Description
This Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore is a rustic and comforting Italian-inspired recipe featuring tender chicken thighs slow-cooked in a rich tomato sauce with garlic, herbs, mushrooms, and a splash of white wine. Served over pasta and garnished with Parmesan cheese, it makes a hearty and flavorful meal perfect for cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 carrot (peeled and diced)
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms (quartered)
- 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
Proteins
- 8 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin removed)
Pantry Items
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- ½ cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Chardonnay)
- 28 ounce can San Marzano crushed tomatoes
- shredded Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
- 8 ounces cooked pasta (for serving)
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables and Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the diced carrot, onion, and minced garlic, sautéing for 4 to 5 minutes until the vegetables soften slightly.
- Add Spices and Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Cook the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes to toast the spices and deepen flavor.
- Deglaze with Wine: Pour in the dry white wine, bringing the mixture to a simmer to reduce slightly and meld the flavors.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Place the chicken thighs into the slow cooker and spoon the skillet mixture over the chicken. Add the crushed San Marzano tomatoes on top.
- Slow Cook Chicken: Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Add Mushrooms and Parsley: Stir in the quartered mushrooms and chopped Italian parsley. Cover and continue cooking on LOW for another 30 to 60 minutes until the mushrooms are softened.
- Serve: Garnish individual servings with shredded Parmesan cheese and serve over cooked pasta as desired.
Notes
- This Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore is a rustic, comforting dish perfect for satisfying Italian food cravings.
- Removing the chicken skin helps reduce fat while keeping the meat tender and flavorful in the slow cooker.
- Using San Marzano tomatoes offers a sweeter, less acidic tomato flavor that enhances the sauce.
- Serving over your favorite cooked pasta makes for a complete and hearty meal.
- The slow cooking method ensures deeply developed flavors and tender chicken.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 chicken thighs
- Calories: 441 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 673 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.04 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 194 mg
