Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Name: Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore (So Easy!)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 190 min
Ingredients: 2 cloves Garlic ((minced)); 1/2 large Onion ((diced)); 1 large Red bell pepper ((diced)); 1 14.5 oz can Diced tomatoes ((drained)); 1 tbsp Fresh rosemary ((chopped)); 1 tbsp Fresh thyme ((chopped)); 4 medium Boneless skinless chicken breasts; 1 tsp Sea salt; 1/4 tsp Black pepper; 1 medium Bay leaf

Jump to recipeThis easy Crock Pot chicken cacciatore recipe slow cooks chicken in a flavorful sauce of tomatoes, garlic, onion, bell peppers & fresh herbs.

By Maya Krampf

47 Comments

Slow cooker chicken cacciatore on a plate with a fork and salad.

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This easy slow cooker chicken cacciatore recipe (a.k.a. Crock Pot chicken cacciatore) is one of my favorite low-effort chicken dinners and one of my fave slow cooker recipes. It’s packed with protein and plenty of vegetables that are gently cooked for maximum flavor and minimal work.

The process is as simple as searing the chicken breast and browning the veggies before putting them all together in the slow cooker, but you can even skip the browning step if you’re in a rush.

What Is Chicken Cacciatore?

Chicken cacciatore is a classic Italian dish prepared “hunter style” (cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian) and typically features tender chicken in a rustic sauce of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and garlic.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

Rich, comforting flavors
Juicy, tender chicken
Flavorful, savory tomato sauce
Common pantry ingredients
Quick 10-minute prep
Naturally gluten-free and low carb
Much easier in the slow cooker than the stovetop

Chicken cacciatore in the Crock Pot with bay leaf.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for the best crock pot chicken cacciatore, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Garlic – Fresh garlic tastes much better in this recipe, but you could also use 1 teaspoon of jarred minced garlic or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
Onion – I picked a yellow onion for this dish, but use any color you prefer.
Red Bell Pepper – A red one blends nicely with the tomatoes, but use any color you like.
Diced Tomatoes – Use a canned variety and drain.
Herbs – Fresh rosemary and fresh thyme are classic choices for this dish, but you can easily substitute fresh basil if you prefer it. You can also add a teaspoon of dried oregano (or Italian seasoning) for extra flavor, or red pepper flakes for some heat.
Chicken Breasts – You could also use boneless chicken thighs or bone-in chicken thighs if you prefer.
Sea Salt & Black Pepper
Bay Leaf – Adds a subtle but unique flavor of herbs to the dish. Be sure to remove it before serving.

VARIATION: Add mushrooms!

Add sliced cremini mushrooms to the rest of the veggies for a savory and earthy flavor.

How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

This section shows how to make chicken cacciatore in the Crock Pot, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

Season the chicken. Sprinkle chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
Sear the chicken. Heat the oil in a large skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for a few minutes on each side, until golden.

TIP: Don’t move the chicken around while searing it.

This will ensure that the chicken browns well.

Saute the veggies. Add more oil to the pan. Add onions and red peppers. Saute until the onions are translucent and browned. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant.

Combine. Place chicken into a slow cooker. Add the diced tomatoes, rosemary, and thyme to the pan with the vegetables. Stir together, then pour evenly over chicken. Place a bay leaf in the center.
Cook. Cook chicken cacciatore in the slow cooker (see time recommendations on the recipe card below).
Thicken. You can serve right away, but if you prefer a thicker sauce, remove chicken and cook the sauce for an additional hour in the slow cooker on Low.

Veggies poured over chicken in the Crock Pot.

Crock pot chicken caccaitore fully cooked.

TIP: If you’re short on time, you can skip the browning step.

You can stir the sauce ingredients together into a bowl instead. However, the flavors are deeper and more developed if you sear the chicken and saute the veggies – it’s definitely worth the extra 10 minutes it takes!

Storage Instructions

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat: This easy Crock Pot chicken cacciatore reheats really well. Simply warm in the microwave, on the stove top, or in the slow cooker until hot.
Freeze: This dish freezes well, too! Place it in a zip lock bag, remove excess air, and freeze for up to 6 months. You can even double the recipe to enjoy half for dinner and the other half as a freezer meal for later.

