Best Recipe for Chicken Cacciatore

Preheat oven to 350 F. Whisk flour and all "chicken seasoning" together in a shallow dish. Pat chicken dry and dredge each piece in the mixture, pressing the flour into the chicken, shake off any excess, then transfer to a dry surface.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat in a deep, oven-proof skillet/braiser. Once hot, add chicken and cook approximately 4 minutes per side, until golden (it will not be cooked through) – do NOT let the drippings burn/blacken. Reduce heat if necessary. Remove chicken to a plate but do not discard drippings.

Reduce heat to medium. To the now empty skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add enough olive oil to equal 2 tablespoons when combined with the drippings (eyeball it).. Add onions, carrots, bell peppers and mushrooms and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add a drizzle of olive oil if the vegetables become too dry. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds.

Stir in all remaining ingredients up to “for serving.” Season with salt and pepper to taste. Return chicken pieces to the skillet along with any juices and spoon some sauce over the top.

Bring to a simmer, cover, and bake at 350 degrees F for 45-60 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and fall apart very tender.

You can shred the chicken in the sauce or serve it whole with the sauce spooned over top. Serve chicken cacciatore over pasta, potatoes, rice, polenta, or veggie noodles, with freshly chopped basil and freshly grated Parmesan.