Description
Hearty slow cooker chicken cacciatore brings rustic Italian flavors straight to your kitchen with minimal effort. Tender chicken simmered in rich tomato sauce and herbs promises a comforting meal you’ll savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 large or 6 small skinless chicken thighs
- 8 chicken legs
Kosher Salt:
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Pepper:
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Vegetables:
- 1/2 large onion, sliced into half moons
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) sliced carrots, 1/4 inch thick
- 4 ounces (113 grams) mushrooms, quartered
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced 1/4 inch thick
Tomato Components:
- 1 (14 1/2 ounces / 411 grams) can diced or crushed tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatic base by roughly chopping onions, mushrooms, and carrots into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking. Distribute these vegetables evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Season chicken thighs or drumsticks generously with salt and pepper, creating a foundational layer of flavor for the dish.
- Create a robust sauce by whisking together diced tomatoes, tomato paste, minced garlic, and dried parsley in a mixing bowl. The initial mixture will appear dense, but will naturally thin during the cooking process.
- Carefully arrange the seasoned chicken atop the vegetable layer, then meticulously pour the tomato sauce over the meat, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and initiate cooking on low temperature for 4-6 hours or on high for 4 hours. The extended cooking time allows flavors to intensify and develop, resulting in chicken so tender it effortlessly separates from the bone.
- Once cooking is complete, serve the succulent chicken and rich sauce over accompaniments like rice, pasta, or creamy polenta, transforming this simple dish into a hearty and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Choose bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks for maximum flavor and moisture retention during slow cooking.
- Rinse vegetables thoroughly before chopping to remove any dirt or residue that could affect the dish’s taste.
- For a low-carb version, serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles instead of traditional pasta or rice.
- Enhance the sauce’s depth by adding a splash of red wine or a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar during the mixing stage for extra complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours (on high) or 6 hours (on low)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 80mg