Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Name: Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 4 thighs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground; 28 oz crushed tomatoes; 2 medium bell peppers (red or green), thinly sliced; 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved; 2 tbsp capers, drained; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp dried basil; 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes; 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Bone-in chicken thighs slowly simmer in a rich tomato sauce with bell peppers, mushrooms, and olives until deeply flavored and fork-tender. Plan ahead: cook time is 6 to 8 hours on low.

40 minEasyServes 4400 cal/serving

ItalianDinnerSlow CookerStandardHigh FiberNut-FreeEgg-FreeDairy-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

4 thighs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
28 oz crushed tomatoes
2 medium bell peppers (red or green), thinly sliced
8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
2 tbsp capers, drained
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions

1

Season 4 thighs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs on all sides with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
2

Add 1 medium diced yellow onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 medium thinly sliced bell peppers (red or green), and 8 oz sliced cremini mushrooms to the slow cooker. Stir in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes.
3

Nestle the chicken thighs skin-side up on top of the vegetable mixture. Scatter 1/2 cup pitted and halved kalamata olives and 2 tbsp drained capers over everything.
4

Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is very tender and reads at least 165°F (74°C) on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh.
5

If you prefer less liquid, uncover the slow cooker for the last 30 minutes on High to let the sauce reduce slightly.
6

Serve the chicken over pasta, polenta, or crusty bread, spooning the sauce over the top. Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley.

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Questions

How long does Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore take?

As written, 40 minutes: 20 of prep and 20 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 4, at overnight, or about 8 hours. That wait sits outside the stated prep and cook times, so plan around it.

What internal temperature should Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore reach?

For Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore, the target internal temperature is 165 F (about 75 C), given in step 4. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Is there a substitute for capers in Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore?

The entry for Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore calls for 2 tbsp capers, drained. In its place: Chopped green olives give the same briny pop.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs in Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore?

You can, but it is the weaker choice here. Breasts dry out over a long cook, so add them for the last third of the time and pull them as soon as they reach 165 F. As written, the entry for Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore uses 4 thighs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.

Can I make Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore less spicy?

Yes. The heat in Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore comes from 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. For a milder plate, halve the red pepper flakes; nothing else in the method changes.

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