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!
June
Can’t wait to try this. Can you use fresh tomatoes instead of tinned?
Camilla
Hi June, no, fresh tomatoes would not give the “sauce” texture and would be watery. But you could always try and prove me wrong and let me know if you do try it with fresh.
Linda Wystt
Am following WW plan and this is just perfect recipe for me. Thank you
Camilla
Glad to be of help:-)
Becca
Trying this tonight. I added some celery, too, as I had some on hand. Smells really good so far!
Camilla
Awesome Becca, good to use up what you have before Christmas. Do let me know how it was.
Jodie
I don’t even make the stock, I just crumble the cube in and add the water, even less washing up! I just stir it all in the slow cooker.
Camilla
Ah, I don’t use the ones that crumble but great tip for those that do:-)
Sarah
I‘ve got this in the cooker now. Smells great! Can I freeze this once cooked & cooled?
Camilla
Great Sarah, yes you can certainly freeze it, I have:-)
Andrea
This was easy and tasted amazing kids loved it !
Camilla
Thank you for taking the time to comment Andrea, so glad you and your family love the recipe:-)
Helen west
Can you put all this raw in a freezer bag to dump another day
Camilla
Hi Helen, I have never done this but in theory it should work. Just be sure to totally defrost in fridge overnight. I would probably leave the chicken thighs in their packaging and just add to the thawed mix on the day of cooking. Let me know how you get on if you try this.
Shelley
This would work. I do it with so many recipes. I’m making this one tonight can’t wait for the family to try it
Camilla
Thanks Shelley, enjoy:-)
Ste
Superb.
The smell as it cooks is amazing.
All the family enjoyed it and i will be definitely cooking it again.
Thank you for sharing
Camilla
So glad you and your family enjoyed it Ste:)
Kirsty Moore
Do you make up the chicken stock with 500ml water as on the packet. But then just use 150ml of that. Or is it 150ml of water with 1 Chicken stock? Thanks
Camilla
Hi Kirsty, you make a strong stock with 150 ml or water and one good quality stock cube.
Mel
Have made this meal a few times now and have to say it’s sooooo tasty. The combination of flavours are amazing. Certainlya meal for these cold dark evenings
Camilla
That makes me so happy Mel, thank you so much for your feedback:-)
Annette
Im using chicken breast. Do i need to brown the chicken 1st?
Camilla
Hi Annette, no you don’t need to brown first. The cooking time might be less with breast meat though.
Lynn Mander
I recently purchased a slow cooker & this recipe was a total success. I did use Chicken breasts & they were so tender! Making it tomorrow & using Chicken thighs this time. I left out the Olives as yuk for me & also added a little red wine. The end result was not at all watery. Thank you, love it!
Camilla
Awesome, so glad you like it and have made it to your liking:-)
Paul Bailey
Sorry but I found this awful. The olives totally overpowered all other flavours.
Camilla
Interesting Paul, no-one else has ever had this problem, this was my 11th most popular dish in 2019. Can I ask you what type and brand of olives you used and were they in brine or oil? You could leave the olives out altogether or just put few in but I thought 4 per person was a reasonable amount and have never felt they overpowered the dish.
Mike Bird
I can only think that the sixteen olives (16 Kalamata olives, pitted), was read as, ‘lb Kalamata olives’. I’m pretty sure that a pound of olives would overpower most dishes.
Camilla
But my recipes are metric so I doubt it and 1 pound would be 1 lb so don’t think it’s that.
David
My partner is veggie and I’m making this all for myself, can I freeze and reheat portions?
Camilla
Yes you can freeze portions and reheat:-)
Lorna
Is the full recipes, with quantities available anywhere please?
Camilla
Hi, I nearly had heart failure just then thinking the recipe had gone! It’s at the bottom of the post like all my recipes.
TimAsparagus
Tried it very good. Reminds me of the ‘pollo alla cacciatora’ my Nonna used to make
Camilla
Excellent Tim, so glad you enjoyed it:-)
Mandy
For slow cooker newbies, there are only a couple of ways you risk food poisoning with your slow cooker. One is to undercook certain items, particularly poultry. Use an instant read thermometer to be on the safe side. The other danger is to follow one of the totally idiotic and irresponsible suggestions I’ve seen about putting frozen ingredients in your slow cooker. This is NEVER a good idea. By the time your dish has come to full temperature, it’s been sitting at room temperature long enough for who knows what to develop.
