Chicken Cacciatore

Although I have not tried it, I'm sure this could easily be done in a crockpot. What a wonderful combination of spices!!!!

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1  teaspoon onion powder
• 1  teaspoon garlic powder
• 1  teaspoon dried oregano
• 1  teaspoon dried basil
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 6  skinless chicken breast halves, bone-in (about 3 lb.)
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 2  cups  sliced mushrooms
• 1 1⁄2 cups red bell peppers, strips
• 1 1⁄2 cups green bell peppers, strips
• 1  cup onion, thinly sliced on the vertical
• 1  tablespoon  balsamic vinegar
• 2  bay leaves
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 6  cups  hot  cooked penne (about 3/4 lb. uncooked tube-shaped pasta)
• 1⁄2 cup  freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Combine first 6 ingredients. Sprinkle 4 teaspoons of this mixture over chicken. Set remaining mixture aside.
2. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over med-high heat. Add the chicken to pan, cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove chicken from pan.
3. Add mushrooms, bell pepper strips and onions to pan; sprinkle with remaining oregano mixture. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
4. Add vinegar, bay leaves, tomatoes, and tomato paste; stir to combine. Arrange the chicken over tomato mixture, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 50 minutes or until chicken is done.
5. Place 1 cup of pasta in each of 6 shallow bowls. Top each serving with chicken. Ladle 1 cup of sauce over chicken and sprinkle each serving with 4 teaspoons Parmesan cheese.
6. NOTE: Chicken tighs can also be used. If your chicken breasts are very large, you might want to consider doubling the sauce portion of the recipe.