Some recipes are truly special. Not only are they delicious and comforting (a must!), but they also have a way of bringing people together in a meaningful way. This Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore is one of those recipes. It’s easy enough for a healthy weeknight dinner, special enough to serve for a dinner party, and is a recipe that, for me, is filled with happy memories.
Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore. Authentic Italian chicken cacciatore, made easy in the crock pot! Boneless chicken breasts or thighs simmered in a richly flavored tomato sauce. Serve with pasta or rice for a family-friendly dinner.
I made this dish for new friends when we first moved to Milwaukee. We were new in town, struggling to meet people, and I reached out to two college acquaintances with the hope that (if I bribed them with a crock pot full of Italian food), they might entertain the possibility of being friends with me.
It’s not hard to bond over the cozy, richly flavored sauce and moist, tender chicken breast pieces in chicken cacciatore. The best part? It takes 15 minutes of prep work. Thank you, slow cooker!
Whether you want to make this chicken cacciatore recipe for a delicious, family-friendly, easy weeknight dinner or as a main course for your next dinner party, I feel certain that you will be met with nothing but praise and requests for seconds.
Whether you want to make this chicken cacciatore recipe for a delicious, family-friendly, easy weeknight dinner or as a main course for your next dinner party, I feel certain that you will be met with nothing but praise and requests for seconds.
If you’ve never had chicken cacciatore, it’s an old Italian dish. Cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian, and to prepare something alla cacciatora refers to a meal that is prepared “hunter style.”
In cacciatore sauce, you’ll find onions, herbs, tomatoes, and sometimes bell peppers. Mushrooms and wine (red or white) are also common ingredients.
I can’t imagine a more fitting meal than “hunter’s stew” for a casual dinner, whether it’s with friends or on a busy weeknight at home. It’s warm and comforting, and its classic, simple Italian flavor profile is accessible and appealing, even to picky eaters.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil — plus 2 teaspoons, divided
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts — or thighs
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 medium yellow onion — chopped
3 cloves garlic — minced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar — plus 1/2 teaspoon, divided
1 can crushed tomatoes — 28 ounces
1 medium green bell pepper — chopped
8 ounces sliced baby bella cremini mushrooms
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
FOR SERVING:
Whole wheat pasta — brown rice, polenta, rice, zucchini noodles, or baked and shredded spaghetti squash
Chopped fresh parsley — freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
Lightly coat a large slow cooker with nonstick spray. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium high. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the chicken in a single layer. Cook on the first side for 3 to 4 minutes, until browned, moving the chicken as little as possible so that it gets a nice sear. Flip and brown on the other side, about 2 additional minutes.
Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker.
Reduce the skillet heat to medium. With a paper towel, carefully wipe out the skillet. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil. One the oil is hot, add the onion and cook until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar. Cook for 1 minute, or until the garlic is fragrant and the vinegar has reduced. Transfer to the slow cooker, along with any pan drippings.
Top the chicken with the tomatoes, green bell pepper, mushrooms, and Italian seasoning. If using chicken breasts: cover and cook on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours or LOW for 4 to 5 hours, until the chicken is cooked through. If using chicken thighs: cover and cook for 3 to 4 hours on HIGH or 5 to 6 hours on LOW. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker as soon as it reaches 165 degrees F. If desired, chop or shred the chicken (or you can serve the pieces whole).
At this point, you can serve the sauce right away if you are in a hurry, BUT, if time allows, this is what I like to do for the best-ever sauce: Uncover the slow cooker and let cook on HIGH for 1 hour to allow the sauce to thicken and the flavor to further develop. Just before serving, stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar. Taste and season the sauce with additional salt/pepper as desired. If you’ve chopped or shredded the chicken, return it to the sauce and toss to combine and warm through. Otherwise, serve the chicken pieces whole with a generous amount of the sauce on top. Serve hot over pasta, rice, polenta, or veggie noodles, with a big extra spoonful of sauce and a sprinkle of parsley and Parmesan.
Source:https://www.wellplated.com/slow-cooker-chicken-cacciatore/
