I love turning to slow cookers when I’m looking for satisfying comfort food without the effort. Chicken cacciatore is the perfect candidate for a slow-cooker meal because it only improves with time. The long cook time gives the aromatic veggies and herbs a chance to meld together, creating a bright, earthy stew. It's also packed with carrots, mushrooms, and tomatoes, making it a delicious way to sneak in a few servings of veggies for the picky eaters in your life. Put everything in the slow cooker, do whatever you need to do, and return in a few hours for a bowl of easy comfort. Here’s everything you need to know:

What People Are Saying:

“I made this tonight and it was absolutely wonderful! Will add it to my list of favorites.” - kwo3711

“Made this for my wife...she loved it. It was so easy and tasted delicious. Adding this to my repertoire.” - CyanChefHat

How To Make Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

INGREDIENTS

Chicken Thighs: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are the traditional choice for cacciatore. Dark meat lends itself well to slow cooking and is considerably more forgiving when it comes to long cooking periods. That being said, you can use chicken breasts if you want to use what you have on hand.
Bell Peppers: You can use any bell peppers you have on hand, but I highly recommend using red.
Mushrooms: Baby bella mushrooms are my preferred choice, but any small mushrooms will work here.
Garlic: 2 cloves of garlic build plenty of flavor alongside our veggies in the slow cooker. If you’re a major garlic fan, you can up the amount.
Crushed Tomatoes: The can of crushed tomatoes will form the base of our sauce, so make sure you’re using a brand you like.
Chicken Broth: Use low-sodium chicken broth so you can control the salt amounts.
Oregano & Red Pepper Flakes: Dried oregano adds an earthy flavor, while red pepper flakes add just a touch of heat. Feel free to adjust based on your heat tolerance.
Capers: Capers are tiny bites of briny, tangy goodness. They are a welcome addition here, but if you’re not a fan, you can leave them out.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

The best thing about a slow-cooker meal is how easy it is. First, you’re going to season your chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Then, place in the slow cooker along with the peppers, mushrooms, garlic, tomatoes, and broth. Season with oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, then cover. If you’ve got the time, you can cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or you can cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. Cook until the chicken has fully cooked through.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Once the chicken is done, remove from the slow cooker, and add the capers directly into the sauce. Stir to combine, then serve the chicken alongside with the sauce. I love to serve over pasta, but you do you.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

How do you thicken chicken cacciatore? If your sauce comes out a bit too thin, there are a few easy ways to help it thicken. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and follow any one of these methods:
- Method 1: Let the sauce simmer in the slow cooker uncovered on high until it reaches your desired thickness.
- Method 2: Use a whisk to combine one tablespoon of flour and two tablespoons of tomato sauce. Stir into the slow cooker and simmer for 5-10 minutes until thickened.
- Method 3: Use a whisk to combine one tablespoon of cornstarch and two tablespoons of tomato sauce. Stir into the slow cooker and simmer for 5-10 minutes until thickened.

Storage

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for around 4 days. If you served over pasta, make sure to keep the chicken and sauce separate from the noodles.

Yields: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 6 hours 10 mins

Ingredients

2 lb.
skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2
bell peppers, chopped
8 oz.
baby Bella mushrooms, sliced
2
cloves garlic, minced
1
(28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 c.
1 tsp.
dried oregano
1/4 tsp.
red pepper flakes
1/3 c.
capers
8 oz.
cooked linguine, for serving

Directions

Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper and place in slow cooker. Add peppers, mushrooms, garlic, tomatoes, and broth, then season with oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until chicken is cooked through.
Remove chicken from slow-cooker and stir capers into sauce. Serve chicken over cooked pasta with sauce.