Description
A rustic Italian chicken dish slow-cooked in a rich tomato sauce with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, and aromatic herbs. Tender chicken and flavorful vegetables make this an easy and satisfying dinner perfect for a comforting main course.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 kg boneless or bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
Vegetables and Sauce
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 250 g mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 800 g crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, optional
Garnish
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken: In a bowl, coat the chicken thighs evenly with salt, black pepper, paprika, dried oregano, and dried basil to infuse the meat with aromatic flavors.
- Sear the chicken (optional): Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken thighs for 2–3 minutes on each side until golden brown. This step enhances flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
- Prepare the slow cooker base: Place sliced onion, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and minced garlic into the slow cooker, evenly spreading them as the vegetable base.
- Add the chicken: Arrange the seasoned (and seared if applicable) chicken thighs over the vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Add liquids and olives: Pour crushed tomatoes and chicken broth over the chicken and vegetables. If using, add Kalamata olives evenly across the dish.
- Cook: Cover and cook on LOW heat for 6–7 hours or on HIGH heat for 3–4 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Final stir and garnish: Gently stir the sauce before serving to combine flavors, then sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley for a bright finish.
Notes
- Bone-in chicken thighs provide more flavor and keep the meat especially tender during slow cooking.
- Serve this dish over pasta, creamy polenta, rice, or alongside crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
- To thicken the sauce, leave the slow cooker lid slightly ajar during the last 20–30 minutes of cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Course, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
