus so easy!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 5, 2021 at 6:59 PM

        So happy you enjoyed it! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Victoria Baxter says

      October 23, 2020 at 9:49 AM

      You're a rockstar with getting back to these comments/reviews! Very much appreciated- will leave a review once we make this tongiht/tomorrow!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 23, 2020 at 9:54 AM

        Aww thank you! I try to answer questions at least twice a day... I don't like to leave people hanging. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Victoria Baxter says

      October 23, 2020 at 9:31 AM

      Can I use a crock pot for this recipe? I do not have an Instapot...this looks too good to pass up!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 23, 2020 at 9:39 AM

        Hi! I think that should be fine. I'd sear the chicken in a skillet first and then do 6-8 hours on low.

        Reply
    4. Michael says

      October 18, 2020 at 6:07 AM

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! When I cook it I double all the spices except salt, and add quarter cup of white wine. 6 cloves of garlic is plenty but I try to find the fattest cloves or else add a few more. I like to serve it on fettuccine

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 18, 2020 at 9:20 AM

        Wonderful!! I'm so happy that you like it, Michael. I'm big on garlic too hahaha.

        Reply
      • Maryann says

        April 9, 2022 at 4:22 PM

        I really wanted to add the 1/4 cup of wine but wasn’t sure when to do this. When I do a similar recipe on top of the stove, I usually add when I turn the chicken over. I also wanted to add mushrooms so I am planning to do this when I add the parsley,basil and olives. Hopefully, I won’t be screwing anything up. I always get pretty anxious when using my IP,but I am really trying to get more comfortable with it. I did not do something right with my sauté timing but I used my kitchen timer at the same time.

        Reply
        • Natasha says

          April 9, 2022 at 4:37 PM

          Hi Maryann! I would probably add wine in just prior to adding the tomatoes etc. in (I'd let it bubble for a minute or so then add in the tomatoes), so yes, similar timing to stove. I think adding the mushrooms at the same time as the parsley, basil, and olives should work too if you're ok with them being a bit undercooked. With that said, pressure cooking them will ensure they're a bit overcooked. If you do want them to be softer, I'd add them in before sealing up the IP and doing the high pressure step.

          Reply
    5. Mike says

      May 9, 2020 at 4:51 PM

      5 stars
      During natural release do you turn IP of or leave it on warm?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 9, 2020 at 5:03 PM

        I usually leave it on warm since that's the default setting. Honestly, I don't think it makes much difference until after the pressure has been released. It's basically so the food stays at a safe temperature if you're leaving it for a couple of hours before serving.

        Reply
    6. Avis says

      April 23, 2020 at 5:59 PM

      5 stars
      I have made this a couple of times and it's fantastic, so tasty and easy to make! I used diced tomatoes and added a small amount 1/8th tsp of cayenne pepper. I don't like olives so left them out, and just used dried Italian seasonings because it was all I have. So good, had it with pasta and some sourdough bread to dip in the sauce! Thank you! ♥

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 24, 2020 at 9:04 AM

        I'm so happy you like the recipe, Avis! 😀 Mmmmm sourdough...

        Reply
    7. Sharon Woodard says

      April 21, 2020 at 1:55 PM

      5 stars
      OMG, smelled so good cooking! I used green bell pepper and black olives cuz that was on hand and added baby bella mushrooms. Thanks for a easy and fast weekday recipe.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 21, 2020 at 1:56 PM

        You're very welcome, Sharon!!

        Reply
    8. Linda Brunelle says

      March 17, 2020 at 12:18 PM

      5 stars
      I made this for 2 and the leftovers were even better than the first night. I omitted the olives (not my favorite) and used dried herbs. First night I served it over penne pasta with warm crusty bread. The second night I served it over zoodle zuchini (to save on carbs). We loved it. This will be a go to recipe especially for company. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 17, 2020 at 1:48 PM

        That's awesome! So glad you liked it, Linda.

        Reply
    9. Bob Kunes says

      January 28, 2020 at 9:07 AM

      I followed your recipe and food was good, but when I opened Instant Pot, there was tremendous amount of liquid. Do you turn on Sauté feature to get rid of excess fluids for when I opened pot, the image was not like your photo!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 28, 2020 at 9:16 AM

        Hi Bob! I don't recall turning on the sauté function after, no. You can definitely do that to reduce some of the sauce if you think there's too much, though.

