Slow Cooked Chicken Italian aka Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore, is a fabulously delicious recipe which is perfect for days when you don’t have time to cook. You just dump the ingredients and go!
Today I’m sharing my updated and improved Slow Cooked Chicken Italian that I first shared back in July 2014.
Having made this so often since I posted it, I thought I’d take some better photographs and add the olives I mentioned before but weren’t officially part of the recipe!
Not only is this recipe so easy, just dump and go but it’s also low in fat so great for those following a Weight Watchers or Slimming World diet.
So back to the original post and note that where I say my daughter’s view of chicken thighs is a work in progress, she’s now a vegetarian (the writing was on the wall really)!
The longer you own a piece of equipment the better your understanding of it grows and that is very true of my slow cooker.
For a long time, I took it as gospel that I had to follow the manufacturer’s instructions about only ever putting hot liquids and foods in my slow cooker. Then, as I started to read other blogs on the internet I realised that this was not a fact set in stone!
Indeed all the preparation I was doing heating everything up beforehand was really taking away the whole idea of it being a labour-saving gadget.
So last week I threw away my slow cooker instruction manual and decided to go cold turkey, well cold chicken to be precise!
I had to seriously stop myself from browning the chicken thighs and the thought of the added washing up was enough to stop me in my tracks.
“It’ll be fine” I told myself, “everyone else is doing this, you’re just a bit slow to realise”, And with that thought I merrily chucked, I mean placed carefully, all my ingredients in the slow cooker and switched it on.
Six hours later my family asked what the lovely smell was, to which I replied “Slow Cooked Chicken Italian”!
I would say that if you don’t have any of the particular vegetables that I used improvise with a suitable alternative eg courgettes, aubergine, green olives etc you could even add a different coloured bell pepper.
I have to say that we all really enjoyed this dump-and-go meal (with the exception of my daughter who doesn’t do chicken thighs – a work in progress) and I think it’s one you can play around with to ring the changes (thinking chillies now)!
Everyone reading this is probably having a good old laugh that I’ve been such a stickler for my instruction manual.
However, I realised that the manufacturers probably didn’t want to be responsible for giving anyone food poisoning so played it ultra-safe; so safe that it was taking the fun out of slow cooking if you ask me!
Dump-and-go recipes are the way to go!
More Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes
Here are some more easy dump and go recipes:
- Easy Slow Cooker Beef Curry
- 2 Ingredient Slow Cooker Roast Lamb
- 2 Ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Gammon (Shredded Ham)
- Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Poor Man’s Crispy Duck
- Slow Cooker Chicken Pasanda
- Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tagine
- Crock-pot Honey Garlic Pork Freezer Meal
- Ultra Easy Honey Garlic Chicken & Veggies
- 3 Ingredient Crock-pot Italian Beef – Weightwatchers Friendly
If you’re looking for a really simple chicken thigh dish for the oven then do try my Easy Greek Chicken and Potatoes recipe!
Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.
Pin Slow Cooked Chicken Italian aka Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore for later!
Slow Cooked Chicken Italian
Equipment
- 1 cook’s knife
- 1 Chopping Board
- 1 Measuring jug
- 1 Long metal spoon
- 1 Slow Cooker 3.5 litre
Ingredients
- 600 g skinless & boneless chicken thighs 750g with skin & bone, but remove skin
- 5 Chestnut mushrooms sliced
- 2 red onions cut into 6 segments each
- 1 yellow or red bell pepper chopped
- 16 Kalamata olives, pitted
- 1 x 400 g tin good quality Italian chopped tomatoes
- 150 ml chicken stock made up with 1 stock cube
- 4 tbsp tomato paste
- 5 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 heaped tsp dried Italian mixed herbs
- freshly ground salt & pepper
Instructions
- Place the skinned chicken thighs (bone in or out) in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Scatter the chopped vegetables and olives over the top.
- Mix the chicken stock, chopped tomatoes, garlic, herbs and seasoning together in a measuring bowl/jug.
- Then pour over the chicken.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours or until meat is falling off the bone.
- Serve as whole chicken thighs or remove and de-bone (if using bone in thighs) then break up thigh meat in the sauce with a spoon.
- Serve on a bed of rice/spaghetti or alternatively serve in a bowl along with crusty bread to mop up the juices!
Michelle @ Greedy Gourmet
When I was younger I never read a manual, thinking I’m too clever for it and immediately push button pretending to be a pro with every new gadget. There never was any major catastrophe but over the years I’ve learnt to read the manual first to get the best use out of the machine. After getting accustomed to it only then I chuck the manual like you’ve done. Your chicken’s looking good!
Camilla
Thanks Michelle, I’m just a stickler for rules LOL so getting more relaxed in my old age:-)
Sally - My Custard Pie
I always stick to the manual! Must get a slow cooker….
Camilla
Yes they’re so good for when you’re going to be out all day:-)
Ursula Hunt
great recipe, tastes great
Camilla
Thanks:-)
Paul Wilson
This looks ideal for the slow cooker.
Ursula Hunt
No oven as we are moving so great to have a good slow cooker recipe
Kirsten Murphy
I bought a new slow cooker last year after years of being without. I adore it and if it came with an instruction booklet I never read it, I’ve always just thrown everything in & left it!
This recipe sounds fantastic and as you say, so easy to vary
Camilla
Thanks, yes it’s one which I will use as a base from now on:-)
Tracy Nixon
Ohhh now this is my type of dish – love my chicken, love my veg and love the look of that sauce! I do make a similar dish already and either serve it with rice like you have or over spooned over a jacket potato or even served with patatas 🙂
Stacey Dsouza
Lovely recipe will try it this weekend 🙂
Camilla
Thank you – enjoy:-)
bev
Looks delicious!
Carolyn Clapham
Lovely recipe.
I chose to retweet this one as much for your slow cooker comments as the recipe though – I’m convinced that too many people give up really quickly on their slow cooker for all the reasons that you have mentioned.
When I first got mine, I gave up pre-heating and browning after about a week, but have great results with everything from roasts such as leg of lamb or gammon, to things like rice pudding (the latest family favourite), and would hate to be without it.
Camilla
Thank you! Indeed it took my a very long time to get into my slow cooker but now I love it:-)