Chicken Cacciatore
This is our slimming friendly, Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore version of the famous Italian classic dish – perfect if you’re counting calories or following a plan like Weight Watchers!
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NutritionPer Serving
- Calories419
- Carbs15g
- Protein18g
- Fat10g
- Saturates3g
- Sugars9g
For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card below. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff in the blurb!
This slow cooker Chicken Cacciatore is our slimming friendly take on the classic, Italian dish and is perfect if you’re counting calories or following a plan like Weight Watchers.
‘Cacciatore’ literally translates to ‘hunter’ in Italian, so this could probably be considered the original ‘Hunter’s Chicken’ recipe! Our Cacciatore Chicken is the perfect comfort food for those cold, dark winter evenings and can be served with such a wide range of accompaniments – whatever takes your fancy.
This recipe makes enough for 6 portions and it couldn’t be simpler – just throw everything into the slow cooker and let it do it’s thing! It tastes just as good the next day for lunch and can also be frozen for those days when you’re a bit short on time.
What diets is this Chicken Cacciatore suitable for?
This Chicken Cacciatore recipe is suitable for dairy free diets.
It can be made gluten free as long as you swap out the following ingredients for gluten free versions;
- Chicken stock cube
Please make sure to double or triple check all of your ingredients if you’re cooking for people with allergies.
Do you need any special ingredients to make this Chicken Cacciatore?
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What can we say about the Instant Pot? It’s like a slow cooker/pressure cooker hybrid, and it’s probably one of our favourite, and most used kitchen gadgets.
Imagine the best Slow Cooker in the world, then times that by a hundred. There’s not much that it can’t do!
It’s a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, which means you could cook recipes like this Chicken Cacciatore in no time at all.
Remember the pressure cookers of old that would splutter and rock, and make all sorts of scary noises? None of that with the Instant Pot. Just set the time, close the lid and let it do its thing. It even keeps your food warm once it’s finished cooking! How good is that?
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How many calories are in this Chicken Cacciatore?
There are 419 calories per portion in this Chicken Cacciatore, which means it falls into our Weekly Indulgence category.
To cut down the amount of calories even more, you can simply halve the portion size and serve with a healthy accompaniment.
This Chicken Cacciatore is perfect if you’re following a calorie controlled diet, and fits well with any one of the major diet plans such as Weight Watchers.
As a guide, an average man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to maintain a healthy body weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Obviously, if your goal is to lose weight then you might want to adjust these slightly! You can read more about these recommendations on the NHS website.
Step 1
Remove the skin from the chicken.
Step 2
If you’re using an Instant Pot set to sauté and spray with a decent amount of low calorie cooking spray. If you’re using a regular slow cooker spray a frying pan with some low calorie cooking spray.
Step 3
Add the chopped onion and garlic to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, or until the onions start to soften. If you’re using a regular slow cooker sauté the onion and garlic in a frying pan. Then tip them into the slow cooker.
Step 4
Add the sliced peppers, sliced carrots, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree and red wine vinegar. Stir well.
Step 5
Dissolve the stock cube in a little hot water, then add that to the slow cooker.
Step 6
Add the thyme, parsley, basil, oregano and balsamic vinegar. Season with a good pinch of salt and pepper.
Step 7
Stir, then add the chicken portions.
Step 8
Cook for 4 hours on medium or 6-8 hours on low.
Step 9
30-60 minutes or so before the end of cooking time throw in the mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, stir.
Step 10
When the vegetables are soft and the chicken is cooked through and it falls off the bone, check the seasoning. Add some more salt and pepper if necessary.
Step 11
Serve with whatever takes your fancy. Pasta, mash, wedges or just plenty of veg!
What could I serve with this Chicken Cacciatore?
This Chicken Cacciatore works really well with just about any accompaniment that you can think of, but we think it’s perfect with any of the following:
How do you know when this Chicken Cacciatore is cooked?
You’ll need to cook this Chicken Cacciatore for 4 hours on medium or 6-8 hours on low or until the vegetables are cooked through and the chicken falls off the bone
Standard advice here in the UK is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep your family safe.
How long can you keep Chicken Cacciatore in the fridge?
Once you’ve put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours.
If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Chicken Cacciatore in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.
Can I freeze Chicken Cacciatore?
Yes you can! This recipe can be frozen, but please remember to do the following;
- Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.
- Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.
Don’t forget to add a label with what it is, and on what date you put it in the freezer!
How do I reheat Chicken Cacciatore?
