Description
This Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore is a hearty and flavorful Italian-inspired stew made with tender chicken thighs or breasts simmered in a rich tomato sauce with bell peppers, mushrooms, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for a comforting slow-cooked meal, it’s easy to prepare and pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless & skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Vegetables
- 1 small yellow onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato Mixture
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Finishing Touches
- 2 tablespoons capers
- Fresh parsley and basil for garnish
Instructions
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then sear for 2–3 minutes on each side until golden brown. This step is optional but adds excellent flavor.
- Prepare Vegetables: Place sliced onion, red and green bell peppers, mushrooms, and minced garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Layer the Chicken: Arrange the seared chicken pieces on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Mix the Tomato Sauce: In a large bowl, combine crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir well to blend the flavors.
- Combine and Cook: Pour the tomato mixture over the chicken and vegetables. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6–7 hours or on high for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shredded.
- Add Capers and Adjust Seasoning: Stir in the capers, then taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve: Serve the chicken and sauce over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and basil for added freshness and aroma.
Notes
- Searing the chicken before cooking enhances flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
- You can use either chicken thighs or breasts depending on preference; thighs are more tender and flavorful.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to customize the spiciness of the dish.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and also freeze nicely for longer storage.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/6th of recipe)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
