Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

This is a great recipe that we really enjoyed for dinner. Kent did a terrific job prepping this one, and it was just about ready to go when I got home from work. We fixed up some fettuccine to go with it; when the pasta was cooked we added it to the crock pot and stirred it all together, and then topped with some parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This is a hearty, filling, and very tasty dinner. We served ours with green peas, but I think this would be terrific with a Caesar salad, or green beans, and some crusty french bread.

I love chicken from the crock pot - it is so incredibly tender and so moist from cooking in whatever sauce was used. In this dish, it is super flavorful too after soaking in the delicious seasoned tomato sauce for hours. I wouldn't change anything about this recipe, and would definitely use it again!

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore slightly adapted from the Fearless Homemaker

Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, trimmed and diced into large chunks
1 TBS dried Italian seasoning
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
2 TBS olive oil, separated
2 bell peppers (use your favorite color, or a combination), seeded and sliced into strips
1 medium or large onion, sliced into strips
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 ounce) jar pasta sauce
1 bay leaf
8-oz pasta, cooked according to package directions (I used fettuccine)
optional: parsley and Parmesan cheese, for serving

Directions

1. Toss the chicken pieces with the Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Set aside and continue prepping the rest of the ingredients.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until chicken has seared slightly on all sides. Transfer chicken to the crock pot  Add 1 more tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet over medium heat; add the peppers, onion, and garlic to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables have softened slightly. Transfer the mixture to the crock pot.
3. Add the pasta sauce and bay leaf to the crock pot; stir everything to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours, until chicken is fall-apart tender.
4. About 30 minutes before you are ready to eat, begin preparing your pasta. When ready to serve, add the cooked pasta to the crock pot mixture and stir to combine. Plate and then top with parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.