Name: Healthier Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1.75 pounds Thin-Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets (I like the Foster Farms brand); 1 15- ounce can tomato sauce; ¼ cup chicken broth or white wine; 3 Roma tomatoes (deseeded and ½-inch dice); 1 medium yellow onion (½-inch dice); 1 medium green bell pepper (½-inch dice); 1 medium red bell pepper (½-inch dice); 8 ounces button mushrooms (sliced); 4 large garlic cloves (minced); 2 Tablespoons minced (fresh basil leaves (plus more for garnish)); 2 Tablespoons capers (rinsed and drained); 1 Tablespoon minced (fresh oregano leaves); ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided); ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 1 pounds pasta (cooked as per package instructions)

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This Healthier Chicken Cacciatore takes the classic Italian dish and lightens it up with a leaner, thinner cut of chicken that’s sautéed and not breaded and fried.

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I am getting spoiled living in California where fresh local products are available year round. My back window literally looks out on the fields where the majority of the Roma tomatoes produced in America are grown (see picture below). I love how fresh food carries the flavors of a dish without needing much seasoning, because nothing beats that locally grown fresh flavor.

My California-grown produce for this Chicken Caccaitore recipe:

Mushrooms
Roma Tomatoes
Basil (from my garden!)

What Make this Chicken Cacciatore recipe healthier?

Chicken Cacciatore must have thousands of different versions because you know, everyone’s Italian grandma has their own way of cooking the dish or some sort of “secret ingredient” added to the mix. Well, I don’t have an Italian Grandma so I came up with my very own recipe that’s faster than the classic and a bit heathier, too. And my “secret ingredient” is loads of fresh veggies!

My version is heathier because I use a leaner, thinner cut of chicken that’s not breaded or fried. I also opted for the bright, vibrant flavors of fresh vegetables that are quickly cooked instead of simmering away for hours. So not only is my Chicken Cacciatore healthier, but quicker to make, too!

While this recipe is light on calories, it is definitely not light on flavor! The produce and fresh herbs brighten the dish. The mushrooms become little sponges that absorb so much flavor from the other ingredients in the dish that when you bite into them you get a nice little burst of sauce and the aeromatics of the onion and bell pepper.

What is good to serve with Chicken Cacciatore?

I like to serve mine over spaghettie or fettucine which is the traditional way, or you serve it over egg noodles, polenta, or even rice!

How Do You Make Healthier Chicken Cacciatore:

Gather your ingredients and chop the produce.
Place your chicken in a greased 9×13-inch pan.
Mix the remaining ingredients, except for the cheese, together in a large bowl.
Pour the mixture over the chicken.
Cover with foil and cook. During the last 5 minutes of cooking remove the foil and sprinkle the cheese over the top.
Garnish with fresh basil and serve!

Cook’s Note- Healthier Chicken Cacciatore:

You can serve this Chicken cacciatore over pasta (like I did), rice, polenta, or mashed potatoes.
To make this recipe ahead of time, prepare everything up until putting the dish in the oven. Cover and keep the dish in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- Note: You will need to add about 5-10 minutes to the cooking time.

Cook’s Tools and ingredients – Healthier Chicken Cacciatore:

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