        Reply
    10. Barb D'Angelo says

      January 21, 2020 at 10:33 PM

      5 stars
      This came out awesome, the only thing I changed was to lightly coat the thighs in flour and add some baby Bella fresh mushrooms. I also deglazed with red wine. I don’t have an instant pot, but a nesco multipurpose cooker, it doesn’t have things like a rice button, so it is more versatile. It also tends to heat up way faster then instant pot apparently, only taking about 7-8 minutes to reach temp before the pressure cooker timer came on. It tastes like I spent all day cooking it and the chicken thighs were tender and juicy!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 22, 2020 at 10:22 AM

        Hi Barb! So happy it worked out. I’m glad you were able to translate this to a different type of appliance. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! ♥️

        Reply
        • Ginny says

          April 5, 2020 at 3:45 PM

          I added the same things. Can’t wait to see how it turns out

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            April 5, 2020 at 3:50 PM

            Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

            Reply
    11. Coleen says

      January 20, 2020 at 2:24 PM

      Could I use frozen chicken thighs? How long would you cook them for if so?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 20, 2020 at 4:28 PM

        You could try. Maybe add another couple mins?

        Reply
    12. Mangalagiri Handloom Sarees says

      January 9, 2020 at 12:29 AM

      5 stars
      You are a great cook, I have loved your recipe and my partner too, I thank you very much and I follow you very closely, keep it up...

      Reply
    13. Judy Ludovise says

      September 18, 2019 at 12:34 AM

      Does this freeze well?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 18, 2019 at 9:04 AM

        Hi Judy! I did find it froze well.

        Reply
    14. Laura says

      August 10, 2019 at 2:38 PM

      If I followed your recipe exactly and wanted to add 1/2 to 3/4 cup white rice, would there be enough liquid in the can tomatoes; or, should I add a touch more liquid (broth, wine, etc.)?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 10, 2019 at 2:43 PM

        I'd add a little more liquid, but it's hard to say. Some of the newer Instant Pots seem to get burn warnings very easily when you add rice (even in soups, oddly enough). It is a fairly saucy dish, but yeah, I think more liquid for rice wouldn't be a bad idea. Wine or broth would work for sure. And give it a really good stir before closing the lid so the rice doesn't stick to the bottom. Let me know how it goes 🙂

        Reply
    15. Ellen says

      June 11, 2019 at 7:25 PM

      5 stars
      Really good. Used thighs with the bone in and served over bow tie pasta. Will be making this again. Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 12, 2019 at 9:57 AM

        Awesome! You are very welcome. 🙂

        Reply
    16. amanda says

      May 13, 2019 at 10:07 AM

      5 stars
      really like the taste and was easy

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 14, 2019 at 10:25 AM

        Excellent! Thanks for letting me know.

        Reply
    17. Julie Martinelli says

      April 22, 2019 at 6:27 PM

      Question! I didn't see any mention of liquid in this recipe. I'm new to the Instant Pot, so I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of liquid. Is it always just assumed that you use it if the recipe doesn't call for it, or will it be okay without it? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 22, 2019 at 8:03 PM

        Hi Julie! There's a lot of liquid in the 28 fluid ounces of crushed tomatoes (use the whole can). Hope you like the recipe! 🙂

        Reply
      • Julie Martinelli says

        April 23, 2019 at 12:21 AM

        5 stars
        Haha, I realized that the crushed tomatoes with their juices was the liquid, but I realized that too late. I didn't have crushed tomatoes, so I used bone broth for some liquid instead. I think I used a little too much, but the flavor was still delicious and a huge hit with my family! I'll be saving this recipe. Thank you! <3

        Reply
        • Natasha says

          April 24, 2019 at 8:44 AM

          Haha no worries. I am so glad it ended up working well! 🙂

          Reply
    18. Lou Ann Bambera says

      July 3, 2018 at 2:52 PM

      5 stars
      Delicious, deglazed the IP with 1/2 white wine. Used whole San Marzano tomatoes, crushed with the spoon. Served over Cali-rice.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 3, 2018 at 2:53 PM

        Awesome!! Love the idea of adding white wine. So happy you liked the recipe! 🙂

        Reply

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