Slow Cooker Chicken cacciatore is an easy recipe that is hearty, tasty, and perfect for a weeknight dinner. It is the perfect meal for a busy weekday since there is little prep and then you let it cook all day long on low so it is ready by dinnertime. A winner of a chicken dinner!
Simply serve chicken cacciatore with pasta, chicken broth rice, polenta, spaghetti squash, and zoodles. Make sure you know how much pasta to make per person.
Or try any of my other recommendations below and you have a complete meal that is healthy and delicious. This recipe, like my Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak & Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash, are family favorite that my kids request for dinner - it is that good.
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Why This is a Family Favorite Meal
It is a great Italian recipe packed with veggies like my Pasta Al Forno recipe. You can use whatever vegetables that your family love, it is any easy recipe to customize. Or adjust it to make it keto (omit the veggies) since it is already low carb as written like my Keto Classic Italian Lasagna recipe.
After all, chicken with pasta is a great combination and this Italian recipe showcases that. If you like your chicken saucy, try a cream sauce with this yummy recipe for Creamy Chicken in a Lemon Dill Butter Sauce - OMG!
What Does Cacciatore Mean?
Simply put, cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian. In cuisine, alla cacciatora" refers to a meal prepared “hunter-style” which typically includes onions, herbs, tomatoes, often bell peppers and mushrooms, and sometimes wine.
Cacciatore is traditionally made with braised chicken or rabbit. For this recipe, I am using boneless skinless chicken breasts but chicken thighs, rabbits, or even duck can be used for a lovely cacciatore meal.
This recipe is for pollo alla cacciatora. I have made it this way for years as it is just like grandma's authentic chicken cacciatore recipe that I grew up with.
What Goes Well with Chicken Cacciatore?
For those that want something low-carb, keto, grain-free, paleo, or Whole30, I recommend spaghetti squash, and cauliflower rice. Or eat it just as is like an Italian chicken stew all on its own like I do when I make Slow Cooker Loaded Chicken & Cauliflower Casserole.
For anyone with gluten sensitivity, try rice, soft polenta, gluten-free pasta, or even top a toaster oven baked potato. Try some classics like these recipes that go well with chicken cacciatore.
Need more side dishes and Italian recipes? Enjoy more ideas for what to serve with chicken cacciatore.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
For this slow cooker version, the chicken cacciatore is made with boneless breasts. You can also use boneless skinless thighs. With a variety of Italian spices & vegetables, the dish comes together like a complete meal in in the CrockPot.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - this is not a traditional cut but it works best in this recipe & kids seem to enjoy it more.
- Marinara Sauce - jarred, like Rao's which is our favorite, or homemade both will work.
- Tomato Paste - for a thicker more rustic sauce with deep tomato flavor.
- Bell Peppers - sweet peppers in a variety of colors are pretty.
- Onion - diced to add pungent flavor.
- Mushrooms - button or white mushrooms sliced thick work best.
- Spices & Herbs - garlic, dried basil, salt, pepper, & red pepper flakes.
- Optional - red wine, heavy cream, or fresh basil leaves.
See the recipe card for amounts & full instructions.
How to Make Cacciatore in a CrockPot
Here are the 4 easy steps for making slow cooker chicken cacciatore (pollo alla cacciatora) recipe:
- Season the Chicken
- Cut & Add the Vegetables
- Add Sauce Ingredients
- Cook in the Slow Cooker
Just let the slow cooker do all the work. If you get the vegetables precut at the store, this is a quick dump & go chicken recipe.
1 - Season the Chicken
Place the four boneless skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker insert. Season liberally on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
2 - Cut & Add the Vegetables
Dice the vegetables and add them to the slow cooker (oops, mushrooms were off to the right and camera shy!)
3 - Add Sauce Ingredients
For the last step, add the marinara sauce, tomato paste, dried herbs, and optional red wine.
3 - Cook in the Slow Cooker
After stirring all the ingredients together, set your slow cooker/Crockpot to low. If yours has a timer also set it for 8 hours or just keep track of the time. This recipe will be done after it simmers on low for 8 hours. If you want a chicken Crockpot meal that takes only 4 hours, try some saucy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken.
Keep the lid closed and try to only stir 1 or 2 times during those hours. This helps keep the temperature even, the moisture in the slow cooker, and the old saying "if you are looking, you ain't cooking" comes to mind!
Substitutions & Variations
This Italian classic is wonderful as is but here are a few other ideas to make this recipe. These alternative ingredients and changes are just as good as the recipe below.
