What To Serve With Chicken Cacciatore
Searching for a little inspiration for what to serve with chicken cacciatore?
I’m here to help with some of the best ideas for side dishes and accompaniments, fresh from my own kitchen!
Cacciatore is a meal that’s traditionally prepared ‘hunter style’ with a delicious mixture of tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, herbs, peppers, olives, and wine. The meat of choice tends to be chicken or rabbit, and both can be absolutely delicious.
Here, we’ll take a look at some serving suggestions that might appeal to you, whether you’re cooking a quick midweek meal for the family, or you’re hoping to impress a crowd at an upcoming dinner party…
1. Oxo roast potatoes
Roast potatoes are a popular choice when it comes to serving suggestions for casseroles and stews, and many people have their own versions of secret recipes that they believe produce the very best results.
My personal favourite is Oxo roasties.
The process of parboiling ensures that they’re fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, and the crumbled stock cubes add a beautiful savoury flavour as well as a golden colour.
I tend to use a beef stock cube, but chicken or veggie works just as well.
2. Mashed potatoes
A serving of creamy mashed potatoes is always welcome alongside the rich and fragrant sauce of a cacciatore.
If you want to add a little more variety and a splash of colour to your plate, you could consider using sweet potatoes instead.
For the ultimate in indulgence, add a swirl of cream or a knob of butter.
3. Boiled white rice
A simple side dish of fluffy white rice is such a good choice for what to serve with chicken cacciatore.
It’s easy to prepare, budget friendly, and is the kind of option that adults and children alike will love.
4. Your favourite pasta shapes
Many people like to serve their chicken cacciatore on top of a bed of pasta.
This creates a meal with serious Italian vibes, and will be a big hit amongst lovers of Italian inspired cuisine!
Any pasta shape will work, though if you want to keep things more authentic, choose shells or tubes. These work best with robust sauces and are delicious when served al dente.
5. French baguette
Crusty bread is a real treat when used to mop up a rich and satisfying tomato-based sauce that’s often left on the plate after serving a dish like cacciatore.
A French baguette is ideal for slicing up and allowing everyone to help themselves to as much or as little as they like. Be sure to also offer some salted butter to spread.
This is one of the instances where bread fresh from the oven is definitely worth a little extra effort.
If you don’t have the time or the inclination to make your own from scratch, you can buy readymade dough in lots of big supermarkets that you can put straight into the oven.
6. A bed of soft polenta
Polenta is often overlooked as a side dish, but it works so well when you have a flavoursome sauce.
Make up a packet and use it to form a bed for your main meal.
7. Wilted greens
It’s always a good idea to add a serving of greens to the table.
Just add your favourite green veggies to a pan and wilt in a little butter until softened. Some good options include spring greens, green cabbage, and curly kale.
8. Steamed green beans
Green beans add an extra crunch to your plate, and are best when steamed to retain that satisfying texture.
Want to make things a little more interesting?
Some choices include:
- Garnishing with shallots, garlic, and toasted almonds
- Adding lightly fried chopped garlic and a drizzle of olive oil
- Adding fresh chopped tomatoes and feta cheese
- Mixing creme fraiche, wholegrain mustard, and lemon juice, then pouring over
9. Fried gnocchi
Fried gnocchi is crispy, fluffy, and those little morsels are so moreish!
If you’ve only ever tried boiled gnocchi in the past, you might be accustomed to it being a little too stodgy and overly filling.
Frying it is a completely different experience, so definitely give it a try if you’re looking for tasty options for what to serve with chicken cacciatore.
The vacuum sealed packs of gnocchi that you’ll find in the supermarket typically have a shelf life of at least a few months, so they’re one of those things that are handy to keep in the pantry for those evenings when you want a quick and easy supper.
10. Cauliflower rice
Trying to cut back on carbs a little?
Or just prefer a lighter side dish alongside a rich stew?
If so, you might want to try cauliflower rice. Just grate up the cauliflower, and cook in a hot pan with a splash of oil and some seasoning.
It’s low in calories and is a neat way to get in an extra portion of veggies.
11. Crispy garlic parmesan potatoes
I think you’ll agree that crispy garlic parmesan potatoes sound like an absolute dream!
The good news is that they’re just as good as you can imagine.
You’ll want to make these again and again, and if you like, you can shake up the flavours a little.
Oregano and lemon, and cheese and bacon are other strong choices that the whole family will love.
They do take about an hour to prepare, but sometimes it’s worth taking some extra time to create a side dish that’s absolutely delicious!
12. Crunchy green salad
A salad can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the fridge until you’re ready to serve, making it a wonderful choice if you’re entertaining guests and you want to cut down on any potential fuss and instead just enjoy their company.
Ditch complex dressings in favour of a light vinaigrette,
You’ll want to make sure that the star of the show is your cacciatore!
13. Garlic stuffed mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are delicious with a whole host of Italian meals, and this one is no different.
They can be served as a starter, or as a side dish so your guests can just help themselves.
Be sure to top them with a generous sprinkling of cheese before flashing under the grill to melt. They’re little mouthfuls of heaven!
14. Fondant potatoes
Fondant potatoes are typically prepared by cutting the potato into a cylinder like shape, and slowly roasting in butter and stock.
They’re melty and indulgent, and though they’re not as popular on restaurant menus today as they once were, they’re still delicious and a great side dish to consider.
15. Braised peas with spring onions and lettuce
Jamie Oliver’s recipe for braised peas with spring onions and lettuce is a total joy, and a good choice when you want something light and fresh to add to your meal.
It takes just ten minutes to make, and most of the ingredients are items that you’ll likely already have in your kitchen.
This recipe is just one of the reasons why I think it’s always a good idea to have a bag of frozen peas in the freezer!
16. Italian lentil salad
An Italian lentil salad is the kind of side dish that allows you to go freestyle in terms of what you include.
It’s a fabulous way to use up any leftover veggies, and you can make a quick dressing using extra virgin olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and some seasoning.
Add a couple of fresh sprigs of parsley to give it an extra zing!
17. French fries
Okay, so this definitely isn’t the most authentic side dish for chicken cacciatore, but it’s sure to be a big hit!
French fries can have an air of sophistication when they’re served up with the right main course, and the result is likely to remind you of something that you might be served in a super cool balcony bistro whilst enjoying a summer holiday in a sunny clime.
18. Roasted Brussel sprouts
Brussel sprouts often have a bit of a bad reputation, but it’s absolutely not deserved!
Forget the overboiled, mushy side dish that you were probably forced to eat as a child during the festive season.
When sprouts are prepared with a little love and attention, they can be absolutely delicious.
Simply cut in half, drizzle with oil, and roast, then add a squeeze of lemon juice and some freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Keep an open mind on this one… I promise that you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Choosing what to serve with chicken cacciatore
There are plenty of different choices here, so don’t be scared to try them out and find what works best for you and your family.
Do remember though that you don’t have to put a ton of extra pressure on yourself. Cooking can and should be enjoyable, so if you want to make your cacciatore and serve it simply with just a French baguette, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Sometimes, deciding to keep things simple will make sure that you have more time enjoying the conversation at the table with your loved ones. And at the end of the day, that’s certainly the most important thing.