Slow cooker chicken cacciatore on a plate with salad

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

This chicken cacciatore Crock Pot recipe is pictured above with a simple side salad, but more traditionally it’s served over rice or pasta. There are plenty of side dishes to choose from depending on your preferences:

Potatoes – Roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes make classic sides, or choose healthier options like cauliflower mashed potatoes or golden roasted rutabaga.
Pasta And Rice – Try this dish over a bed of pasta or conventional rice, or for lighter options try swaps like zucchini noodles, caramelized and roasted spaghetti squash, or homemade cauliflower rice.
Vegetables – Try sweet roasted fennel, fast sauteed broccoli, or crisp air fryer green beans to make a complete meal.

More Crock Pot Chicken Recipes

Need more hearty chicken dishes? If so, check out my collection of Crock Pot chicken recipes! I have something for everyone:

Recommended Tools

Slow Cooker – This Crock Pot may be basic, but it does everything I need it to and for a great price!
Saute Pan – Both the chicken and veggies can be cooked in this pan and the ceramic surface means no sticking!

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

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47 Comments

Sally Max
0 May 7, 2023Reply

Delicious! I used chicken thighs. Next time may I use dry spices in the Chicken Cacciatore recipe?
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 May 8, 2023Reply
  
  Hi Sally, Yes, you could use that spice mix.
Monique
0 May 6, 2023Reply

If i cut up chicken into bite size pieces, how long should I cook it for on low?
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 May 8, 2023Reply
  
  Hi Monique, I suggest following the times written in the recipe.
Liz
0 April 27, 2023Reply

This was such a great way to use my slow cooker!! I’m going to make this all summer long, so I Don’t have to heat up my oven!
Lindsey
0 April 27, 2023Reply

YAAAAS! This chicken cacciatore was divine! My whole family loved it (even my picky Mother in Law!). So a million thanks for that lol
Lisa
0 April 27, 2023Reply

The chicken was so tender and juicy. It’s the only way to cook a chicken cacciatore!
Rose
0 April 27, 2023Reply

This was very flavorful and delicious. The whole family enjoyed, I’m going to save it and make it again.
Claire
0 April 27, 2023Reply

I cannot get over how easy this was to make for how much flavor there was!! I just popped it all in the slow cooker before work and 8 hours later we had dinner! The kids loved it. We had it over some pasta with a side salad and it was such a delicious meal we are going to have it again ext week!
KJB from Michigan
0 April 23, 2023Reply

My husband and I really enjoyed this meal! It was so easy to make. Just the right fit for us!
Jennifer Mikulik
0 April 11, 2023Reply

Love your recipes and so do my family and friends. Keep up the great work!
SHANNA
0 February 16, 2023Reply

This was delicious. I served it with cauliflower mash and my family LOVED it! I will be making this again soon.
Martha Whitt
0 March 23, 2022Reply

You need to also put the sodium content in the nutrition. I was looking at the chicken cacciatore which really looks good but in reading the nutrition I did not find the sodium content.
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 April 1, 2022Reply
  
  Hi Martha, Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. If you have more questions please refer to my nutrition policy.
Gail
0 February 2, 2022Reply

Fresh herbs are too expensive for a one time use recipe. How much dried herbs for the Thyme and Rosemary would I use to replace the fresh?
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 February 3, 2022Reply
  
  Hi Gail, To replace fresh herbs with dried, use 1/3 the amount.
Sandra
0 August 27, 2021Reply

What could be used instead of diced tomatoes? My son and tomatoes don’t get along with each other. Should the spices also be changed as well? Thank You.

Sandra W.
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 August 28, 2021Reply
  
  Hi Sandra, Feel free to use more red bell peppers in place of the tomatoes. There won’t be any need to adjust the seasonings if you use more peppers. Enjoy!
Debbie
0 March 17, 2021Reply

Can this be made in the oven instead of a slow cooker?
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 March 18, 2021Reply
  
  Hi Debbie, Yes you can cook this in the oven. To get similar flavors to the crockpot version, I recommend cooking in a covered dutch oven. Bake at 350 degrees F until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Mary F.
0 January 14, 2021Reply

