Dinner’s Served! Cheatin’ Chicken Cacciatore!

Anyone for “Cheatin’ Chicken Cacciatore?”

This is my very own recipe, thanks to a few shortcuts. But hey, it isn’t rocket science. All it takes is chicken, some veggies, a few spices, a good jar of sauce (these days I prefer a generic organic), and the pasta of your choice.

Why do I say it’s “cheatin'” chicken?

Precisely because I don’t make my own sauce, and I’m always on the lookout for healthy (quick) meals to make so my teens keep their growling stomachs under control and I have the pleasure of knowing they’re happy to eat what I put on the table.

My Very Own Cheatin’ Chicken Cacciatore

Now come on. Would I steer you wrong? Not only is this so good, your kids will be sticking fingers in and “cheating” on dinner before dinner’s on the table, but it’s also easy on the wallet.

And… especially if you add seasonings of your choice… mmm, mmm – no one would ever know you didn’t make it from scratch.

Definitely one of my kiddo’s faves, he can cook this, too. Though somehow it’s always better when a parent does it. Why is that??

These are the pics (especially for Crazy Computer Dad), and it’s so easy, even your kids can do it — assuming they are of age and height to be responsible around the stove.

Recipe Particulars

This recipe will

• Feed FOUR*
• Cost approximately $15
• Take 20 minutes start to finish
• Use one pan, one pot**

*Feeds four “normal” (non-teenage) people. More chicken and more sauce, or just more sauce will stretch it (very inexpensively), if necessary. When teenagers are around – they eat like two adults, so… keep that in mind.

**One approximately 12″ pan for top of stove; pot for cooking pasta normally

Preparation

In Addition to 4 fat chicken breasts:

Step 1: Sauté the chicken after you’ve cut it (for faster cooking); season to taste. (We like the chicken a bit seared, and we love garlic pepper, garlic / basil seasoning, rosemary, oregano – whatever Italian seasonings you like).

Step 2: Add veggies. (We love mushrooms, red onion, any kind of bell pepper, any kind of tomato, but plum tomatoes are what we use most often).

Step 3: Dump in your FAVORITE pasta sauce – we’ve used a variety; these days I use a generic organic that is inexpensive and fabulous. Sometimes I use half a jar of one and half a jar of another. For example, Tomato & Basil with a Mushroom variant. Generally a 24-oz jar total.

(Since you’re going to add your own spices, a little red wine to taste is nice, too.)

It’s looking pretty good, don’t you think?

Good Enough to Eat?

You’ve been cooking whatever pasta you love in a pot at the same time as you’re stirring the chicken cacciatore ingredients. (We love angel hair, but anything twisty-curly will do nicely as well.)

Dish out the pasta, serve up the sauce on top, garnish with whatever shredded or grated cheese you like and a bit of parsley if you have it… and MANGIA!

This is my plate. My son eats twice this much, and then goes back for more.

(Hey – it’s almost the recipe! Okay – here you go – the step-by-step recipe for Cheatin’ Chicken Cacciatore.)