Description
This Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore is a hearty and flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken thighs simmered with bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs. Slow-cooked to perfection, it offers a rich tomato sauce infused with Italian seasonings, making it a comforting and satisfying meal perfect for busy days.
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 the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then sear for 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown. This step is optional but adds extra flavor.
- Prepare Vegetables in Slow Cooker: Place the sliced onion, red and green bell peppers, mushrooms, and minced garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker to create a flavorful base.
- Layer the Chicken: Arrange the seared or raw chicken pieces on top of the bed of vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Mix Tomato Sauce: In a large bowl, combine the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, dried basil, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir well to mix all ingredients thoroughly.
- Cook in Slow Cooker: Pour the tomato sauce mixture evenly over the chicken and vegetables. Cover 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 for a briny pop of flavor. Taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper as needed to balance the flavors.
- Serve: Serve the chicken and sauce over your choice of pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with fresh parsley and basil for a bright, fresh finish.
Notes
- Searing the chicken before slow cooking adds depth of flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
- Use either chicken thighs or breasts according to your preference; thighs offer more moistness.
- For a spicier dish, increase the red pepper flakes or add chopped fresh chili.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/6th of recipe)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
