Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore: A Comforting Pasta Dinner Made Simple

Tender chicken, colorful bell peppers, and a savory tomato sauce make this Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore a satisfying meal for an evening at home. Served over pasta, it’s a hearty dinner made with familiar ingredients and just 15 minutes of prep.

The Instant Pot handles the chicken and sauce while you cook the pasta separately. With garlic, onion, and Italian seasoning bringing everything together, this recipe is an easy way to add something new to your family’s dinner rotation.

Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Servings: 4–6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: About 35–45 minutes, including pressure buildup and release; allow extra time if thickening the sauce

Ingredients

1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
2 bell peppers, sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
¾ cup chicken broth
1 can crushed tomatoes, 28 ounces
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
12 ounces pasta, cooked separately

Instructions

Heat the oil. Select Sauté on the Instant Pot and add the olive oil.
Cook the vegetables. Add the sliced onion and bell peppers. Cook for 4 minutes, then stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
Scrape the bottom. Pour in the chicken broth and thoroughly scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits.
Add the chicken and seasonings. Place the chicken thighs in the pot and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
Layer the tomatoes on top. Pour the crushed tomatoes over the chicken. Do not stir. Keeping the thick tomatoes on top helps prevent a Burn warning.
Pressure-cook. Lock the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Cook on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes.
Release the pressure. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then carefully release the remaining pressure.
Check and cut the chicken. Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove it and cut or shred it into large pieces.
Finish the sauce. Stir the sauce. If you prefer it thicker, select Sauté and simmer uncovered for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Combine and serve. Return the chicken to the sauce and serve over the separately cooked pasta.

A Few Simple Tips

Keep the tomatoes on top. Wait until after pressure cooking to stir them into the sauce.
Cook the pasta while the chicken cooks. This helps everything come together around the same time.
Choose your favorite pasta. Penne, rotini, or spaghetti all work well with the chicken and tomato sauce.
Adjust the sauce to your liking. A few minutes of uncovered simmering will help reduce excess liquid for a thicker sauce.

What to Serve Alongside

A simple green salad or steamed green beans makes an easy side. Add bread if you’d like something for soaking up the tomato sauce.

This comforting chicken and pasta dinner brings plenty of flavor to the table without a complicated ingredient list—a welcome addition to a busy week.