Rebecca - Glutarama
Love that saying Dump and Go…that’s so me! Not just that but how awesome is the moment when you come back to the house and open the door to the awesome smells of slow cooking. Will be giving this recipe a go for sure
Camilla
Thanks Rebecca, it really is a gem of a recipe as takes so little effort;-)
Alison
I like your daughter don’t like chicken thighs….(i am indeed vegetarian 90% of the time). If I was to swap in Chicken breast insrtead would the timings need changing? I’m totally new to a slow cooker, our has just arrived and is still box fresh hence the asking what is probably a very simple question….
Camilla
Hi Alison, I have to say I have never (I don’t think) put chicken breasts in the slow cooker, unless part of a whole chicken. Breast meat is easily cooked quickly and doesn’t need the long slow cooking to make it succulent. You can buy skinless & boneless thighs and the thigh meat is far more flavoursome than the breast meat. But if you really can’t face thighs then you could try using breasts and the cooking time would be the same. Let me know how you get on as I would be interested to know!
Myra Nicholls
Lovely easy recipe, added white wine with stock and olives 20 minutes.before end
Camilla
Fab Myra, wine sounds like a great addition!
Lisa
Just made this and I’ve got empty bowl from my two children. Great recipe for a busy mum. Thank you
Camilla
Excellent Lisa, so glad you and your kids liked it:-)
Teresa sheldon
THIS looks amazing, can almost taste and smell it from your photos, can I ask do the olive sauce stay firm adding them early, Ives always added olives last thing don’t know no way why really, I’ve just checked the fridge and we are having this for dinner tomorrw I’ll let you know how it’s goes
Camilla
Hi Teresa, thank you for your kind words. I’ve never given the olives any thought but after several hours of cooking they will be softer than straight out of the jar. If you prefer you olives firmer then you could always add them towards the end:-)
sandy
oooh, love the sound of this. I used to do a lovely irish stew in the slow cooker but my son has gone off it so I’ve fallen out of the habit. This could be just the ticket to get me back in to slow cooking 🙂
Camilla
I haven’t made Irish Stew since I was at school, it couldn’t have been a very good recipe as I never made it again:-) I do hope you give this a try as it’s so good and with so little effort!
glenn hutton
This looks amazing, just the type of food for dark nights drawing in!
Camilla
Thanks, it really is:-)
Joanne Evans
this looks so warming, a real comfort food, will try this next week when everyone is home.
Alica Hopkins
This looks delicious! Thank you!
Sheena Batey
Hearty but healthy such a good combination
Margaret GALLAGHER
Ooo la la sounds devine – I can almost taste the flavours already – great family warmer
Camilla
Thanks Margaret, it’s a true favourite here:-)
Kelly Wheelhouse
This looks absolutely delicious! I’m going to have to try this. It looks so simple to make!
Nicole hood
Yum! Slow cooked comfort food is the best!
Camilla
Thank you Nicole, it really is delicious:-)
Kavita Favelle
Love the look of your updated Italian Chicken slow cooker recipe, Camilla. The flavours look so hearty and it looks so simple to make.
Camilla
Thank you Kavey, it is such a labour saving dish:-)
Jacqueline Meldrum
I’ve been using my slow cooker more than ever this year. I have to admit I didn’t use it as much in the past, but now I am rather loving it.
Camilla
I have to admit it took me many years to get into using mine and now I have 2:-)
kellie@foodtoglow
Dump and go recipes are an absolute necessity at this this busy time of year.This looks hearty, nutritious and so easy!
Camilla
Thanks Kellie, yes they totally rock at this time of year!
Lucy
Love a simple and delicious slow cooker dish like this – so easy for busy people!! Thanks for linking to my curry too.
Camilla
Thanks Lucy, loving your curry too:-)
Cat | Curly's Cooking
What a delicious sounding recipe. I love that you used to read the manual. I was the complete extreme and didn’t even read the manual when I first got mine! Like you, I do love a dump recipe because they are so easy.
