Prepare to discover your new favorite weeknight dinner: the best Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore with Jar Sauce recipe. This incredibly simple slow cooker meal is designed for busy households, requiring just about 10 minutes of active preparation time. It’s a healthy, budget-friendly dish that consistently earns rave reviews from kids and adults alike, especially when served over a bed of fluffy rice. Similar in spirit to our Instant Pot chicken cacciatore, this version offers the set-it-and-forget-it convenience of a slow cooker.

There’s nothing quite like an easy dinner recipe that delivers on flavor and convenience, and this Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore perfectly fits the bill. Its minimal prep time makes it an absolute lifesaver, and even the pickiest eaters at my table happily devour it. It has quickly become one of our go-to crockpot recipes, proving that delicious and wholesome meals don’t have to be complicated.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore: Simple, Flavorful & Healthy

Our philosophy is simple: healthy food should still taste amazing! This Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe meets all the requirements for a delicious, nutritious, and incredibly budget-friendly meal. The beauty of this dish also lies in its adaptability; you can easily adjust the spice level to suit your family’s preferences. While we often turn to our comforting Crockpot chicken noodle soup, even when not feeling under the weather, we were eager to add another versatile one-pot meal to our rotation, and this cacciatore is a true winner.

The secret to its effortless preparation? Utilizing a quality jarred spaghetti sauce. This simple trick allows you to achieve that rich, slow-cooked flavor without the fuss of making sauce from scratch. However, if you prefer to craft your own homemade version, that option is always available too. Beyond the sauce, you’ll primarily need a lean protein and a colorful medley of vegetables, specifically onions and bell peppers, to create this hearty dish.

The Magic of Slow Cooking

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the humble slow cooker, a true hero in any busy kitchen. I’m a firm believer in the power of slow cooking and have several models, each serving a unique purpose. They are indispensable for achieving fork-tender meats and deeply infused flavors with minimal effort.

1. My personal favorite is a 6-quart programmable slow cooker with a locking lid, which is incredibly convenient for transporting meals to potlucks or gatherings.
2. For easier cleanup, I always recommend lightly spraying the inside of your slow cooker with olive oil before adding ingredients, rather than relying on liners.

I recently acquired a beautiful new slow cooker that perfectly complements my kitchen decor, allowing me to proudly display it on the countertop at all times. It’s a small joy that makes cooking even more delightful!

Minimal Ingredient Chicken Cacciatore

Despite its rich flavor, this recipe is incredibly inexpensive to make and inherently healthy, combining lean chicken with nutrient-rich vegetables that soften beautifully as they slow cook. It’s absolutely perfect served over Ninja Foodi white rice or any preferred grain. I’m confident that this dish will become a beloved staple in your home too.

I recall my mother making chicken cacciatore from scratch when I was younger, a wonderful but time-consuming endeavor. With today’s busy schedules, making everything from scratch isn’t always feasible, especially during the week. That’s why I developed this “semi-homemade” approach, using similar core ingredients but in a significantly simplified manner. It’s a testament to why it’s considered one of the best crockpot chicken recipes out there, balancing traditional flavors with modern convenience.

Essential Ingredients for Your Crockpot Cacciatore

This recipe shines with its straightforward ingredient list, proving that you don’t need a pantry full of exotic items to create a truly satisfying meal. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs: Both work beautifully. Choose what you have on hand or what’s on sale. Thighs offer a richer flavor and stay incredibly moist.
2. Spaghetti Sauce (Jarred): This is your key to convenience. Opt for your favorite brand or whatever is on sale. I usually gravitate towards garlic or mushroom-flavored varieties for added depth. While a jarred sauce simplifies things, you could certainly prepare your own homemade slow cooker spaghetti sauce with crushed tomatoes and herbs beforehand if you wish.
3. Onions: While optional, onions are a fantastic, inexpensive way to build a savory base and add delightful texture to the sauce as they soften.
4. Bell Peppers & Mushrooms:
   1. Feel free to use any color of bell pepper – a mix of red, green, and yellow adds visual appeal and a spectrum of flavors.
   2. Mushrooms (such as cremini or button) are a wonderful addition, but if you prefer them firm, I recommend adding them during the last hour of cooking.
5. Water or Chicken Broth: A small amount is needed to thin the sauce slightly and ensure everything cooks evenly. Chicken broth will impart an extra layer of savory flavor.
6. Rice: To be cooked separately and served as a perfect accompaniment to soak up all that delicious sauce.
7. Olives (Optional): Some people enjoy the briny kick of olives in their cacciatore. We often omit them, but feel free to add them if you’re a fan.

Truly, these are the core components for a fantastic meal. The brand of spaghetti sauce is less important than its flavor profile; just choose a type you enjoy. I do recommend avoiding meat-flavored sauces, as they are typically ground beef-based and won’t complement the chicken as well.

Customizing Your Cacciatore: Substitutions and Variations

This recipe is incredibly versatile, allowing for several easy adjustments to suit your taste:

• Chicken Options: While boneless, skinless chicken breasts are specified, chicken thighs are an excellent alternative, providing even more moisture and flavor. I often save my thighs for other recipes like my Crockpot jerk chicken, but they are perfectly suited here. If boneless chicken isn’t available, chicken pieces with rib meat will also work.
• Adding Heat: For those who enjoy a little kick, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added to the sauce. I usually keep my cacciatore mild to cater to all palates.
• The “Hunter Style” Distinction: This dish is often referred to as “Hunter style,” which simply means it’s prepared with a rich red sauce, reminiscent of a hunter’s hearty meal.
• Sauce Choice: As mentioned, I prefer garlic or mushroom-flavored spaghetti sauces, and generally opt for a thicker consistency. However, buying what’s on sale is always a smart choice!
• Quantity: Two medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts are typically enough to feed a family of five.
• Mushroom Timing: If using mushrooms, adding them during the last hour of cooking prevents them from becoming overly mushy, preserving their texture. Of course, you can omit them entirely if they’re not to your liking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Cacciatore

The beauty of this slow cooker method is that it minimizes effort, allowing you to enjoy a satisfying meal without additional last-minute tasks when you’re already tired.

