This rich and comforting Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore is made with tender chicken leg quarters, savory spaghetti sauce, whole mushrooms, fresh bell pepper, and sweet onions. This classic Chicken Cacciatore recipe is a perfect dinner choice that takes approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes to cook and serves up to 6 guests.

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Recipe Ingredients

• 6 skinless chicken leg and side quarters (about 3 lbs or 1.4 kg)
• 2 cups (500 g) of spaghetti sauce
• 1 can (8 oz or 225 g) of whole mushrooms, drained
• 2 tsp of dried oregano
• 1/2 cup (80 g) of chopped onion
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) of dry red wine
• Cornstarch (optional, to thicken)

How To Make Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore

1. Prepare Your Crockpot: Place the chicken pieces into your slow cooker in an even layer. Add the spaghetti sauce, drained mushrooms, dried oregano, chopped onions, diced bell pepper, and crushed garlic on top of the chicken. Then, pour in the dry red wine to bring out the flavors.
2. Combine and Set Cooking Time: Give the ingredients a gentle stir to coat the chicken evenly with the sauce. Cover the slow cooker with its lid, and cook on the low setting for about 7 hours or until the chicken becomes tender and fully cooked.
3. Remove and Prepare the Sauce: When the chicken is done, use tongs to carefully transfer the pieces into a large serving bowl, being cautious of the hot liquid. If you prefer a thicker sauce, stir in a small amount of cornstarch (mixed with water) directly into the slow cooker.
4. Finish and Serve: Let the sauce cook on high for an additional 5 minutes to thicken slightly. Once done, pour the thickened sauce generously over the chicken in the serving bowl. Enjoy this comforting meal with a side of rice, pasta, or crusty bread.

Recipe Tips

• Use Bone-In Chicken for Extra Flavor: Cooking bone-in chicken pieces in the crockpot adds a deeper, richer flavor to the dish, and keeps the meat juicy and tender throughout the slow cooking process.
• Choose Fresh Herbs for Enhanced Taste: If you have access to fresh oregano or basil, substitute dried herbs with fresh ones to elevate the flavors in this dish. Add them towards the end of cooking for the best results.
• Make It Low-Carb: For a low-carb version of this recipe, serve the chicken and sauce over a bed of sautéed zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or roasted spaghetti squash for a nutritious alternative.
• Add Heat for a Spicy Kick: If you prefer a bit of spice, add a dash of crushed red pepper flakes or sliced fresh chili peppers into the sauce. Start with a small amount, then adjust to your preferred heat level.
• Swap the Wine with Broth if Needed: If you prefer to avoid wine, substitute the dry red wine with the same amount of low-sodium chicken broth. It will still provide a nice depth of flavor without altering the recipe drastically.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

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• Slow Cooker Chicken And Chorizo Jambalaya
• Slow Cooker Peppercorn Chicken
• Slow Cooker Peri Peri Chicken With Corn