Camilla
Thanks Cat, yes the internet taught me to throw away the manual LOL:-)
Corina Blum
I think dump and go is definitely the way to go for slow cooker meals! Quite by coincidence I’m going to be cooking chicken thighs in my slow cooker today too. I’m getting quite hungry just thinking about it.
Camilla
Thanks Corina, they definitely are:-)
Anne Lane
Love this recipe so does my husband i added some chilli flakes realy gives it a kick making this dish again tonite thanks
Camilla
Yay Anne, glad you like the recipe, loving the idea of the added chilli flakes:-)
Claire
This is a great recipe has been added to my file – thank you! Second time round, I added some chorizo and olives which happened to be lurking in the fridge.
Camilla
Great Claire, I made it with olives too the other day, great to ring the changes, chorizo sounds great too:-)
Janice
Some recipes really do work as chuck and go, this looks really delicious.
Camilla
Thanks, they really do Janice!
Helen Moulden
Looks incredible! Love stuff like this in the winter!
Camilla
Thanks Helen, it’s such a quick and adaptable recipe:-)
Ruth Hedges
I love Italian food and this is the perfect family meal!
Camilla
Thank you Heather, it is really quick and tasty:-)
David Clarke
Oh I must try this one, I need to consider about get slow cooker soon
Beverley Cousins
OMG! This is going to be my saturday nights meal, it looks absolutely stunning!
Camilla
Thanks Beverly:-)
Louise Smith
This looks delicious
Martina Evans
This recipe sounds and looks absolutely delicious! x
Camilla
Thank you Martina:-)
Alison
This sounds lovely, will have to try it
Heather Haigh
I love meals that I can bung in the slow cooker and this one sounds lovely and tasty. Just right for the nippy weather that’s coming for a few days.
Kirsty Fox
I am always looking for recipes for my slow cooker and this sounds delicious.
Joanna M-B
I have a real aversion to chicken on the bone. Would the de-boned chicken thighs work just as well? Obviously wouldn’t be as cost effective but would lessen the risk of ending up with a random nobbly bit of gristle in the mouth!
Other than that, this ticks all our recipe fave boxes. I do something similar in the oven with pork chops but the slow cooker is an inspired idea!
Camilla
Of course they would, I’ve never had a problem with leaving knobbly bit in though as I pull the thighs apart on a board leaving all the bone there and popping back the meat:-)
Ursula Hunt
great chicken recipe, i love italian styled foof
Karen Adlam
Hi Camilla, this looks delicious. I’m keen to dig out my slow cooker from the back of the cupboard – you have inspired me to do it this weekend. Only just discovered your blog and have had a good old nosey around – will definitely be trying out lots of the recipes. Keep up the good work! Karen
Camilla
Aah, thank you Karen. Glad you’ve found me – how did you find me out of interest?
Maya Russell
Like the way the chicken just breaks up. Looks healthy and easy.
Miss Tracy Hanson
This sounds delicious. Love Italian flavours and chicken is my favourite meat. 🙂 Yum!
sophie payne
this looks delicious I can’t wait to try this, the only recipe I cook in the slow cooker is bbq pulled pork so would be nice to try something new!
Anne Dalzell
Our cooker broke this week so i’ve been eyeing up slow cooker recipes until we get a new one. This looks ever so tasty
Camilla
Oh no, hope you get it fixed soon!
Niori
Think I’ll set this going shortly. We had a roast dinner last night so looking for something different today. Loving my slowcooker at the moment!
Camilla
Great stuff, I really need to get back into using mine now the weather is turning!
David C
Wow, I certain will enjoy this fab meal, must try this one day
Camilla
I must remember to make this again and want to try adding olives and capers next time, I’ve such a bad memory when it comes to new recipes!
Kirsty Fox
This looks fantastic, I love the colour of it!
Camilla
Thank you, it is an inviting colour:-)
Ann Robinson
Another great recipe, and with a slow cooker you can have it ready to eat as soon as you get in
Camilla
Thanks, yes it’s lovely to walk in with a meal ready:-)
Abigail Cullen
This recipe sounds and looks great, would love to give this a go.
ujhunt1961
Great meal
ujhunt1961
Absolutly delicious
Irene Wright
Love this recipe but when I made it, I just threw everything in (like I always do) and turned on the heat and then left it for a LONG…………..time. It usually turns out ok as long as is shoes it has been boiling at some stage of the cooking – ensures the temperature has killed all of the ‘baddies’ in the chicken/meat.
