Easy Tender Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Recipe for Perfect Dinner
A comforting and flavorful slow cooker chicken cacciatore recipe featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a rich tomato sauce with herbs and vegetables. Perfect for cozy dinners and easy to prepare with simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 7 hours on LOW or 3 to 4 hours on HIGH
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes to 7 hours 15 minutes (LOW) or 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (HIGH)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (900g) chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 medium bell peppers (red and green), sliced
- 28 ounces (800g) canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup (120ml) dry white wine (optional)
- ½ cup (120ml) low sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- A handful fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons capers or black olives (optional)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Slice the onion and bell peppers into thin strips. Mince the garlic cloves.
- Optional: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the chicken thighs 3-4 minutes per side until golden but not cooked through.
- Place the browned or raw chicken thighs at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the sliced onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic on top.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dry white wine, and chicken broth. Sprinkle in dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes (if using), and season with salt and black pepper.
- Gently stir the sauce ingredients around the chicken without disturbing the chicken placement too much.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is fork-tender and the sauce is thick and fragrant.
- About 15 minutes before serving, stir in capers or black olives if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Browning the chicken before slow cooking adds deeper flavor but can be skipped if short on time. Avoid over-stirring once ingredients are in the slow cooker to let flavors meld naturally. Use bone-in chicken thighs for juiciness. Adjust seasoning near the end of cooking. Keep an eye on liquid levels and add broth if sauce thickens too much.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About one chicken th
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker chicken cacciatore, easy chicken cacciatore, slow cooker dinner, Italian chicken recipe, tender chicken thighs, cozy dinner recipe