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This Whole30 chicken cacciatore produces incredibly tender chicken with so much flavor. A paleo recipe that’s super easy and just delicious over mashed potatoes! An Italian classic made Whole30 compliant.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

Tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone chicken in a thick, rich tomato sauce? Um, yes, please!
It’s a simple meat & veggies one-pan meal that keeps things easy but looks super fancy. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with us!
This recipe combines authentic Italian flavors with Whole30 compliant ingredients for an indulgent, satisfying dish that won’t wreck your progress.
It’s easy to throw together for a spur-of-the-moment meal, but it’s also great for meal prep and freezer meals! Refrigerate your cooled cacciatore in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months!

Key Ingredients

Chicken Thighs – These cuts of chicken are less likely than white meat to turn out dry or tough, and because the thighs are dark meat, they’re full of flavor. They’re also typically less popular than chicken breasts, which usually makes them a cheaper protein option.

Kalamata Olives – Beautiful dark purple Greek olives add so much flavor to this dish! Thanks to their antioxidants, they have a rich, slightly fruity taste, which partners beautifully with the tomato sauce.

Fun Fact: “Cacciatore” means “hunter” in Italian. You’re technically making chicken “alla cacciatora” – or chicken, “hunter-style”. Another super popular variation of this recipes uses braised rabbit instead of chicken.

How to Make It

Season your uncooked chicken thighs with salt and pepper, then sauté them in olive oil over medium-high heat. We’ll finish cooking them later – for now, you just want them a little brown on both sides.

Once you’ve set aside the chicken, sauté the veggies until the onions are tender and fragrant, then simmer with stock and vinegar. Add the remaining ingredients, return the chicken to the pan, and simmer everything for 20 minutes or so, until the chicken is cooked through.

Move the chicken to a plate and boil the sauce a little longer if necessary to achieve the desired thickness. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, garnish with a little basil, and serve!

This Whole30 chicken cacciatore is great served with mashed potatoes, zucchini noodles, sautéed kale, or cauliflower rice. No traditional rice or quinoa on Whole30!

Heavy sauté pan full of chicken thighs in olive oil

Chef’s Tips

Bone-in, skin-on chicken will give this dish the most flavor (and keep the chicken juicy!) but you can absolutely use boneless, skinless chicken if you prefer. It’ll cook more quickly, so keep an eye on it as it simmers. Use a meat thermometer for best results – aim for 165° Fahrenheit internally, to ensure your chicken is cooked completely.
Traditional chicken cacciatore calls for dry white wine in the sauce. We didn’t forget it – wine is not allowed in any form on the Whole30 diet! Our recipe intentionally leaves out the alcohol and uses chicken stock instead.
Want to make this Whole30 chicken cacciatore in your slow cooker? Add all of your ingredients except the olives and mushrooms. Stir to combine, then cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Add the mushrooms and olives in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Always use fresh vegetables for the most flavor and best texture!