Throughout this journey I will get to share with you some of my favorite clean eating sites and recipes. Maybe I'll even drum up the courage to take my own healthy spin on some of my favorite foods. So what recipe will I start with? Chicken Cacciatore!
I can remember my mom making this for us on a Sunday afternoon after church. I would love the smell that would permeate the house. When I saw the recipe for this on my favorite clean eating site, Skinnytaste, I was so excited! The chicken is not fried to make it better for you and it cooks in the slow cooker. It's delicious and you can put it together in no time at all. I switched out the pasta with some garlic quinoa so it wasn't so heavy and it turned out amazing!
Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients:
- 8 chicken thighs, with the bone, skin removed
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (Tuttorosso my favorite!)
- 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
- 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
- 1/2 large onion, sliced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- salt and fresh pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh herbs such as basil or parsley for topping
Directions:
Quick method: Season chicken with salt and black pepper and place in the slow cooker. Pour tomatoes over the chicken, top with onions and peppers, add oregano, bay leaf, salt and pepper, give it a quick stir and cover. Set crock pot to LOW 8 hours or HIGH 4 hours. When the timer beeps, remove lid and keep the crock pot on HIGH one hour to help it thicken.
Better method but requires more prep: Heat a large skillet over medium-high, lightly spray with oil (I use my Misto) and brown chicken on both sides a few minutes, season with salt and pepper. Add to the slow cooker. To the skillet, spray with a little more oil and add onions and peppers. Sauté until juices release and the vegetables become golden, a few minutes.
Add to the slow cooker. Pour tomatoes over the chicken and vegetables, add oregano, bay leaf, salt and pepper, give it a quick stir and cover. Set crock pot to LOW 8 hours or HIGH 4 hours.
Remove bay leaf, adjust salt and pepper.
I give this recipe 5 stars and am sure this won't disappoint so enjoy!