Chicken Cacciatore Pasta

Ingredients

• 4 chickens leg quarters , 11 ounce
• 1.75 teaspoons salt , or more to taste, divided
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 red bell pepper , cut into strips
• 1 cup sliced onion
• 6 cloves garlic , thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
• 1.5 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 can tomato puree , 28 ounce
• 0.5 cups water
• 1 can cannellini beans , 15.5 ounce
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 8 ounces dried fusilli or penne pasta

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

2. 2

   Sprinkle chicken with 1 teaspoon salt. Heat oil in a wide, heavy, oven-safe pot over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking, about 1 minute. Add chicken, skin sides down, and cook, turning once, until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

3. 3

   Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat. Reduce heat to medium and cook pepper, onion, and garlic, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in oregano, thyme, tomato puree, water, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt; bring to a simmer. Return chicken to pot, return to a simmer, cover, and transfer to oven. Bake until chicken is tender, 45 to 50 minutes.

4. 4

   Transfer chicken to a bowl and chill, uncovered, until cool enough to handle (20 minutes). Discard skin and bones. Pull meat into coarse shreds.

5. 5

   Add chicken, beans, and vinegar to tomato mixture in pot and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes.

6. 6

   Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Stir pasta into chicken mixture, thinning with pasta water as needed. Season with additional salt, if desired.