slow cooker chicken cacciatore
This Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore is the latest in the series of healthy re-makes of the best classic comfort food recipes. Chicken Cacciatore is an Italian inspired dish that roughly translates to hunter-style chicken.
When I was researching how to take-on this classic chicken recipe (and make it healthier and easy enough for a week-night) I discovered that Chicken Cacciatore has so many variations, nobody really agrees what it is exactly. Apparently it hails from Italy and the original dish was something hunters would have made out in the field (or woods) and therefore would be very simple. The chicken would be cut into parts and cooked with herbs and mushrooms.
Ingredients
  • 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, preferably fire roasted
  • 3 tablespoons pure tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • pinch crushed red pepper
  • 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, divided
  • 6 bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed
  • ½ cup chopped olives
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 4 ounces crimini mushrooms, sliced
  • ½ teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
Instructions
  1. Stir diced tomatoes and tomato paste together in the bottom of a large slow cooker. Mix smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt and crushed red pepper in a small dish. Lay chicken on a sheet of parchment. Sprinkle all over the chicken turning pieces to coat completely. Arrange chicken in the sauce in the slow cooker. Pour any extra spices from the parchment on top. Layer olives, onion, bell pepper and mushrooms on top. Cover and set slow cooker to low for 6 hours.
  2. When timer goes off, carefully pull chicken out of the cooker, keeping thighs intact if possible. Stir rosemary and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt into the vegetable mixture. Serve the vegetable mixture and sauce with the chicken.