Here’s a full, hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe — rich tomato sauce, tender chicken, and classic Italian flavors.
🍗 Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
⏱ Prep Time: 15 minutes
🕒 Cook Time: 4–6 hours
🍽 Servings: 4–6
🛒 Ingredients
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2–3 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
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1 teaspoon salt
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1/2 teaspoon black pepper
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1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
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1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
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1/2 teaspoon dried basil
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1 small onion, sliced
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1 red bell pepper, sliced
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1 green bell pepper, sliced
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8 oz mushrooms, sliced
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
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1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (undrained)
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1/2 cup chicken broth
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1/4 cup dry red wine (optional but recommended)
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1 tablespoon tomato paste
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1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
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1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Season the Chicken
Pat chicken dry.
Season both sides with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, oregano, and basil.
2️⃣ Optional: Brown the Chicken (Adds Flavor)
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until lightly browned (not fully cooked).
Transfer to slow cooker.
(You can skip this step if short on time.)
3️⃣ Add Vegetables
Layer on top of chicken:
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Onion
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Bell peppers
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Mushrooms
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Garlic
4️⃣ Make the Sauce
In a bowl, combine:
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Crushed tomatoes
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Diced tomatoes
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Chicken broth
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Red wine
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Tomato paste
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Sugar
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Red pepper flakes
Stir well and pour over chicken and vegetables.
5️⃣ Slow Cook
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LOW: 6–7 hours
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HIGH: 4–5 hours
Chicken should be very tender and reach an internal temp of 165°F.
6️⃣ Finish & Serve
Taste and adjust salt/pepper.
Garnish with fresh parsley or basil.
🍝 Serving Ideas
Serve over:
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Spaghetti
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Fettuccine
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Creamy polenta
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Mashed potatoes
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Or with crusty Italian bread
💡 Tips
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Boneless thighs work great too (reduce cook time slightly).
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For thicker sauce: remove lid last 30 minutes or stir in 1 tablespoon cornstarch slurry.
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Add olives or capers for extra depth.
If you’d like, I can also give you:
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An Instant Pot version
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A baked oven version
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Or a low-carb version (no pasta) 😊