Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Spicy, tangy tomato sauce is full of the flavor of fresh herbs, pungent garlic, and rich chicken. Serve hot over your favorite pasta for a warming, filling dish that whispers "comfort food".

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Closeup of the cacciatore for the feature image.

There's nothing more delicious than classic Italian dishes - and nothing easier than adapting them to the slow cooker!

Finished chicken cacciatore in the slow cooker.

Table of Contents

❤️ Why you'll love it
🧾 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
🥫 Storage
📖 Variations
💭 Things to know
👩‍🍳 FAQs
📚 Related recipes
🍽️ Serve with...
📞 The last word
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

A hearty, stew-like sauce fills you up on cold nights
Fresh herbs add authentic flavor the whole family can enjoy
The perfect sauce in which to dip your favorite crusty bread

Slow cooker chicken cacciatore is an Italian classic when it comes to comfort meals. The succulent chicken and spicy red wine sauce fill the house with a warm, welcoming aroma-it brings a sense of calm to even the busiest of evenings.

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Ingredients for this recipe all in the crockpot ready to cook.

Put all the ingredients except the pasta in the slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 8 hours.

Cook the pasta, drain and enjoy the cacciatore over the pasta!

🥫 Storage

Leftovers will last for about 4 days in the refrigerator-tightly covered or in an airtight container, of course. You can also keep it for 3 months in the freezer.

Expert Tip: Grease plastic Tupperware with olive oil to prevent the sauce from staining it!

Since this slow cooker chicken cacciatore recipe comes together so easily, I'd recommend making a double batch if you can fit it! Then, freeze half for another time. It makes preparing an already easy dinner even easier.

If frozen, let the flavorful tomato sauce thaw in the fridge, or use the defrost setting on your microwave. Then, warm the leftovers either in the microwave or on the stove over low heat, bringing them to a gentle simmer.

A spoonful of chicken cacciatore being removed from the slow cooker.

📖 Variations

Cacciatore sauce is super versatile. Here are some swaps and substitutions:

Skinless chicken breasts are a family fave. However, skinless chicken thighs are more flavorful and juicy. Often, dark meat is cheaper, too.
Use rotisserie chicken to make the cooking process even faster. Let it simmer in the sauce to warm while you prep the pasta.
You can add red bell peppers instead of yellow or green peppers.
Instead of jarred marinara sauce, use hearty, homemade tomato sauce.
You can add some tomato paste to amp up the flavor of the sauce or thicken a watery store-bought variety.
Fresh garlic is more flavorful, but if you're looking for an easy recipe, you can use pre-minced, too.
Feel free to mix in some other hearty vegetables as a healthier dinner alternative! Green beans, carrots, and peas are all good options.
In some families, this classic dish includes black or green olives. If you like the briny flavor of olives, definitely stir some into the sauce!
Red wine can be swapped with chicken broth if you don't use alcohol.
Garnish with more fresh herbs or red pepper flakes. Whatever you do, don't forget the parmesan cheese! Pecorino Romano is good, too.
You can also cook chicken cacciatore on the stovetop in a large dutch oven if you don't have a slow cooker. Let everything come together over medium heat until the chicken pieces reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: No matter what part of the chicken you use, try to cut the pieces into even sizes. In chicken dishes, this helps the meat cook evenly, keeping it moist and tender.

Using the base of your hand, smash a garlic clove under the thickest part of your knife to easily remove the peel.
Chianti and Merlot are my top two picks for use in this delicious dish. However, I won't turn my nose up at a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir.
You can usually find diced veggies in the fresh produce section of the grocery store-a good idea if you hate chopping!
Serve slow cooker chicken cacciatore over a thicker noodle, like linguine, to hold onto all the good sauce. Spaghetti works, too.
Some people enjoy cacciatore over polenta, egg noodles, or zucchini noodles, especially if a family member has dietary restrictions.
Leftovers? You can use this sauce in this leftover garlic bread casserole recipe!

👩‍🍳 FAQs

What is cacciatore?

The word "cacciatore" comes from the Italian "alla cacciatora," which means "hunter style." Originally, it was made from whatever ingredients a hunter found while he was out gathering dinner-wild mushrooms, rabbit or game birds, wild garlic, and other things. Then, it was mixed up and stewed!

What does chicken cacciatore taste like?

It takes flavors from both northern and southern Italy. The classic Italian dish is herby, tomato-y, and slightly spicy. The chicken adds a juicy, savory element. With pasta, it's a perfect comfort meal.

Can I use white wine instead of red?

Woah, slow down there, partner! Before uncorking your summery bottle of white wine, I'd recommend using chicken broth or stock if you need to replace the red. Most cacciatore recipes as well as other tomato-based dishes are best complemented by richer red wines.

What's the best wine for cooking?

Typically, you don't want to cook with your top-shelf, milestone-anniversary-worthy bottles of wine. However, flavor matters! Go for a mid-range bottle that you'd still enjoy drinking.

Crockpot's broken! Can I use a large skillet instead?

If you're going the stovetop route, definitely use an enameled stock pot or dutch oven. Cast iron can react poorly with acidic ingredients, like tomatoes.

What do you serve with slow cooker chicken cacciatore?

Toasty bread rubbed with a little butter or extra virgin olive oil! This simple recipe includes protein and veggies in the sauce, so you really don't need other side dishes if you don't feel like making them!

However, green beans or a crisp leaf salad do complement the traditional Italian dish very well. Keep scrolling for my recommendations!

Overhead view of chicken cacciatore on a plate with garlic bread.

Covered in flavorful marinara, Baked Ricotta Chicken is creamy, cheesy, and tender-perfect for a weekly meal and great for date night, too!
Million-Dollar Spaghetti Casserole tastes just like that-a million bucks! It's a real crowd-pleaser, and, despite the name, very cost-friendly.

🍽️ Serve with...

Or, choose one of these easy side dishes!

📞 The last word

Cozy, homemade Chicken Cacciatore is one of those dishes that makes you smile no matter how bad the day has been. Tender pieces of chicken and vegetables are simmered in a spicy sauce and then served over pasta for a homey, rustic meal that's hard to beat.

In the mood for beef? Try these super easy crockpot meatballs over your pasta instead.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

First published August 20, 2012. Last updated August 19, 2022 for better images and editorial content.

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Comments

5 from 1 vote