How to Make Chicken Cacciatore in a Slow Cooker on Low Heat

Creating this delicious Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore is incredibly simple. Follow these steps for a perfect, tender meal:

1. Begin by placing your non-frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs evenly on the bottom of your crockpot.
2. Pour one full jar of spaghetti sauce directly over the chicken, ensuring it’s well covered.
3. Add approximately 3/4 cup of water (or chicken broth for extra flavor) to the empty spaghetti sauce jar. Swirl it around to collect any remaining sauce, then pour this mixture into the crockpot as well.
4. Evenly distribute your sliced bell pepper and diced onion over the chicken and sauce.
5. If desired, add minced garlic, salt, and pepper at this stage. Give the ingredients a gentle stir, making sure the chicken remains at the bottom and submerged in the sauce for optimal cooking.
6. Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 5 hours.
7. After 5 hours, if you’re including mushrooms, add one container of rinsed and quartered mushrooms to the crockpot. Stir them in slightly and continue to cook on low for an additional hour. The total cooking time can be adjusted slightly based on the thickness of your chicken; it should be cooked until it easily falls apart with a fork.
8. This recipe can easily be doubled if you’re feeding a larger crowd. Serve your flavorful chicken cacciatore hot over rice or your preferred side.

Embrace the Ease of Slow Cooker Meals

For those with demanding schedules, quick and easy crockpot meals like this Chicken Cacciatore are absolute lifesavers! I rely on my slow cooker at least once a week, often more, and appreciate having various sizes available. For this particular recipe, a large crockpot is ideal. We’re passionate about slow cooking, and you can find many more of our favorite crockpot recipes on our site, including:

1. Our easy homemade Crockpot Split Pea Soup, which is both low in saturated fat and incredibly nutritious.
2. A healthy and flavorful Crockpot Lemon Pepper Chicken that was a huge hit with my family recently.
3. This unique Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken, perfect for preparing with either breasts or bone-in chicken thighs.

The beauty of almost all the slow cooker recipes on our site is the “dump and go” method. You simply combine all the ingredients in the morning, and a delicious, comforting meal will be perfectly ready when you return home from your busy day. There’s no need for constant stirring or monitoring; that’s the whole point of effortless slow cooking!

Maximizing Your Leftovers: Storage and Reheating Tips

One of the many benefits of this Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore is how well it stores and reheats, making it perfect for meal prepping. General guidelines suggest that leftovers will remain safe in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. If you anticipate not consuming it within that timeframe, freezing is an excellent option; it will last for several months without compromising quality.

Because the chicken is cooked in a rich tomato sauce, it tends to stay quite moist. When storing, ensure the dish has cooled completely before transferring it to an airtight container and refrigerating. If you find the chicken has dried out slightly upon reheating, simply add a splash of chicken broth or a drizzle of olive oil before warming it in the oven or microwave. This will help restore its moisture and flavor, ensuring your leftovers are just as delicious as the freshly cooked meal.

Remember, “low and slow” is the golden rule for cooking meat in a crockpot, as it guarantees the chicken becomes incredibly tender and flavorful. Once cooked, the chicken should be so tender that it can be easily shredded with a fork or served whole on plates without needing a knife.

5 from 3 votes

Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore

By
Justine

This Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore recipe with jar sauce is incredibly easy! It only takes 10 minutes to prep, and my kids absolutely love it served over rice. A truly healthy and convenient slow cooker dinner we make often.

Prep:

10
mins

Cook:

5
hrs

Total:

5
hrs
10
mins

Servings:
5

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Equipment

• 1 slow cooker

Ingredients

• 2
  medium
  chicken breasts,
  skinless, boneless
• 1
  jar
  spaghetti sauce
• 3/4
  c
  water,
  or broth
• 1
  medium
  bell pepper,
  sliced
• 1/2
  medium
  onion,
  sliced
• 1 container (8 oz)
  mushrooms,
  rinsed and quartered (optional)
• Minced garlic, salt, and pepper to taste (optional)

Instructions

• Place non-frozen chicken breasts on the bottom of the crockpot.
• Pour the jar of spaghetti sauce on top of the chicken.
• Pour about 3/4 cup of water or broth into the empty jar and swish it around to get the remaining sauce out, then pour this into the crockpot as well.
• Slice the bell pepper and dice the onion, then add them into the crockpot.
• Add minced garlic, salt, and pepper if you wish. Stir just a bit, ensuring the chicken remains on the bottom and covered with the sauce.
• Cover and cook for 5 hours on the LOW setting.
• If adding mushrooms: After 5 hours, add the rinsed and quartered mushrooms to the crockpot. Stir slightly and continue to cook for an additional hour on low, or until the chicken is fork-tender. This recipe can be doubled. Serve immediately over rice.

Nutrition

Serving: 8oz,
Calories: 295kcal,
Carbohydrates: 53g,
Protein: 15g,
Fat: 1g,
Cholesterol: 28mg,
Sodium: 769mg,
Potassium: 738mg,
Fiber: 3g,
Sugar: 6g,
Vitamin A: 690IU,
Vitamin C: 30mg,
Calcium: 40mg,
Iron: 2.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course:
Entree, Main Course

Cuisine:
American

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