This slow cooker chicken cacciatore is tender chicken thighs that are cooked in the crock pot with peppers, mushrooms and olives. An easy Italian dinner that’s perfect served over pasta!
Chicken cacciatore is one of my go-to dinner recipes. My kids happily eat it, it’s got a ton of flavor and it’s so easy to make. This slow cooker version takes just minutes to put together and you’ll come home at the end of the day to a restaurant quality meal.
I just love a good meal I can throw in the crock pot. Especially when it’s like this slow cooker chicken cacciatore which my entire family loves. It’s not always easy to find one meal that everyone is head over heels for, but this crockpot chicken cacciatore really hits the spot.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CACCIATORE?
This dish contains a delicious mixture of bone-in chicken thighs cooked to perfection amid the aromatic flavors of peppers, mushrooms, and olives in the crock pot. Italian chicken cacciatore is the perfect hearty dinner that’s both easy and satisfying. Serve it over pasta to round out your meal and up the kid friendly factor!
Tips for crock pot chicken cacciatore
- I prefer using bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs when making crock pot chicken cacciatore. This type of chicken holds a ton of flavor and doesn’t dry out or lose its shape after a long cooking time. You can substitute boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs – your meat may fall apart a bit when you go to serve it, but it will still be delicious.
- I highly recommend browning your chicken before it goes into the slow cooker, but if you’re in a big hurry, you can skip that step and it will still be great. If you have a favorite brand of marinara sauce, definitely use that in your dish. I use Newman’s or Classico brand.
- The chicken will release liquid as it cooks, which will thin out the sauce. If you feel like your sauce is too thin, you can thicken it up by uncovering the slow cooker and running it for 20 minutes on high heat.
- The bell peppers and mushrooms will get quite soft from being in the slow cooker all day. If you prefer firmer veggies, add them about 2 hours before the chicken cacciatore is done. I stir in the olives at the very end right before serving.
WHAT DOES THE WORD CACCIATORE MEAN?
This word means “hunter” in Italian. In the culinary world, this usually means that a meal is prepared “hunter-style.” Hunter-style means prepared with onions, bell peppers and herbs. This word also means a dish that is typically cooked in a spicy tomato sauce.
CAN SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CACCIATORE BE MADE WITH OTHER MEATS?
As with most meals of this nature, just about any meat can be substituted in place of the chicken. The flavors and cooking times will definitely adjust so be aware of this when making your substitutions. A great substitution would be beef stew meat, or other cuts of chicken such as chicken drumsticks.
I typically serve slow cooker chicken cacciatore over pasta, but it’s also delicious over rice or mashed potatoes. I will definitely be making this again in the near future!
MORE ITALIAN DISHES YOU’LL LOVE
Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients
- 6 bone in skin on chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 cup onion thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and place it in the slow cooker. Add the mushrooms to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes or until tender.
- Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds.
- Place the mushroom mixture, onion, bell peppers, Italian seasoning and marinara sauce in the slow cooker.
- Gently toss all the ingredients together.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Remove the cover and stir in the olives. Sprinkle the parsley over the top and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on August 2, 2018 and was updated on December 1, 2019 with new content.
Bates says
This looks delicious! I’m looking forward to making this for my wife this weekend, and have a question. We are both trying to watch our weight and sodium intake, and the nutrition information is important to us. I will be using my homemade marinara, which is not going to have the sugars and sodium content of a jarred marinara. Could you share the brand of marinara you used in this recipe? Knowing this would allow us to adjust for our version. Thank you.
Sara says
I used Newman’s Own!
Bates says
Thanks so much for your timely response – very helpful.
sheri says
Can’t wait to try this! Your recipes are delicious!
Do you think it would be safe to do all of the prep the night before, including searing the chicken, and then let it sit in the refrigerator over night ready to go in the morning? Or is that unsafe due to the partially cooked chicken?
Thanks for your help!
Sara says
I would not sear the chicken in advance but you could definitely prep everything else!
Sheri says
Thanks so much!!
Jenny says
I want to make 10 servings but I have a 4 quart slow cooker. Will that be too much volume? Thank you!
Sara says
I’m thinking it would be too much but you’d have to actually see if you could layer it all in, it would depend on the size of your chicken pieces.
DAVID CERRITELLI says
It cam out delicious! I did add a small can of tomato paste to thicken sauce. I also add red pepper flakes, and a bit o cayenne pepper 7 hours on low and so easy to make! I recommend browning the chicken thighs as well
Ann-Marie says
Can I double the recipe as I have a large slow cooker and am looking at making enough to feed my family of six?
Sara says
Yes just change the number of servings on the recipe card and the ingredients will automatically update!
Linda says
This was delish – used boneless skinless thighs – didn’t brown anything – put peppers, olives and parsley in later as directed. House smelled divine. Served over egg noodles. Is now dh second favorite meal of all time!
Trish says
Can I use a bottle of any pasta sauce or must it be the marinara sauce ? Thanx, sounds delish.
Sara says
Any pasta sauce is fine!
Rose ann Fanelli says
Can you use bone in chicken breasts?
Sara says
Yes that’s fine!
Fernanda Vargas says
Hi would adding a little bit of tomato paste to the recipe help thicken out the sauce and not mess with the taste ?
Sara says
Yes that would be fine!
Nancy says
This. Was. Delicious. I usually have bad luck with chicken in the crockpot but the thighs were so tender. I browned them first as suggested and used Barilla marinara. Next time I may add a little red wine but will definitely be making this again!
Robert Flynn says
Mine turned out a bit more watery than in the pictures but maybe thats because I used Prego sauce, still really nice and tasty though and would definitely make again, maybe next time use the recommended Newmans or Classico sauce.
Emily Liao says
This slow cooker chicken looks delicious! Perfect for a weeknight meal.
Adriana says
This chicken is perfection, the color of the chicken thigs is so appetizing and an easy dinner to make. I made this for my family and everyone loved it!
Jill says
Such a classic and comforting meal. Love how colorful it is too!
Noelle says
Another slow cooker recipe for the win! I love this idea, can’t wait for more!!
Nicole says
I love this! Looks so flavorful and delicious!!!
Anita says
Using bone-in chicken thighs for this is simply perfect, and cold weather is a great time for all kind of slow cooker meal. 🙂