Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore is an easy spin on a classic Italian recipe. Tender bone in chicken, peppers, mushrooms and onions are simmered in a rich tomato sauce.
Serve this favorite over long pasta for a comforting, belly warming meal!
Whether you make it bone in or with potatoes, this spicy and hearty stew is just the ticket for any crowd! And the leftovers? To ‘dine’ for. All you need is some garlic bread
What’s in Chicken Cacciatore?
Cacciatore means, ‘hunter’ in Italian, but in Italian cooking, ‘alla cacciatora’ means braised meat cooked with onions, herbs, bell peppers, and maybe a splash of red wine to deepen the flavors.
In the old country, cacciatore is made with rabbits, but here in North America, chicken is the preferred protein! Choose dark-meat bone in chicken for the most tender results (thighs and drumsticks).
How to Make Chicken Cacciatore in Slow Cooker
- Brown chicken and place in the bottom of a slow cooker with the veggies.
- Pour sauce ingredients into the slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Finally, remove the lid and let the stew cook until it is thickened a little more. Serve over pasta.
Serve this Dish With…
Slow cooker and stovetop chicken cacciatore are definitely a complete meal in themselves!
Serve this over pasta (or even mashed potatoes). Add in a fresh, crispy green salad on the side and some dinner rolls to sop up all the tangy tomato-y sauce!
Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners
- Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo – seriously easy
- Slow Cooker Chicken a la King – classic
- Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken & Gravy – dinner is served!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup – a great freezer meal
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken – my daughter’s favorite
Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 green bell pepper cored, seeded and diced
- 1 red bell pepper cored, seeded and diced
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 14 ounces tomato sauce
- 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup kalamata olives drained and pitted, or 1 ½ tablespoons capers
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt & pepper and cook over medium heat until skin is browned, about 3-4 minutes.
- Top the chicken with diced bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, and garlic.
- Combine remaining ingredients (except olives) and pour over the vegetables.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 7-8 hours or until chicken is cooked through.
- After 4 hours carefully remove the chicken, add olives (or capers) and stir to combine the sauce.
- Serve the chicken over pasta with the sauce from the slow cooker.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Chicken, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
will leaving the mushrooms out drastically change the flavor? we have a family member who is allergic
It will change the flavor but not too drastically.
Ok I made Chicken Cacciatore twice previously in my life both time were an epic fail. I thought ok Holly a great cook I will try this one.Oh m6 goodness so thankful I did the stuff is amazing. The flavor us phenomenal thank you so much for another wonderful recipe
Josey
So happy this one was such a success for you, Josey! Thank you for trying our recipe.
taste was excellent but really watery added double the cornstarch mixture and still didn’t help much. made recipe exactly as wrote so I’m not sure. My kids loved it thanks
So delicious! I added a splash of red wine and used capers instead of olives. Will make again for sure.
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe Rita!
Wish I could print this
There is a print button located just above the ingredients list. Click “JUMP TO RECIPE” at the top of the page and then you will see the print button. Hope that helps!
Cant wait to make the chicken cacciatori!
I can’t wait for you to try it either Terri!
We loved this delicious meal and so did our invited dinner guest! So flavorful, served with angel hair spaghetti and salad. Thank you again, Holly, for another gustatory success; you make me look good!
So happy everyone enjoyed this recipe, Jackie!
Any changes to the recipe if I use boneless thighs?
We have only tried the recipe as written Susan. If you make it with boneless thighs, let us know how it works for you!
I like the refreshing tomato liquid with the cooked-down veggies, onions, and garlic. It is very complimentary with spaghetti noodles and the slightly crisped chicken! My kind of food to make over and over again! Next time, it needs a little tomato paste, like 1 tablespoon or so.
I haven’t tried any recipes yet I am just signing up
Enjoy the recipes Bianca! Happy to see you here.
Made this many a time i like a little heat so I add a few chillis
Can’t wait to try this Chicken Reciipe in the slow cooker
You will have to let us know what you think of it Barbara! Have fun cooking :)