Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore (Easy Italian Chicken in Tomato Herb Sauce)

If there’s one meal that always delivers cozy, comforting, “everybody’s going back for seconds” vibes—this is it.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore (Easy Italian Chicken in Tomato Herb Sauce) is one of those classic dinners that tastes like it cooked all day (because it did 😄)… but you barely had to do anything. Just layer everything into the crockpot, let it simmer low and slow, and you’ll end up with fall-off-the-bone chicken thighs in a rich, garlicky tomato herb sauce filled with onions, peppers, and mushrooms.

It’s the kind of meal that makes the whole house smell like an Italian kitchen. And when you spoon that saucy chicken over spaghetti (or mashed potatoes, rice, or creamy polenta)? Absolute perfection.

This recipe is:

• hands-off + beginner-friendly

• family-approved

• perfect for busy weekdays

• amazing for meal prep

• and honestly even better the next day

So if you’re looking for a dependable slow cooker dinner that feels special but stays easy, this one belongs on your weekly rotation.

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Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Let’s be real: the slow cooker is basically your secret weapon for stress-free dinners. Here’s why this one is a standout:

✅ Dump-and-go easy

You don’t need to babysit anything. No complicated steps. No fancy technique. Just add it all, cover, cook.

✅ Big Italian comfort flavor

The sauce has everything: tomato paste + diced tomatoes + garlic + herbs = bold, rustic, classic cacciatore flavor.

✅ Ultra tender chicken

Chicken thighs cooked low for 6–8 hours come out juicy, tender, and practically falling off the bone.

✅ A sauce that tastes like it simmered on the stove all day

Mushrooms and veggies cook down into the sauce and make it taste slow-simmered and deep, like a restaurant dish.

✅ Perfect for pasta night

Spaghetti + this sauce is a match made in comfort food heaven. Add parmesan and you’ll understand why this recipe is a keeper.

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What Is Chicken Cacciatore?

“Cacciatore” means hunter-style in Italian. Traditionally, chicken cacciatore is chicken braised in a tomato-based sauce with vegetables, herbs, and sometimes wine. Every family has their own version—some include olives or capers, some use peppers, others skip mushrooms.

This crockpot version keeps the traditional flavor, but makes it much easier with slow cooking.

Recipe Details

• Recipe Name: Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore (Easy Italian Chicken in Tomato Herb Sauce)

• Prep Time: 10 minutes

• Cook Time: 6–8 hours (Low)

• Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes

• Servings: 8

• Cuisine: Italian / Italian-American

• Course: Dinner / Main Course

• Method: Slow Cooker / Crockpot

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Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Chicken + Sauce

• 8 skinless bone-in chicken thighs, patted dry

• ½ tsp kosher salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp olive oil

• 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste

• 1 tbsp garlic, minced

• 1 small yellow onion, diced

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced

• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

• 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped

• 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped

• 1 tsp fresh oregano, chopped

• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

• 1 ½ cups chicken broth

• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

For Serving

• 1 box (16 oz) spaghetti noodles

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Ingredient Tips (So You Get It Perfect Every Time)

Chicken thighs

Use bone-in thighs if possible. They stay juicy and flavorful for long slow cooking. Boneless works too (more on that in variations).

Tomato paste

This is what gives the sauce its “slow simmered, deep Italian flavor.” Don’t skip it.

Mushrooms + bell peppers

These are classic in hunter-style sauces because they add:

• richness (mushrooms)

• sweetness (peppers)

• texture + body

Fresh herbs

Rosemary + thyme + oregano is an unbeatable combo here. If using dried, use ⅓ of the amount (dried herbs are stronger).

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How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore (Step-by-Step)

1) Prep the chicken

Pat chicken thighs dry using paper towels.

Why this matters: It helps seasoning stick better and prevents watery sauce.

2) Season

Sprinkle chicken evenly with salt and pepper.

3) Add chicken to slow cooker

Place seasoned thighs in the slow cooker in an even layer.

4) Add sauce ingredients

Add olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, herbs, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth.

Try to gently spread the tomato paste around so it dissolves nicely.

5) Slow cook

Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours, until chicken is tender and nearly falling off the bone.

6) Cook pasta

About 15 minutes before serving, cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions. Drain.

7) Serve

Spoon chicken and sauce over spaghetti.

8) Garnish

Sprinkle with parsley, and if you want it extra good: freshly grated parmesan.

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What to Serve With Chicken Cacciatore

This recipe is a sauce lover’s dream, so anything that catches the sauce is perfect.

Best serving options:

• Spaghetti (classic!)

• Penne or rigatoni

• Mashed potatoes

• Rice

• Creamy polenta

• Cauliflower mash (low-carb option)

Add a side:

• Garlic bread or crusty bread

• Simple green salad

• Roasted broccoli

• Sautéed green beans

• Caesar salad

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Tips for the Best Chicken Cacciatore

Here are my top tried-and-true tips to make sure it turns out amazing every time:

✅ Pat the chicken dry

This improves both texture and flavor.

✅ Want a thicker sauce?

Options:

• Remove lid for the last 30 minutes

• Or stir in a slurry:

  • 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water

✅ Want even deeper flavor?

Brown chicken for 2 minutes per side in a skillet before slow cooking. Totally optional, but it adds that “restaurant-style” depth.

✅ Add extras for bold Italian flavor

Try:

• sliced black olives

• capers

• splash of red wine

• a pinch of sugar (only if tomatoes taste too acidic)

✅ Parmesan is not optional 😄

Okay, it is optional… but it transforms the dish.

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Variations (Make It Your Own!)

This slow cooker chicken cacciatore is extremely flexible. Here are easy ways to customize it:

1) Use boneless thighs

Cook on low 4–6 hours instead of 6–8.

2) Use chicken breasts

You can, but they cook faster and can dry out. If using breasts:

• cook low 4–5 hours

• don’t overcook

3) Make it spicy

Increase red pepper flakes to 1 tsp, or add sliced hot peppers.

4) Add more veggies

Toss in:

• zucchini

• carrots

• extra mushrooms

• spinach at the end

5) Add wine (classic)

Replace ½ cup chicken broth with ½ cup red wine.

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Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer

Freeze chicken + sauce (without pasta) for up to 3 months.

Reheating

• Microwave: heat in 60-second bursts until hot

• Stove: reheat gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat

• If sauce thickens, add a splash of broth or water

Print

Nutrition (Estimated per serving, without pasta)

(Approximate values; depends on brands and portion size)

• Calories: ~320

• Protein: ~26g

• Fat: ~18g

• Carbs: ~14g

• Fiber: ~3g

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Final Thoughts

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore (Easy Italian Chicken in Tomato Herb Sauce) is the definition of comforting, cozy, and effortless. It has that slow-simmered Italian flavor that tastes like you worked hard in the kitchen… but the crockpot did all the heavy lifting.

It’s perfect for:

• busy weekdays when you need dinner ready without stress

• meal prep because it reheats beautifully

• family dinners where everyone wants something warm and satisfying

• pasta nights when you want something better than basic marinara

The combination of tender chicken thighs, hearty vegetables, and rich tomato herb sauce is what makes this dish such a classic. And once you serve it over spaghetti with parmesan and parsley? You’ll realize this recipe isn’t just good—it’s repeat-every-week good.