Maddy
I’ve always “Cooked from cold” in my slow cooker – so much simpler, as you say- less washing up & never had any ill effects 😉
Camilla
I got there in the end LOL:-)
Florence Cross
I’m going to give this one a try. It looks delicious and sounds simple to make.
Camilla
Thank you, hope you enjoy it:-)
Ursula Hunt
great midweek recipe
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
Looks like a crowd pleasing dish, I never think of putting chicken in tomato sauce but I can see it works very well.
Camilla
Really? My mum always made us Chicken Cacciatore when I lived at home.
kira cook
this looks amazing so tasty will definitely be trying this
worstkeptsecret
This looks amazingly tasty, and surprisingly simple! I might just have to try it myself.
Ellie Wilde
Wow! This looks ridiculously easy and cheap too! I’m a novice but love the value for money meals you can make in a slow cooker! This will be made at the weekend for sure!! Thanks a lot! x
Camilla
Fabulous, hope you enjoy it;-)
Honest Mum
Just gorgeous, I really should invest in a slow cooker! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Camilla
Thank you:-) Oh definitely, they are so versatile:-)
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:-)
Coombemill
That looks like a great family meal. #TastyTuesday
Camilla
Thank you, it truly is:-)
Paul Wilson
I do love nice Italian dishes.
Elizabeth Edser
I cook a whole chicken in my slow cooker. Without browning it first, just plonk it in the slow cooker without any liquid (I know, I didn’t believe it the first time either) without any liquid or anything else, put the lid on and cook for about 6 – 8 hours. It looks a bit pale & uninteresting when it’s cooked but most of us don’t eat the skin anyway do we?
Camilla
Wow, that’s good to know, thanks for sharing:-) So far I have done leg of lamb and a gammon joint without browing but have added liquid & vegetables or pineapple too;-)
Lisa Ellison
This is making me so hungry now!
Ciara (@My Fussy Eater)
I’m a massive slow cooker fan but I’m so nervous about throwing raw meat in there. I have to brown it first! Like you I think I’ll bite the bullet and try it like you. This recipe looks amazing by the way!
Camilla
Thanks:-) Yes I felt liberated and glad I’d taken the plunge, glad to inspire you to do the same:-)
Heather Haigh
That sounds lovely and sweet and rich. I do love chucking a meal in the slow cooker – got this one bookmarked now. Thanks. x
Fahad Khan
I find the similarities between Italian and Indian cuisines amazing!Onion,tomato and garlic form the flavor base of most north Indian curries.
Sadly,no-one uses slow cooker here.Though,we make plenty of slow cooked preparations,on the stove top.My favorite being Dal Makhani – black gram and a handful of kidney beans are slowly simmered with tomato puree,garlic,ginger,cumin powder,garam masala(A blend of several spices like cumin seeds,black peppercorns,dried bay leaves and cinnamon.) and a generous amount of butter & cream.Thanks to all the cream that goes into it,the dish is really mild.Though flavorful!
Nice post.Great communication skills!
Camilla
Thank you and for taking the time to visit my blog today! Those spices sound wonderful, we are big curry fans in our house:-)
Irene Wright
this recipe is certainly one I will try. Have printed it out and will use it next time the family are round for tea/dinner & probably accept their compliments as it being my own recipe……..lol. Looks good.
Camilla
Good idea, chuck in a few other ingredients and it truly will be your own recipe, I think Olives would be a great addition:-)
Karen
Wow! What a delectable plate of lovely chicken Camilla and such a lovely herb combination too! I love it! Thanks so much for adding it to Cooking with Herbs! 🙂 Karen
Camilla
Thanks Karen and it would probably work for your 5.2 diet as there is no fat in this which I forgot to mention:-)
mellissa williams
I know what you mean! I used to brown everything too. My favourite dish is this one from my blog
http://www.thediaryofajewellerylover.co.uk/2014/02/cidered-pork-with-sage-dumplings.html
i love my slow cooker, it makes meat so tender!
Camilla
I love cider so your dish sounds fab. Does the flour stick to the bottom of the dish as I’m always a bit worried about adding flour at the start of slow cooking?