From chilled: Place in a microwave proof container with loosely fitting lid and heat for 4-7 minutes until piping hot.
From frozen: Allow to defrost, and heat covered in the microwave for 3-5 minutes then stir. Cook for a further 5-7 minutes until piping hot.
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Chicken Cacciatore
This is our slimming friendly, Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore version of the famous Italian classic dish – perfect if you’re counting calories or following a plan like Weight Watchers!
-
Prep Time
15 MINS
-
Cook Time
4 HR
- KCals 419
- Carbs 15G
Instructions
- Remove the skin from the chicken.
- If you're using an Instant Pot, set to Sauté and spray with a decent amount of low calorie cooking spray. If you're using a regular slow cooker, spray a frying pan with some low calorie cooking spray.
- Add the chopped onion and garlic to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, or until the onions start to soften. If you're using a regular slow cooker, sauté the onion and garlic in a frying pan. Then tip them into the slow cooker.
- Add the sliced peppers, sliced carrots, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree and red wine vinegar. Stir well.
- Dissolve the stock cube in a little hot water, then add that to the slow cooker.
- Add the thyme, parsley, basil, oregano and balsamic vinegar. Season with a good pinch of salt and pepper.
- Stir, then add the chicken portions.
- Cook for 4 hours on medium or 6-8 hours on low.
- 30-60 minutes or so before the end of cooking time, throw in the mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, stir.
- When the vegetables are soft and the chicken is cooked through and it falls off the bone, check the seasoning. Add some more salt and pepper if necessary.
- Serve with whatever takes your fancy. Pasta, mash, wedges, or just plenty of veg!
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With ever-changing plans and point calculations, we have made the decision to remove WW Points from the website - referring to your individual plan or advice from your consultant is always going to give the most accurate results.
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18 comments
See what others have to say
Andrea toddMonday 19th April 2021
I have a pressure king pro how long would i cook it in this please
HollyWednesday 21st April 2021
Hey Andrea, we have an article HERE for converting recipes for Instant Pot. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page there is a conversion chart which should help you with some timings for your Pressure King Pro. Hope that helps!
SueSunday 28th June 2020
Could you make this in the pressure cooker
HollyThursday 17th September 2020
Hi Sue, yes you can! There are both slow cooker and Instant Pot methods in the recipe card at the end of the page. Hope that helps!
SamThursday 18th July 2019
Could you make this in the oven do you think and cook for how long if so?
Many thanks
SharonMonday 1st June 2020
Hi Sam, we haven’t tested this in an oven but it is suitable for oven cooking. You could try cooking it at about 170ºC for about one and a half to two hours. Make sure you cover the dish with a tightly fitting lid. The chicken should fall off the bone when it’s properly cooked. Enjoy making this recipe!
Gemma SimmonsTuesday 29th January 2019
Mine seems very watery…is it supposed to be? How would I thicken it
KerryThursday 3rd January 2019
I have no redwine vinegar ???? could i reace it with something else
Gemma RadfordWednesday 26th September 2018
Prob a stupid question when u say chicken stock is it just the cube of it or mixed with recommended boiling water?
Yvonne allinghamThursday 26th July 2018
Hi I made this last night OMG it’s amazing, I wasn’t sure when I added the vinegar but it’s fantastic I added a bit of granulated sweetener because of the acidity but this is on my menu my husband loved it. I usually only use chicken breast but got a bag of boned and skinned thighs to try the recipe as stated and I’ve been out and bought more. Thankyou ????
Rachel bullWednesday 7th February 2018
Hi do you need to brown off the thighs in a frying pan before adding to the slow cooker? Thanks
RachelFriday 25th August 2017
Can you use chicken breast instead? Would it be the same cooking time?
Emma TMonday 11th September 2017
Hi Rachel,
Yes that would be fine – you would probably need to cook it for less time as chicken breasts do not need as long ????
RachaelThursday 16th March 2017
How long does this take in the instant pot?
Sandra HunterThursday 9th February 2017
Your Bacon/potato/Onion Bake looks so yummy! I have to make it.
AlanaThursday 17th November 2016
Hi could you do this with chicken breast fillets? I’m not keen on the bone
SarahSunday 13th November 2016
Hi. In process of making this recipe & just read that it says to add tomato purée in step 4 but there’s no mention of it on the ingredients list? How much do I add please? Thanks.
KateMonday 14th November 2016
Hi Sarah,
Sorry, it should be 2 tbsp. It has been added to the ingredients.
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