Effortless Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Potatoes: Your Ultimate Guide to a Comforting Italian Classic
Imagine coming home to the comforting aroma of a rich, slow-cooked Italian stew, with tender chicken that literally falls off the bone and hearty potatoes mingling in a vibrant tomato sauce. This dream is a reality with our Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Potatoes – an unbelievably EASY weeknight dinner that practically cooks itself! It’s the epitome of comfort food, offering deep, savory flavors with minimal effort.
Our Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore stands out as one of the most straightforward and flavorful recipes you’ll ever make. It joins the ranks of other beloved slow cooker delights, like our Slow Cooker Asian Glazed Chicken, Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken, and even savory Slow Cooker Steak and Gravy Pies. This recipe is designed to deliver maximum taste with minimum fuss, making it a perfect addition to your busy schedule.
What Exactly is Chicken Cacciatore?
The word “Cacciatore” in Italian directly translates to “hunter.” Therefore, “alla cacciatora” refers to a “hunter-style” meal or stew, traditionally prepared with chicken (or rabbit), onions, various herbs, and vegetables. These ingredients are slowly simmered in a thick, rich, and often intensely flavorful tomato sauce until the meat is incredibly tender and literally falling off the bone. It’s a rustic, hearty dish that evokes the warmth and tradition of Italian home cooking.
While classic Chicken Cacciatore recipes often involve stovetop simmering or oven baking, this slow cooker rendition takes convenience to a whole new level. It builds upon the delicious foundation of our popular Chicken Cacciatore recipe but introduces the added bonus of tender baby potatoes cooked right in the pot. This means you get a complete meal in one, eliminating the need for separate side dishes. Best of all, there’s no need to babysit a pot over the stove; your slow cooker handles all the work, freeing up your evening for other activities.
Why the Slow Cooker is Your Best Friend for Cacciatore
The slow cooker is an absolute game-changer for a dish like Chicken Cacciatore. Its magic lies in its ability to transform simple ingredients into a deeply flavorful and incredibly tender meal with minimal supervision. Here’s why it’s the ideal method for this Italian classic:
- Unmatched Tenderness: Low and slow cooking breaks down tough muscle fibers in the chicken, resulting in meat so tender it effortlessly falls off the bone. This texture is precisely what you want in a cacciatore.
- Flavor Infusion: As the ingredients gently simmer for hours, the flavors have ample time to meld and deepen. The tomatoes, herbs, garlic, and vegetables all contribute to a rich, complex sauce that coats every piece of chicken and potato.
- Hands-Off Convenience: This is arguably the biggest perk. Once you’ve assembled your ingredients in the slow cooker, you can set it and forget it. Go about your day, and return to a delicious, ready-to-eat dinner. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
- One-Pot Meal: By including the potatoes directly in the slow cooker, you’re creating a complete, satisfying meal without needing to cook separate side dishes. Less washing up, more enjoyment!
- Consistent Results: Slow cookers maintain a constant, gentle temperature, ensuring your cacciatore cooks perfectly every time without drying out or burning.
To Sear or Not to Sear: The Chicken Browning Debate
Included in this recipe is the option to brown the chicken first. Personally, I’m a big proponent of searing any meat before adding it to the slow cooker, and for good reason. Searing the chicken skin-side down in a hot pan creates a beautiful golden-brown crust, a result of the Maillard reaction. This chemical reaction develops incredible depth of flavor that simply cannot be achieved through slow cooking alone. It adds a delicious savory dimension to the overall dish.
However, I completely understand that life gets busy. If you’re preparing this meal before work and literally rushing out the door, perhaps 20 minutes late with one shoe in hand (we’ve all been there!), then absolutely feel free to skip this step. The slow cooker will still deliver incredibly tender and flavorful chicken. It’s a bonus step for flavor depth, not a mandatory one for a delicious outcome. If you’re exploring the wonders of your slow cooker and craving more delightful, effortless meals, don’t miss our Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs for another fantastic, hands-off experience.
Serving Your Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Potatoes
One of the beauties of this Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Potatoes is that it’s a complete meal in itself, thanks to the addition of those tender baby potatoes. However, if you’re looking to round out your meal or offer more variety, here are some delightful serving suggestions:
- Pasta: A classic pairing! Serve it over your favorite pasta like tagliatelle, pappardelle, or even penne to soak up all that rich tomato sauce.
- Rice: Fluffy white rice or brown rice provides a comforting base and complements the robust flavors of the cacciatore perfectly.
- Spaghetti Squash: For a lighter, low-carb option, spaghetti squash is an excellent choice. Its mild flavor and stringy texture are a fantastic match. Learn how to cook spaghetti squash here.
- Crusty Bread: Don’t let any of that delicious sauce go to waste! A good piece of crusty Italian bread is perfect for mopping up every last drop.
- Creamy Polenta: For an authentic Italian experience, serve your cacciatore over a bed of creamy, warm polenta. It’s a decadent and satisfying combination.
- Steamed Vegetables: If you want to add more greens, a simple side of steamed green beans, asparagus, or broccoli can be a refreshing contrast.
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
Achieving a truly spectacular Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore is simple, especially with a few handy tips:
- Don’t Overfill: Ensure your slow cooker isn’t packed too tightly. Leave some room for the heat to circulate, ensuring even cooking and preventing the sauce from overflowing.
- Chicken Choice: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are recommended for the most flavor and tenderness, as the bone adds richness. However, skin-off thighs or even boneless chicken thighs will work too, though cooking times might slightly vary.
