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.
Steve says
Loved the recipe but had just one issue. The sauce turned extremely watery unlike what it looks like in the picture. Did anyone else have this issue and what can I do about it?
Sara says
Thanks for reporting back Steve, I’ll look into it. What brand sauce did you use?
Debbie says
My family always loves the classic dishes like this! Crook pot meals are a favorite of mine after a long work day.
Chubskulit Rose says
This is a kind of dish I won’t get tired having for dinner. I would love to give it a try.
Maddy says
I love that you are using bone in skin on thighs! It looks so yummy. I’m all about anything I can make in my slowcooker!
m says
That sounds like a great combination of flavors. I’ve never made this dish before, and it sounds wonderful. I’ll have to try this out some time.
Lisa says
I like chicken cacciatore so much. I never thought to make it in the slow cooker. This looks amazing and is going on our meal plan.
Tasheena says
This recipe looks so yummy. I haven’t had chicken cacciatore in so many years. My family would love this recipe.
Amber Myers says
I always love when I can use my slow cooker. This looks so amazing. I’ll be trying it out for dinner soon. It’ll make the house smell amazing!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
I order this dish from a famous Italian restaurant all the time. I gotta try the homeamde version!!
Terri Steffes says
This looks delicious. I love Italian food, and I want to extend my recipes. I have to add this one now!
Jeanette says
This brings me back to my childhood. My mom would make a chicken cacciatore almost weekly and I always loved it. I cannot wait to try this slow cooker version! YUM!
Glenda Cates says
I have seen this Recipe many times but I haven’t ever tried it as I am not sure my husband and son would eat this new way to prepare chicken. But I might make it to take to school when we host the Teachers appreciation day.
Tomi C says
I haven’t made chicken cacciatore in years. I would love to make it in my slow cooker… or my Instant Pot. Those are my 2 got to kitchen appliances. I have a brand new stove and hardly ever use it.
Alli Smith says
I love slow cooker meals. I use my slow cooker a lot and I’m always looking for new chicken recipes and this one is definitely a winner!
NYC Single Mom says
I haven’t had chicken cacciatore in a very long time. I love that you used a slow cooker. This will be the perfect recipe to test out with my daughter. Pinning for later!!
wendy says
I seriously am going to make this recipe this week for dinner. It looks really great. We all love chicken and marinara so…
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
My husband used to love chicken cacciatore when he could eat mushrooms. The slow cooker is great to use because you don’t heat up the house cooking.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
My husband used to love chicken cacciatore when he could eat mushrooms. The slow cooker is great to use because you don’t heat up the house cooking.
robin rue says
My mom used to make chicken cacciatore all the time and I haven’t had it in a million years. I am going to have to try your awesome recipe.