Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
A delightful Italian dish featuring tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and a rich tomato sauce cooked effortlessly in a slow cooker.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds skinless chicken thighs (bone-in preferred)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
- 0.5 cup chopped white onion
- 0.5 cup diced red bell peppers
- 0.5 cup sliced carrots (about 1 large carrot)
- 0.5 cup sliced mushrooms
- 28 ounces can diced tomatoes with green chilis (drained)
- 6 ounces can tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.25 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme
- 0.25 cup Kalamata olives (optional)
- 0.5 cup chopped kale (stems removed)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preparation
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the chicken for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. If you’re short on time, you can add the chicken directly to the slow cooker without browning.
- Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker.
- Add garlic, onion, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and salt and black pepper to taste.
- Stir everything together. Don’t worry if it seems a bit dry; the tomatoes will release liquid while cooking. If you prefer a saucier dish, you can add ½ cup of chicken broth or water.
Cooking
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 4-6 hours.
- In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of water with cornstarch.
- Stir this mixture into the crockpot along with Kalamata olives and chopped kale.
- Cook for an additional 20-30 minutes on high until the sauce thickens slightly and the kale has wilted.
- Sprinkle with parsley and add fresh basil leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed.
Serving
- Serve hot over pasta, zucchini noodles, rice, or your favorite sides, and add grated Parmesan cheese if you like.
Notes
To store your Chicken Cacciatore, let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If you want to save it for longer, you can freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.