Made your slow cooker chicken cacciatore today for dinner. I did your flavorful version. It was very easy. My husband is a very picky eater and he liked it and said I should keep this one. I served his with regular pasta while I used the Miracle Noodles. Will put this on my regular rotation.
Beth
0 September 7, 2020Reply

Just made this and it is sooooo good. My hubby loved it too! Best part was I had all the ingredients so no special shopping and my house smelled fantastic all day. I used the slower more flavorful approach and so glad I did. Thank you Maya for another wonderful recipe!
Stephanie Watson
0 June 26, 2020Reply

I have been doing Keto for over 2 weeks now and your recipes have been a lifesaver. I wasn’t sure this would have enough flavor as I am used to using marinara sauce with my Cacciatore. I was glad I tried it anyway because it was so delicious and tender. The tomatoes and bell pepper mixture was more than enough to cover my 5 chicken breasts. We just added some cheese at the end and topped it with basil and we were good to go. My kids ate it all and that says plenty. I did only cook this on low for 5 hours and that was more than long enough for the size of my chicken breast. I didn’t even need a knife to cut it.
Kirsten White
0 June 15, 2020Reply

Could this be made in an instant pot? Do you happen to know what the conversion would be, 10-12 min? Would there need to be more liquid added? Thank you!
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 June 15, 2020Reply
  
  Hi Kristen, As long as your chicken is not frozen, you can use the poultry setting on your Instant Pot.
Robin DiPietro
0 June 5, 2020Reply

How many ounces would you say these chicken breasts are? I’m trying to get an accurate measure to track nutrition.
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 June 6, 2020Reply
  
  Hi Robin, A medium-sized chicken breast is roughly 6 oz. Your macros will vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts you use. I hope this helps.
TerryF
0 April 9, 2020Reply

This was very good! I used what I had in the house – drums and thighs and a larger can of tomatoes. Cooked on low for 7 hours but I think 6 would work next time. I also did it the easier way. Thanks for the recipe!
Danika
0 December 19, 2019Reply

What “sauce” is in the crockpot? It doesn’t say anything in the recipe about adding a liquid to the crockpot? Trying to make it tonight. Please let me know.
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 December 19, 2019Reply
  
  Hi Danika, As the chicken and vegetable start to cook down they will give off their own juices, creating the sauce. No additional liquid is necessary.
Talya
0 June 29, 2019Reply

Making this for the second time as it turned out absolutely delicious – a big hit with the whole family!
Karly
0 June 2, 2019Reply

Yum! Definitely adding this to the rotation!
Tara
0 March 16, 2019Reply

So delicious, and I love that it’s made in the slow cooker!
Caroline
0 March 11, 2019Reply

Love how easy this was in the slow cooker.
Renee Goerger
0 March 11, 2019Reply

I love a good slow cooker chicken dinner, and this one was a winner!
Sandi
0 March 11, 2019Reply

You outdid yourself on this recipe. My family is going to love the flavors!!
Toni
0 March 11, 2019Reply

I loved it!! Such a flavorful meal for weeknights!
Jillian Wade
0 March 11, 2019Reply

I’m on a low carb diet, and this recipe was just the thing to satisfy my Italian comfort food craving!
Davinah
0 March 11, 2019Reply

Everything about this recipe is delicious! I think that I might add a dry white wine for an extra kick to the sauce!
Jessica Formicola
0 March 11, 2019Reply

I made this for dinner last night and it was a total hit! Thanks for sharing!
Shannah
0 March 7, 2019Reply

This chicken cacciatore in the slow cooker sounds incredible! I can imagine how mouth watering it is just smelling it cook throughout the day!
Kelly Anthony
0 March 6, 2019Reply

I love this chicken cacciatore recipe!!
Kristina
0 March 6, 2019Reply

Love.Love.Love. This dish! Those flavors really melded together when cooked in the slow cooker.
Abbe@This is How I Cook
0 March 6, 2019Reply

My mom used to make this a lot. But never in a slow cooker! Sounds great!
Danielle
0 March 6, 2019Reply

This is so yummy! Can’t believe it’s low carb. I love how you included the quick directions as well!
Shashi
0 March 6, 2019Reply

I have already had dinner but this is making me so hungry!
Carrie
0 March 6, 2019Reply

This was delicious. Thanks!