Easy Chicken Cacciatore (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Slow cooker chicken cacciatore is an easy comfort food dinner made with tender chicken simmered in a rich tomato sauce with peppers, onions, mushrooms and Italian seasonings. This hearty crockpot meal practically cooks itself so dinner is ready and waiting when the day is done.
This season of life is so busy between managing work and my kids’ activities.
There’s something about a slow cooker dinner that just makes these crazy days feel a little more manageable.
Being able to toss everything into the crockpot earlier in the day and come back to a warm, hearty meal later is always a win around here.
This slow cooker chicken cacciatore is one of those meals that I throw together in the morning and look forward to all day.
It cooks low and slow until the house has the mouthwatering aroma of the chicken and tomato sauce.
While it does make your house smell like an Italian restaurant, it tastes even better!
The chicken is tender and the sauce is full of rich, comforting flavor from the tomatoes, peppers, onions, and seasonings.
It’s the kind of dinner you’ll have on repeat because the whole family loves it!
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Chicken– Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts work though chicken thighs result in a more tender result.
- Olive oil– To give the chicken a quick sear
- Veggies– Yellow onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and mushrooms all sliced.
- Garlic– Minced
- Canned tomatoes– A 28 ounce can of crushed of tomatoes and a drained 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes
- Chicken broth– You can use stock if that’s what you have on hand.
- Seasonings– Italian seasoning, dried basil, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper
- Capers
- Garnish– Fresh parsley or basil
How to Make
This slow cooker chicken cacciatore is so easy.
Start by heating the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper and then sear it for 2–3 minutes per side until the chicken is golden.
Take the chicken off the heat.
Then add the sliced onion, bell peppers, mushrooms, and garlic to the sprayed bottom of your slow cooker.
Put the chicken on top of the vegetables.
Stir together the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth, Italian seasoning, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.
Pour the tomato mixture over the chicken.
Put the lid on the slow cooker and let everything cook on low for 6–7 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
Once the chicken is tender, stir in the capers and give the sauce a taste.
Adjust the seasoning if needed.
Serve with your favorite and garnish with fresh parsley and basil.
Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Chicken cacciatore is delicious over pasta, mashed potatoes, and rice.
It’s also yummy with a side of crusty bread to mop up all the extra sauce.
Storing Leftovers
This is one of those meals that tastes even better the next day!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the slow cooker, on a pot on the stove, or the microwave until warmed through.
You can also transfer room temperature chicken cacciatore to a freezer safe container and freeze it for up 2 months.
Tips and Tricks
- While browning the chicken adds extra flavor, you can skip it if you are short on time. It’ll still be delicious.
- If the sauce is too thin at the end, take the lid off the slow cooker and let it cook on high for 15 to 20 minutes uncovered.
- For a smoky flavor, you can use crushed fire roasted tomatoes.
- Add or substitute whatever veggies you like for the mushrooms. Eggplant and zucchini are both good choices. Or make it Mediterranean style by adding artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes.
- A splash of red wine will make the sauce richer.
- Stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream at the end of cooking for a creamy sauce or add an extra sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes for spicy cacciatore.
- Turn it into a cheesy pasta bake by serving it over pasta, topping it with mozzarella and broiling it until it’s bubbly.
Other Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Slow cooker chicken cacciatore is the perfect comforting meal to set up any morning so you come home to a delicious dinner.
Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other slow cooker chicken recipes?
Try these:
- Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
- Crockpot Chicken & Gravy
- Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
- Easy Chicken Gumbo
- Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
- Crockpot Chicken & Stuffing
- Easy Crockpot Chicken Pho
If you’ve tried this SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CACCIATORE, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Easy Chicken Cacciatore (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion peeled & sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes drained
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp capers
- fresh parsley and basil for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly season the chicken with salt and pepper, then sear for 2–3 minutes per side just until golden.1 tbsp olive oil, 2 pounds boneless
- Add the sliced onion, bell peppers, mushrooms, and garlic to the bottom of your slow cooker. Place chicken on top of the vegetables.1 small yellow onion, 1 red bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper, 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, 3 cloves garlic
- Into a large bowl combine the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to combine. Pour over the chicken.1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper
- Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours, or high for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Stir in capers. Adjust salt and pepper, to taste.2 tbsp capers
- Serve over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with fresh parsley and basil.
Notes
- While browning the chicken adds extra flavor, you can skip it if you are short on time. It'll still be delicious.
- If the sauce is too thin at the end, take the lid off the slow cooker and let it cook on high for 15 to 20 minutes uncovered.
- For a smoky flavor, you can use crushed fire roasted tomatoes.
- Add or substitute whatever veggies you like for the mushrooms. Eggplant and zucchini are both good choices. Or make it Mediterranean style by adding artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes.
- A splash of red wine will make the sauce richer.
- Stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream at the end of cooking for a creamy sauce or add an extra sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes for spicy cacciatore.
- Turn it into a cheesy pasta bake by serving it over pasta, topping it with mozzarella and broiling it until it's bubbly.
Nutrition
