Enjoy authentic Tuscan flavors straight from the slow cooker! In this Italian-inspired recipe, Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore is a simple yet hearty home-cooked meal featuring juicy chicken thighs, peppers, potatoes, and olives in a rich, tomato-based sauce.

white dinner plate with chicken Cacciatore over a bed of rice and black dinner fork, with another finished plate and black slow cooker in the background

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What is chicken cacciatore?

Chicken cacciatore is a traditional Italian recipe originating from the Tuscan region, and infused with Mediterranean flavors from herbs, tomatoes, and olives. “Cacciatore” means “hunter” in Italian, and this savory meal was developed from local game meat that was brought home and braised into a hearty stew-like dish.

What’s To Love About This Recipe

With the ease of the slow cooker, create a richly flavored, Tuscan-inspired dish at home! The slow cooker method replicates the authentic, slow-roasted flavors of braised stew and game meat, but with a foolproof and seamless process.
This filling dish is flexible for practically any diet. It’s dairy-free and gluten-free, and you can serve it as a low-carb option over polenta or make it heartier with rice or pasta.
Once you’ve chopped the vegetables and assembled the recipe in the slow cooker, just let it simmer until mealtime. Cook it for as few as 3-4 hours on high, or leave it on low even longer to fit your schedule.
Traditional chicken cacciatore features comforting flavors and can be enjoyed as a complete meal that’s satisfying but not overly heavy.
It’s easy to make simple ingredient swaps to customize this recipe to suit family preferences. Add in extra veggies like mushrooms and zucchini, or make simple swaps to meet your needs.

Ingredients Needed

Baby potatoes – Halve 1 pound of baby potatoes for hearty, bite-sized pieces that cook to perfection in the slow cooker. Since baby potatoes have a thinner skin, there is no need to peel them. Larger potatoes also work if they are cut into uniform, small chunks.
Boneless skinless chicken thighs – Boneless skinless chicken thighs are recommended for the most tender results. Plus, the fat in the darker meat enhances the overall flavor of the dish!
Herb and garlic seasoning – Use this homemade herb and garlic seasoning blend or your preferred store brand to add all-purpose flavor to the mix of meat and veggies.
Red bell pepper – Chop up a red bell pepper for a slightly sweet addition.
Yellow onion – Chop yellow onion for added depth and texture.
Minced garlic – Jarred minced garlic is a convenient addition for added complexity.
Sliced black olives – Slice large black olives or buy pre-sliced olives for convenience. This adds a hint of Tuscan flavor to the dish!
Pureed tomatoes – Pureed tomatoes create a smooth, rich base for the sauce.
Chicken broth – Add chicken broth to flavor the sauce base and keep the chicken juicy and tender.
Tapioca flour – Tapioca flour thickens the sauce so it fully coats the chicken and vegetables. This is a naturally gluten-free thickener, and you can also substitute cornstarch if needed.

bowls of ingredients including halved potatoes, black olives, red peppers, diced onions, minced garlic, chicken thighs, pureed tomatoes, chicken broth, seasoning blend, tapioca flour

How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Add halved baby potatoes to the slow cooker and top with whole chicken thighs.
Sprinkle with the seasoning.

overhead view of black slow cooker with potatoes and chicken thighs on top

overhead view of black slow cooker with potatoes and chicken thighs on top, sprinkled with seasoning

Add chopped pepper, onion, minced garlic, and sliced olives.

overhead view of black slow cooker with potatoes and chicken thighs with black olives, onions, garlic and red peppers

Stir together tomato and broth.
Whisk tapioca flour into 2 tablespoons of water until smooth, then whisk into the tomato mixture.

overhead view of glass bowl of tomato puree with glass measuring cup pouring chicken broth

overhead view of glass measuring cups of tapioca flour and water, with gold whisk

Pour the mixture over the contents of the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.

overhead view of black slow cooker, with chicken thighs and vegetable mixture, and glass bowl of tomato puree mixture being poured into slow cooker

overhead view of chicken thighs and veggies, covered by tomato puree mixture in black slow cooker

Pro Tips

Browning the chicken briefly in a skillet before slow cooking will improve its flavor, although this is an optional step. If you just want to get the meal into the slow cooker without extra dishes, it will still turn out great!
Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding more broth (to thin it) or more slurry from tapioca flour or cornstarch (to thicken it).
Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 ℉.

black slow cooker of finished chicken Cacciatore with wooden spoon

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Boneless skinless thighs are the recommended choice for super-tender results. Boneless breasts are also possible; however, adjust the cooking time as needed to reach an internal temperature of 165 ℉. Bone-in chicken is another option, but I prefer not to use it in the slow cooker because the skin doesn’t get crispy.
Add extra vegetables, such as chopped mushrooms or zucchini, or substitute them for any of the other options.
Substitute crushed or diced tomatoes for a chunkier texture, or use low-sodium tomatoes as needed.
You can also substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth.
Add Italian seasoning instead of an herb and garlic blend to increase the herby flavors of basil, oregano, and others.

How To Serve Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken cacciatore’s hearty, veggie-rich sauce is delicious served over pasta, rice, or simply with a large slice of crusty bread. If you’d like a lower-carb option, serve over warmed polenta or cauliflower rice.

This tasty meal is rich and filling on its own – you won’t need much more for a complete meal! Add breadsticks or a simple tossed green salad for a balanced meal and a glass of red wine for extra decadence, if you like.

closeup of wooden spoon over black slow cooker containing finished chicken Cacciatore

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezer

Store tightly sealed in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Gently reheat leftover chicken cacciatore in the microwave or on the stovetop on low to medium heat.