Go Back

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

This hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore is a rustic Italian comfort meal made effortlessly in your crock pot. Tender chicken simmers all day in a rich tomato sauce with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, and Italian herbs. It’s the perfect hands-off dinner—flavorful, wholesome, and ideal for busy weeknights. Serve it over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes for a cozy, saucy, and deeply satisfying meal.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper sliced
  • 1 medium onion sliced
  • 2 cups sliced mushrooms
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Optional: red pepper flakes capers, olives, fresh parsley

Method
 

  1. Prepare the Crock Pot:
  2. Lightly grease the slow cooker with olive oil or nonstick spray.
  3. Add Vegetables:
  4. Place the sliced peppers, onions, mushrooms, and garlic into the bottom of the slow cooker.
  5. Add Chicken:
  6. Lay the chicken breasts or thighs on top of the vegetables.
  7. Mix the Sauce:
  8. In a bowl, combine crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
  9. Pour the Sauce:
  10. Pour the tomato mixture evenly over the chicken.
  11. Slow Cook:
  12. Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
  13. Shred or Serve Whole:
  14. Remove chicken, shred it, or serve whole—then return it to the sauce if shredded.
  15. Finish:
  16. Stir in fresh parsley or optional red pepper flakes. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Notes

Chicken thighs stay juicier than chicken breasts—use them if you prefer extra tenderness.
For a thicker sauce, remove the slow cooker lid during the last 20–30 minutes.
Add ½ cup red wine for a richer, deeper Italian flavor.
To make it spicy, add red pepper flakes or diced chili peppers.
Great for meal prep: stores well in the fridge for 4 days or freezes up to 3 months.
Serve with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, polenta, or crusty bread for a complete meal.