Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore features chicken thighs simmered in a rich tomato sauce, infused with the flavors of aromatic peppers, onions, and mushrooms. The best part? You can set it and forget it, thanks to your trusty crockpot doing all the hard work for you. This classic Italian dish is perfect for busy days when you need a hearty and satisfying meal without the fuss.
Over at Create Kids Club, we are a little obsessed with the crockpot. Crockpot chicken thighs are used most often like in the most popular recipe on the blog Crockpot Chicken Thighs recipe, Coconut Chicken Thighs, and Baked Chicken Thighs.
We love using chicken thighs for many reasons. Chicken thighs are affordable, especially when compared to other cuts of chicken like breast meat. This affordability makes them an excellent option for individuals on a budget or families looking to save money on groceries.
Chicken thighs are known for their rich, dark meat, which offers a more pronounced flavor compared to leaner cuts like chicken breast. The higher fat content in thighs adds moisture and tenderness to the meat, resulting in a juicy and succulent texture when cooked properly.
Chicken thighs are incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide range of dishes. They can be baked, grilled, roasted, stir-fried, or even used in slow-cooker recipes. Their versatility allows for various cooking methods and flavor profiles, making them suitable for different cuisines and recipes.
Chicken thighs are more forgiving to cook than chicken breasts because of their higher fat content. The additional fat helps prevent the meat from drying out, even if slightly overcooked. This forgiving nature makes them an excellent choice for beginner cooks or those who may be less experienced in the kitchen.
How To Make
- Combine diced tomatoes and tomato paste in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add sliced onions, peppers, and mushrooms.
- Place chicken thighs on top.
- Sprinkle with paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 2-4 hours.
- Preheat Broiler.
- Remove chicken thighs, placing on a baking sheet. Broil for 2-3 minutes, or until chicken skins start bubbling and browning.
- Whisk instant potato flakes into tomato and veggie mixture in the slow cooker, stir until thickened.
- Serve chicken thighs topped with tomato sauce.
To get started gather all the ingredients. Place the diced tomatoes and tomato paste into your crockpot. Add the onions, pepper, and mushrooms followed by the chicken thighs. Top with seasoning and cook.
Substitutions
- Swap bone-in chicken thighs for boneless chicken thighs
- Use chicken breasts or turkey
- You could saute the vegetables for a richer flavor prior to adding them to the crockpot
Once the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees you can preheat your broiler.
Kitchen Tip: Placing the crockpot chicken thighs under the broiler crisps the skin quickly.
If you are going to be removing the skin, you can skip this step.
Broiling chicken thighs after they have cooked in the crockpot all day, crisps the skin and makes it all the more delicious and more appetizing as well.
What To Serve With
Delicious side dish ideas include Caramelized Butternut Squash, Zucchini Crisps, Cheesy Mashed Potato Bites, or a Brussels Sprout Salad.
More Chicken Recipes:
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos
- Stovetop Seared Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Greek Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Poblano Soup
- Southwest Chicken Chili
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
- Quinoa Chicken Casserole
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore
Equipment
Ingredients
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes
- 6 ounces tomato paste ✅
- 1 tablespoon paprika ✅
- 1 teaspoon dried basil ✅
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 6 ounces fresh mushrooms
- 8 bone-in chicken thighs ✅
Instructions
- Layer the ingredients in the crockpot. To the crockpot add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, paprika, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir. Add the onions and peppers. Place the chicken thighs on top.28 ounces diced tomatoes, 6 ounces tomato paste, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 medium onion, 1 bell pepper, 8 bone-in chicken thighs
- Cook. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 2-4 hours.
- Add the mushrooms. Add the mushrooms about 1 hour before the chicken is done cooking.6 ounces fresh mushrooms
- Serve. Serve chicken thighs topped with tomato sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
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Jess says
We will be making this delicious recipe frequently! My whole family loved it!