- Vegetable Size: Roughly chop your vegetables (onions, peppers, carrots) to a similar size. This ensures they cook evenly and become tender without turning mushy. Quartering the baby potatoes also helps them cook through perfectly with the chicken.
- Red Wine vs. Beef Broth: The red wine adds a beautiful depth and acidity to the sauce. If you prefer not to use alcohol, beef broth is an excellent substitute that still contributes savory notes.
- Seasoning is Key: Don’t be shy with salt and pepper, and always taste and adjust seasoning at the end of cooking. The flavors intensify as they slow cook.
- Fresh Herbs at the End: While dried herbs are perfect for simmering, a sprinkle of fresh parsley or basil just before serving can brighten the flavors and add a lovely aromatic touch.
- Mushroom and Olive Timing: Adding mushrooms and olives in the last 30 minutes prevents them from becoming too soft and ensures they retain some of their texture and vibrant flavor.
Variations to Customize Your Cacciatore
This Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe is incredibly versatile. Feel free to experiment with these variations to suit your taste or what you have on hand:
- Spice It Up: If you love a little heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes, or add a diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper with the other vegetables.
- Different Vegetables: Beyond the peppers and carrots, consider adding zucchini, green beans, or even some spinach (stirred in at the very end).
- Olives: While black olives are traditional, Kalamata olives can add a brinier, more intense flavor.
- Cheese Finish: A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese over each serving adds a wonderful salty, umami kick.
- Herb Profile: If you don’t have basil and oregano, Italian seasoning can be a good substitute. Rosemary or thyme could also be incorporated for a different aromatic profile.
- Leaner Chicken: While thighs are recommended for flavor and moisture, boneless, skinless chicken breasts can be used for a leaner option. Just be mindful not to overcook them, as they can dry out more easily.
More Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes to Explore:
If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and delicious results of slow cooking, we have plenty more recipes for you to try:
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken: Sweet, savory, and incredibly easy.
- Slow Cooker Chili: A hearty and comforting classic perfect for game day or a cozy evening.
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken: Perfectly moist and tender, a revelation for roasting.
- Slow Cooker Vegetarian Quinoa Chili: A healthy and flavorful meatless option.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore With Potatoes
Karina
10 minutes
4 hours
4 hours
10 minutes
6
serves
Ingredients
-
6
chicken thighs
bone-in, skin on or off -
1
pinch
salt
to season -
1
pinch
pepper
to season -
2
tablespoons
olive oil
more if needed -
2
pounds
baby potatoes
quartered -
2
tablespoons
garlic
minced, or 8 cloves -
1
medium
onion
roughly chopped -
1
small
yellow pepper
deseeded and diced -
1
small
red pepper
deseeded and diced -
2
carrots
peeled and sliced -
14
oz
crushed tomatoes
canned -
14
oz
tomato passata
tomato sauce or puree for US readers -
150
ml
red wine
optional – substitute with beef broth if desired -
2
tablespoons
tomato paste -
2
tablespoons
freshly parsley
chopped -
1
teaspoon
dried basil -
1
teaspoon
dried oregano -
1
beef bouillon cube
crushed -
1
teaspoon
salt
adjust to your taste -
1
pinch
pepper
adjust to your taste -
½
teaspoon
red pepper flakes
optional -
1
cup
mushrooms
sliced -
½
cup
pitted black olives
Instructions
-
Optional Step (for enhanced flavor): Season the chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken, skin-side down first (if using skin-on thighs), for about 3 minutes until a deep golden-brown crust forms. Flip and sear the other side for another 3 minutes. This step adds incredible depth of flavor but can be skipped for a quicker prep.
-
Arrange the quartered baby potatoes in a single layer at the bottom of your 6-quart slow cooker bowl. Place the seared (or unseared) chicken thighs evenly over the potatoes. Now, add all the remaining ingredients over the chicken – this includes the minced garlic, chopped onion, diced yellow and red peppers, sliced carrots, crushed tomatoes, tomato passata (or puree), red wine (if using, or beef broth), tomato paste, fresh parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, crushed beef bouillon cube, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if desired). Ensure to save the mushrooms and black olives for later.
-
Gently stir all the ingredients in the slow cooker to combine them well, making sure the chicken and potatoes are coated in the rich tomato sauce. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the HIGH setting for 4 hours, or on the LOW setting for 8 hours. Cook until the chicken is incredibly tender, easily falling off the bone, and the potatoes are perfectly soft.
-
During the last 30 minutes of cooking, add the sliced mushrooms and pitted black olives to the slow cooker. Stir gently to incorporate them into the stew. Continue cooking for the remaining 30 minutes. Once done, taste the cacciatore and adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper to your preference. Serve hot and enjoy!
-
Serve this delicious Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Potatoes over a bed of fluffy rice, your favorite pasta, or a healthier option like spaghetti squash.
Notes
Nutrition
Calories:
398
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
46
g
|
Protein:
27
g
|
Fat:
11
g
|
Saturated Fat:
2
g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat:
2
g
|
Monounsaturated Fat:
6
g
|
Trans Fat:
0.02
g
|
Cholesterol:
97
mg
|
Sodium:
999
mg
|
Potassium:
1.664
mg
|
Fiber:
8
g
|
Sugar:
10
g
|
Vitamin A:
4.229
IU
|
Vitamin C:
72
mg
|
Calcium:
101
mg
|
Iron:
5
mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this? Leave a comment below!
