Easy Shredded Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

This slow cooker chicken cacciatore is so easy to make, after browning the chicken in a skillet, the rest of the ingredients get dumped into a slow cooker, letting it do the rest of the work.

If you’re looking for the ultimate hassle-free cooking experience, you can skip browning the chicken breast and simply place it directly into the slow cooker to make this a crockpot dump meal. While browning isn’t essential, it enhances the flavor of the chicken breast.

However, if you’re pressed for time or prefer minimal prep work, bypass this step for an even more effortless Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Recipe.

This post sharing how to make chicken cacciatore in a slow cooker contains affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you. 

What is Chicken Cacciatore?

This easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a delicious, no-fuss meal. Enjoy a savory, slow-cooked chicken cacciatore with minimal effort! This delicious Italian dish traditionally includes chicken cooked with tomatoes and herbs.

This recipe changes depending on who makes it, where they are from, or what ingredients they have on hand. This recipe is courtesy of my grandmother, who was a master of resourceful cooking. She always managed to feed a large crowd on a small budget, creating meals that would last for days. Her approach involved using whatever ingredients we had on hand, ensuring nothing went to waste. This method resulted in hearty, flavorful dishes with plenty of leftovers.

Now, as I prepare Sunday dinners for my family, I follow my grandmother’s tried-and-true methods. I combine a variety of ingredients to create a substantial meal that can be enjoyed for days. Embrace this Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe as a tribute to traditional family cooking, offering both convenience and rich, satisfying flavors.

Enjoy the ease and comfort of this timeless Italian dish, perfect for any occasion.

Chicken Cacciatore Ingredients 

• Chicken– I use boneless skinless chicken breast to make this recipe but another popular way to make chicken cacciatore is to use chicken thighs. I like the chicken breasts because they shred very easily, but you don’t have to serve this recipe shredded if you prefer a different cut. 
• Diced Garlic– Of course fresh is best but you can pick up a jar of pre-diced garlic to save you some time. 
• Onion– One diced onion is required to make this recipe, if you don’t feel like dicing it yourself, pick up one of these, it really is a time saver. 
• Bell Peppers– You can use whichever color bell peppers you prefer, I usually use red, orange, and yellow whenever possible. These are my husband’s favorite, but you can choose whichever color you prefer. 
• Crushed Tomatoes– No need to crush those bad boys yourself, pick up a couple of cans, and nobody will know the difference. 
• Seasonings–  Italian Seasoning, Rosemary, Thyme, Salt, Pepper, and Bay Leaves. Simple enough, right? 

How to Make Chicken Cacciatore in a Slow Cooker

This section shows you how to make the best chicken cacciatore using a slow cooker. Get tips for making this recipe and see the step-by-step photos to guide you through the process here. Head to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for all of the instructions and ingredients in one easy-to-read place.

Step 1: Heat Skillet

Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Coat the skillet with olive oil to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Cook Chicken

Add the chicken breasts and brown chicken on both sides. Pressing down to fully coat each side of the chicken breast.

Step 3: Flip the Chicken

After the first side is golden brown, season with salt and pepper. Flip the chicken breast and do the same to the other side.

The less flipping the better, no need to fully cook the chicken, this is just to brown the chicken breast, and it brings out a bold favor. The chicken will finish cooking in the crockpot. 

Step 4: Move the Chicken to the Crockpot

Once both sides of the chicken breast are brown, place them in the crockpot. 

Step 5: Add the Rest of the Ingredients

Add garlic to the crockpot. Add bell peppers and onions.

Next, pour the diced tomatoes into the crockpot.

Add seasoning and place bay leaves on top.

Step 6: Allow the Slow Cooker to Cook

Set crockpot to high for 6 hours.

Step 7: Shred the Chicken

Remove the bay leaf and stir before serving to finish shredding the chicken.

What Should I Serve with the Chicken Cacciatore?

Pasta- This is the most common way to serve chicken cacciatore, especially the shredded kind. Mixing up the pasta with the shredded chicken and vegetables makes for a tasty dish. 

Zucchini Noodles- If you are trying to eat healthier and cutting out the carbs, use zucchini noodles. Cook right before serving, don’t add these to the crockpot. They are much better when cooked right before serving. I recently found out that you can buy pre-spiralized zucchini noodles and this has been life-changing. What a time saver! 

Salad- In my home, salad goes well with everything. I especially enjoy mixing the flavors of the chicken cacciatore with the Italian dressing on my plate. What a great combo. 

What if I Don’t Want My Chicken Shredded? 

If you don’t want your chicken to be shredded, no problem. Don’t stir the slow cooker, the chicken is so tender throughout the cooking process that just the smallest touch can cause the chicken to break apart.

Another way to prevent the chicken from shredding is to use a different cut, chicken thighs are a great choice for this recipe. Just be sure to remove the skin before cooking.

I hope you enjoyed learning how I make Shredded Chicken Cacciatore in the Slow Cooker. Don’t forget to follow along on Pinterest and sign up for the free newsletter so that you never miss a post.  

More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Get all of my Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for the Whole Family here or check out some of my favorite crockpot dump meals below.

Easy Cheesy Keto Crockpot Chicken Dump Meal

Keto Chicken & Rice Soup {Easy Keto Crockpot Dump Meal}

Keto Slow Cooker Pot Roast – Easy Low Carb Recipe

Yield: 6

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes

Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore. Bold Italian flavor made easy in the crock pot! Juicy chicken breasts are slow-cooked in rich tomato sauce.

Print

Ingredients

• 3 lbs. of boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1/4 cup of Diced Garlic 
• 1 onion
• 2 Bell Peppers
• 2 28 ounce cans of crushed tomatoes 
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Italian Seasoning 
• 1/2 teaspoon of Rosemary
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Thyme
• 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil for frying
• Salt and Pepper
• 2 Bay Leaves

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Coat the skillet with olive oil to prevent sticking. Add the chicken breasts and brown chicken on both sides.

Pressing down to fully coat each side of the chicken breast. After the first side is golden brown, season with salt and pepper. Flip the chicken breast and do the same to the other side. The less flipping the better, no need to fully cook the chicken, this is just to brown the chicken breast, and it brings out a bold flavor. The chicken will finish cooking in the crockpot. 

Once both sides of the chicken breast are brown, place them in the crockpot. Add garlic to the crockpot. Add bell peppers and onions. Pour diced tomatoes into the crockpot. Add seasoning and place bay leaves on top.

Set crockpot to high for 6 hours. Remove the bay leaf and stir before serving to finish shredding the chicken.

Notes

To save time, you can skip the browning of the chicken breast in the skillet. Skipping this step will result in a less bold flavor.

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  Crock-Pot 6 Quart Cook Pot

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 506Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 193mgSodium 712mgCarbohydrates 25gFiber 6gSugar 13gProtein 76g

The nutrition in recipes is caluculate by AI, mistakes happen. It is highly recommended to check carb counts to make sure these recipes fit into your diet.