Simple Chicken Cacciatore | Paleo Whole30 Keto Recipe (2024)

Whole30 {or Paleo} Chicken Cacciatore is one of those dishes that is guaranteed to be a hit. In this recipe post, we will guide you through the process of making this classic Italian dish and share some of our favorite tips and tricks.

One Pot Whole30 Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore stands for “Hunter’s Chicken”. It is believed that the first Chicken Cacciatore was not made with chicken, but with rabbit or other wild game sometime during the Renaissance era.

If you’ve ever been on a hunt, you’ll know that most of it is walking and tracking and waiting. It’s exhausting and very physically demanding. It’s believed that this simple stew was developed to fuel the hunters’ journey. It is made in one large pot, which is a big plus when you are cooking outdoors, or for a big family. It really is a perfect dish.

Read more about the origin and history of Chicken Cacciatore.

What makes this Chicken Cacciatore Paleo or Whole30 ?

2 Major Modifications

There are 2 major changes to this recipe to make it compliant to our diet restrictions.

Traditionally, chicken cacciatore is made with whole chicken thighs that are dusted in flour and then fried. Because we’re not eating flour, we’re skipping this particular step.

The other major change is that we’re not using whole cuts of chicken, we’re using skinless and boneless chicken thighs. We’ve made this choice because they cook faster, they’re easier to eat (no bones, etc) and they taste just as good! They’re a bit of a fattier cut of the chicken, and they taste great.

Possible Substitutions and Serving Suggestions

Chicken : As mentioned previously cacciatore translates to hunter. This is then a hunter’s stew, which means that it could be mead with other cuts of meat. You can substitute the chicken thighs with Turkey, or even Rabbit.

Fresh Tomatoes: I highly recommend sticking to fresh Italian tomatoes. They really do make a difference. However, if you don’t have access to fresh tomatoes, which understandable, you can use 1 can of San Marzano Tomatoes. Just make sure you dice them before adding to the sauce.

Bell Peppers : I used yellow and red as those are my favorites. However, you can also use green peppers or any kind that you like.

Wine: the rules of whole30 are pretty clear. No alcohol, or cooking with alcohol. Which means, that if you are following the strict rules of the Whole30 diet, you can swap the wine for chicken broth. It will taste a little different, but it will be just as good.

Paprika is optional. I like including it because it adds a beautiful colour to the dish and it’s loaded with vitamin A.

Serving Suggestions

Chicken cacciatore is typically served with bread as it has a lot of sauce. It is also served over polenta or orzo. However, none of those options are compliant with Paleo, Whole30 or Keto.

Here is what we suggest :

Paleo : mashed sweet potatoes.

Whole30 : mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes.

Keto : mashed cauliflower

Get the recipe for keto mashed cauliflower here | note that the keto mashed cauliflower recipe is not suitable for a paleo diet.

How to make Whole30 Chicken Cacciatore

1. In an oven-safe pan or casserole, heat the olive oil and add in the crushed garlic cloves on medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes and then add the chicken thighs. Raise the heat to high and sear the chicken thighs until lightly browned on both sides, approximately 5-7 minutes in all.
2. Once the chicken is seared, lower the heat to medium & remove the chicken from the pan. Set aside. Add in your onions to the pan, stir often. After 3-4 minutes, deglaze with the chicken stock.
3. Add in the olives, thyme & wine (or more chicken stock). Then add in the tomatoes. Let simmer for 5 minutes, and meanwhile, prepare cut your bell peppers into strips. Do not dice them, or they will disappear into the sauce. Add in your peppers to the sauce and add in your spices. Cover and let simmer for another 5-7 minutes.
4. Then add your chicken back in (with it’s juices), stir, and place in the middle of the oven, uncovered. Bake for 20 minutes @400F.