As a busy mom juggling the demands of life, I know how crucial it is to have a go-to recipe that’s not only easy but also packed with flavor.
That’s why I’m excited to share my slow cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe, made effortlessly in the slow cooker.
It’s the perfect solution for those nights when you need a comforting, home-cooked meal without the fuss.
The flavors that result from the peppers, onions, and dark meat chicken in the tomato sauce are simply delicious. The vegetables are so tender, and the meat pulls off the bone with a fork perfectly.
You’ll LOVE this one!
Key Takeaways
- Cook Time: Low – 6-8 hours
- Main Ingredients: Chicken leg quarters, crushed tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, olive oil, garlic, basil, and more
- Servings: 4
- Extras: Serve over pasta, rice, in sub rolls, or as a filling for stuffed peppers (great leftovers idea!)
Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
The slow cooker does most of the work to make Chicken Cacciatore, but I do a little bit of pan frying before loading it up for dinner.
I started by heating a bit of olive oil in a large skillet, removing the skin from the chicken leg quarters, and browning them to lock in all the delicious juices.
Once the chicken was nicely browned, I moved on to the veggies. I love how onions and bell peppers soften together in the slow cooker, creating a tender, flavorful base for the dish.
I tossed them into the slow cooker along with a can of crushed tomatoes and two cans of diced tomatoes.
The rich tomato sauce, seasoned with dried basil, black pepper, and a pinch of salt, is what really brings this dish to life and gives it that classic Italian food taste.
After adding the browned chicken to the slow cooker, I set it to low and let it cook for six to eight hours so I could shred the chicken pieces easily.
When the slow cooker is done, the chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender, and the vegetables have soaked up all the delicious flavors from the tomato sauce.
The best part? This entire dish was minimal effort, keeping me out of the kitchen before I even served dinner!
Ingredients
- 3 Chicken Leg Quarters with the skin removed
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 bell pepper any color, sliced
- 1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic minced or crushed
- 1 Tbsp dried basil
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt more if desired
- Shredded mozzarella optional topping
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
- With the skin removed, brown chicken in oil. 2 minutes per side, flipping once.
- In the slow cooker, combine crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, peppers, and onions spices and mix.
- Add the chicken from the skillet to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve over pasta and mozzarella cheese (put cheese directly on the pasta, and then top with the chicken and sauce).
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Substitutions
This is an easy Chicken Cacciatore recipe, and it doesn’t end there!
If you want to switch things up a bit, here are a few substitution ideas I’ve tried or would suggest:
The Meat
Instead of chicken leg quarters for Chicken Cacciatore, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
Chicken is the name of the game, given the name of the dish, but nothing says you can’t try the sauce and cook it with a different meat for something new!
If you’re looking for a lean option, turkey thighs or drumsticks work beautifully and offer a similar rich flavor. And the Cacciatore sauce would smother pork chops perfectly, too.
For a heartier, more robust flavor profile, consider adding Italian sausage, whether mild or spicy. It pairs well with the red sauce Cacciatore is known for, I love sausage in a red sauce.
The Vegetables
Chicken Cacciatore gets a lot of its flavor from bell peppers—a green bell pepper is more savory, while yellow, red, and orange are sweeter.
Other veggies like mushrooms or zucchini would also be a great addition to the dish, tasting great in the sauce and with the peppers.
Carrots also add a nice sweetness to the sauce and spinach would add some color and nutrition without taking away from the bright tomato taste.
I like adding mushrooms to a lot of dishes because when they’re cut small, they don’t affect the texture, but they have such a nice earthy flavor that goes well with most sauces.
For a twist, diced eggplant makes a wonderful addition. It absorbs the flavors of the sauce and adds a creamy texture, slightly like eggplant parm, but without the breading.
Incorporating Kalamata or green olives can introduce a salty note that pairs well with the tomato Cacciatore sauce.
The Seasoning
If you’re in the mood for a bit more heat, try adding some crushed red pepper flakes. You could also swap the basil for oregano or thyme to give the dish a different herbaceous note.
For a more aromatic and earthy flavor, rosemary—whether fresh or dried—makes an excellent replacement or complement to the basil.
Adding a teaspoon of smoked paprika can introduce a subtle smokiness and depth to the dish that salt and pepper just can’t do alone.
And if you want to thicken the Cacciatore sauce a bit without changing the tomato taste, you can add tomato paste; I usually start with 2 tablespoons.
Serving It Up
There are so many ways to enjoy this Chicken Cacciatore. My personal favorite is serving it over a bed of pasta, with the mozzarella cheese melting right onto the noodles before being topped with the rich, savory sauce and tender chicken.
But if you’re looking to switch things up, you could also serve it over rice for a comforting, hearty meal.
Another great option is to serve the Chicken Cacciatore over creamy polenta, which provides a smooth and slightly sweet base that beautifully complements the rich tomato sauce.
For a fun twist, try spooning the chicken and sauce into sub rolls (or other rolls/bread) for a delicious sandwich.
For even more creative ways to serve Chicken Cacciatore, consider stuffing hollowed-out bell peppers with a mixture of the Cacciatore and cooked rice or quinoa and baking them until the peppers are tender and the filling is bubbly.
FAQs
Can I use chicken breasts instead of leg quarters?
Absolutely! Chicken breasts can be used, but they may cook a bit faster and dry out, so check for doneness sooner.
Do I have to brown the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker?
While browning the chicken adds depth of flavor and helps to lock in the juices, you can skip this step if you’re short on time. Just be aware that the texture and flavor might be slightly different.
Can I add other vegetables to this recipe?
Definitely! Mushrooms, zucchini, or even carrots would be great additions to this dish, adding extra layers of flavor and nutrition.
Final Thoughts
Crafting a meal that’s both hearty and effortless feels like a small victory, and this Chicken Cacciatore truly hits the mark.
With its rich blend of flavors and the ease of a slow cooker, it’s a recipe that transforms simple ingredients into something special without requiring hours in the kitchen.
Whether you’re looking to impress your family with a flavorful dish or simply want to savor a comforting, home-cooked meal on a chilly evening, this Chicken Cacciatore is bound to become a go-to recipe that you’ll reach for time and time again.
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