- Chicken Breasts - use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead. If you use bone-in breasts, the cooking time will be longer - make sure to test that the meat is 165° internal temperature.
- Marinara Sauce - use crushed tomatoes canned or jarred instead.
- Spicy - double the amount of red pepper flakes.
This recipe is already low-fat, low-carb, and gluten-free. No changes are needed. If you love this, try my recipe for Italian Short Ribs made in the Instant Pot.
Storing & Reheating Chicken Cacciatore
This recipe is great for meal planning. It can be made ahead of time since it stores very well in both the refrigerator and freezer. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat thawed cacciatore in the microwave or stovetop. Additional sauce may be needed to ensure the chicken is moist & doesn't dry out.
Product Recommendations for this Recipe:
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Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 & ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 medium onion diced (omit for keto version)
- 1 C bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 C white mushrooms sliced
- 1 28oz Jar Rao's Marinara sauce
- 1 TB tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ C red wine OPTIONAL (omit for keto version)
- ½ C heavy whipping cream OPTIONAL (add at the end for keto version)
- fresh basil leaves - for garnish washed and dried
Instructions
- Place the four boneless skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker insert. Season liberally on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Dice the vegetables and add them to the chicken in the slow cooker.
- For the last step, add the marinara sauce, tomato paste, basil, red pepper flakes, and optional red wine. Stir to combine sauce ingredients evenly over the chicken breasts at the bottom.
- After stirring all the ingredients together, set your slow cooker/Crockpot to low. If yours has a timer also set it for 8 hours or just keep track of the time.
- FOR KETO/TOMATO CREAM SAUCE VERSION - If you want to add more fat to your diet, such as on a keto diet, at this point add ½ C of heavy whipping cream to the chicken cacciatore and stir to combine. Let warm and combine for about 30 minutes on warm before serving.
- For side dishes or what to serve this with, see the detailed section above. Garnish with fresh basil. ENJOY!
Notes
Nutrition
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Caroline Parrott says
Perfect timing! I was just looking for a couple new cool weather crock pot ideas. Thank you! ps-thighs be OK instead of breasts right? Would you change anything considering that substitution?
Angela says
Yes, chicken thighs would do just fine. If you are using boneless skinless thighs, the cooking time would be the same. I would likely use 6 for this recipe vs 4 breasts given that the thighs are a smaller portion size. Enjoy and let me know what you think once you try the thighs.
Karie says
This looks delicious! I need new recipes for chicken.
Angela says
I think everyone is on the lookout for new chicken dinner ideas and I hope you enjoy this homemade cacciatore.
Cindy Mailhot says
Crock pot cooking is one of my favorite cooking methods during the work week. This looks yummy.
Angela says
CrockPot for the weekday chicken recipe win!
Alexis Farmer says
Chicken cacciatore looks good! I’ve never had it but definitely need to try it now.
Angela says
I hope you enjoy this new recipe.
Annette says
I love a delicious Italian dinner!!! Great for a cooler evening!!
Elaina says
Yum, we've been eating a lot more at home and I was starting to run out of ideas.
Sabrina DeWalt says
This recipe looks wonderful. We always like to have some easy, low prep recipes for those nights we just don't feel like putting in the effort.
Amanda says
This looks hearty & delicious! Slow cooker recipes are a life saver for this busy mom.
Kendra says
Yum! What a wonderful comfort meal! I had no idea what Cacciatore meant! Very cool to learn about it!
Angela says
Glad you liked the recipe, Kendra, plus learned something along the way.
Barbara says
Looks good!
Dee | Grammy's Grid says
Looks yummy! Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 18, open until November 26. Shared.
Elise Ho says
It's been a while since I have dragged out my slow cooker. Now I am thinking that it is time 🙂
Angela says
It is worth dragging it out, this recipe is easy, comforting, and delicious.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Great recipe and so easy! Thanks for sharing at the what's for dinner party. I hope you're enjoying your weekend.
Miz Helen says
Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday,510 this week. Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us soon!
Miz Helen
Grace says
Loved this slow cooker chicken cacciatore! I used prepared fajita veggies and added calamari olives. I didn’t have fresh basil in my spice rack, so I used McCormick Italian seasoning instead. To save calories, I didn’t use pasta or rice, but that would have been great with the sauce. It was delicious and will I will definitely make it again!
Angela says
All of that sounds amazing. I eat this plain too - it's so good that you don't miss the pasta or rice. Thanks for sharing the olives idea - delish.