Think about the times when going to get groceries looked a lot different than it does today–like when hunting and gathering were everyone’s primary source of food. Some dishes that make you appreciate and honor what those before us endured to ensure there was a meal on the table, Chicken Cacciatore Bake is one of those. “Cacciatore” translates to “hunter-style” in Italian, and it’s said that after a long day of hawking their prey, hunters would pick fresh herbs and veggies on their travels home to create an herby tomato sauce to go along with their catch. Fast forward a few hundred years, and we’ve modernized their methods a little by switching the wild game out for juicy, tender chicken, adding some fluffy, buttery pasta, and topping it with bubbly, rich mozzarella cheese. Your tastebuds will surely be thankful for the pioneering that’s taken place for them to have the privilege of tasting the Chicken Cacciatore Bake!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 large peppers, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (12-ounce) box penne pasta
- 1 (24-ounce) jar tomato basil spaghetti sauce
- 1 1/4 cups of water
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 handful of fresh basil leaves, optional
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 360 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 7×11-inch casserole dish with olive oil.
Step 3 –Place the chicken at the bottom of the prepared dish and sprinkle the poultry with salt and pepper.
Step 4 –Top the seasoned chicken evenly with the peppers, onions, and garlic.
Step 5 –Top the veggies with the penne pasta.
Step 6 –Use the back of a wooden spoon to gently press down on the ingredients.
Step 7 –Pour the spaghetti sauce and the water over all the ingredients, spreading it out evenly with the back of a wooden spoon.
Step 8 –Tightly cover the dish with aluminum foil.
Step 9 –Bake on the middle rack until the pasta is almost cooked, about 60-80 minutes.
Step 10 –Carefully transfer the dish from the oven and discard the foil.
Step 11 –Sprinkle the dish with the cheese.
Step 12 –Continue baking until the cheese is bubbly and starting to brown and the pasta is cooked, for about 10-15 minutes.
Step 13 –Plate 4 serving plates with a chicken breast, pasta, vegetables, and a sprinkle of basil each.
Step 14 –Serve.
