Here’s a rich, comforting Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe — tender chicken simmered in a savory tomato, herb, and vegetable sauce.
🍅 Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 4–6 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14–15 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (14–15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup dry red wine (optional, but adds depth)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Layer vegetables
Add onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic to the bottom of the slow cooker. - Add chicken
Place chicken on top of vegetables. - Mix sauce
In a bowl, combine crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, wine (if using), herbs, salt, pepper, sugar, and bay leaf. Pour over chicken. - Cook
- LOW: 6–7 hours
- HIGH: 3–4 hours
Chicken should be tender and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
- Optional thickening
If sauce is thin, remove lid and cook on HIGH for 20–30 minutes, or stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water). - Serve
Remove bay leaf. Serve over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or zucchini noodles. Garnish with fresh parsley or grated Parmesan.
🔥 Flavor Boost Options
- Add olives or capers for a briny touch.
- Stir in fresh basil at the end.
- Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes for heat.
If you’d like, I can also give you:
- A low-carb version
- An authentic Italian-style version
- Or a 5-ingredient ultra-simple version
Just tell me which one you prefer.
