Classic Italian Chicken Cacciatore is a family-friendly, easy dinner recipe. Made in a crock pot, the chicken comes out moist, fall-apart tender, and packed with taste. Your home will have a wonderful aroma of tomatoes and peppers all day long.
Introduction
This crock pot Chicken Cacciatore is one of those recipes you need to have in your recipe box. It's a healthy weeknight dinner with minimal prep and full of great Italian flavors but still special enough for a dinner party or a Sunday family dinner.
Start with simple ingredients. Cut the chicken into serving size pieces and cook for 6 hours in a tasty sauce that simmers with the chicken.
This is an ultra-simple recipe. I rate it as a 2/10 difficulty recipe. It is two only because you must use a knife and not hurt yourself.
My Rating
A very nice dish.
FAQ
It’s an old Italian dish. Cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian, and to prepare something cacciatora style refers to preparing a meal “hunter-style” or sometimes called "hunters stew."
The meat is generally braised chicken, but rabbit is also acceptable. While I suggest skinless chicken, chicken with skin and bone is commonly used.
The sauce is generally onions, spices, tomatoes, bell peppers, and sometimes wine or mushrooms.
I suggest skinless boneless breast but thighs would work very well here. I do not suggest skin on chicken or chicken with the bone for this crock pot recipe.
I cut chicken breasts into smaller pieces for easier serving.
Good refrigerated for 3-4 days. Will do well frozen for 3-4 months.
♨️Crock Pot Size
This recipe will fit as written in a 3-quart crock pot. If you use a large one, it may cook a bit faster, so check at 4-5 hours.
This recipe can be cut in half easily and will then fit in a 2-quart crock pot. You won't be able to find 14 oz cans of crushed tomatoes, so use diced tomatoes, and freeze the half can of tomato paste. Or cook the whole thing and freeze away.
📖Crock Pot Italian Recipes
🖼️Instructions
Start by chopping one medium onion and one green pepper—crush 3 cloves garlic.
Rinse and trim about 2 pounds (three medium) skinless boneless chicken breast. Cut into 3-4 pieces each for better serving. Other skinless chicken may be used.
I used a 3 ½ quart size. Combine with one 6 oz can tomato paste, one 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, 2 teaspoons dry basil, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional). Mix well. Add chicken and prepped veggies to a crock pot.
Cook for 6 hours on low.
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📖 Recipe
Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Skinless boneless chicken breast - trimmed - about 3 breasts
- 1 onion - medium chopped
- 3 cloves garlic - minced or crushed
- 1 green pepper - chopped
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons dry basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoons crushed red pepper - optional
Instructions
Start by chopping one medium onion and one green pepper. Crush 3 cloves garlic.- Rinse and trim about 2 pounds (three medium) skinless boneless chicken breast. Cut into 3-4 pieces each for better serving. Other skinless chicken may be used.
- Use a 3 ½ quart size or larger crock pot. Combine with 1 – 6 oz can tomato paste, one 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, 2 teaspoons dried basil, 1 t salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and ¼ t crushed red pepper. Mix well.
Cook for 6 hours on low.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- This fits in a 3-quart crock pot. Cut in half and it will fit in a 2 quart. You can use a larger crock pot.
- Use chicken breast or thighs.
- Add mushrooms if you wish.
- Good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen for 3-4 months.
TO ADJUST THE RECIPE SIZE:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition
Editor's Note: Originally published February 2, 2013. It is updated with expanded details and refreshed photos.
Rose Dasta
I am very interested in crockpot recipes for me and my husband. I see that there is an option to change the serving size, but I'm not sure how that works. Can you please advise and thanks.
DrDan
The number of servings can be adjusted in the recipe card area. Where it says servings: you can highlight the number and replace it with what your want or use the up and down arrows to the right of the number.
Dan
Carrie
Wonderful! I think 5 hours on low was perfect. Added 1 tsp of oregano. Hubby loved it. My picky 3-year old loved it even with the 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper. Thank you for this healthy, well-engineered recipe!
DrDan
Thanks so much for the note. This should remind people than all crock pots are a little different.
DrDan
Desirae
Found you on Pinterest. I tweaked one bit by using a pinch or ground red pepper instead of flakes only because of the three littles in the house. I have it on high as I need it in a bit less time than available cooked at low. Very much looking forward to our lunch.
DrDan
Hope it works out well for you. The red pepper is always to taste anyways
DrDan
Dan Mikesell
My whole fall and winter has been rushed and that lead to all the crock pot cooking with leftovers. The 1 tsp of red pepper would be very hot. I like a little heat though. Amazing what a dropped "4" and a couple of cut and paste does to a recipe.
Doug DeFrees
Thanks for the recipe, Dan. It seems like recently all I've been doing is cooking things that minimize the amount of time I need to spend in the kitchen. I've written about my experience with your recipe on my blog: https://sundaydinnerfortwo.blogspot.com/2013/04/dump-and-go-chicken-cacciatore.html
I thought that 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes was too much, I can't imagine having 4 times that amount!
Laura
It was eaten in its entirety all the same ! I did adds lots of sugar to lessen the blow though and it helped a little. Everyone liked it but the next time I'll try to make it so that I can enjoy it as well - everyone else can always add more heat if they want ! Thanks so much.
Dr Dan
That would be to much. I'm so sorry... It was correct in the ingredients but not in the instructions in the post, the recipe at the bottom of the post nor the printout. All are fixed now. A typo multiplied by cut and paste.
Laura
Well...unfortunately I followed the print out instructions and the 4 is left off the crushed red peppers flakes - which makes it 1 t instead of 1/4 t. Wow ! Is it hot !! Hopefully someone in this house can eat it.Sadly, it won't be me.
Unknown
I just recently started following your blog and have already made a few things, which have all turned out great!
This looks very tasty and easy. I love that you cook with normal, minimally processed ingredients, and lay everything out for a good look. Thanks!