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I am excited to share a recipe for Hunter’s Chicken Stew, a lighter slow cooker version of Italian-American chicken cacciatore, adapted from Lisa Cain’s cookbook Snack Girl to the Rescue: A Real-Life Guide to Losing Weight and Getting Healthy with 100 Recipes Under 400 Calories (affiliate link).
This dish is hearty, healthy, and family-friendly—the kind of recipe you can toss into the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a delicious dinner.
I have been a fan of Lisa’s Snack Girl website for years. Her cookbook is filled with approachable, realistic recipes designed to be simple, healthy, and under 400 calories. I especially love her Five Pantry Meals and the creative DIY snacks.
When I tested her Chicken Cacciatore Stew, I made a few small tweaks—extra garlic and oregano, swapped in a yellow bell pepper, and finished with red wine vinegar and parsley. The result was so flavorful that both Rod and my mom gave it two thumbs up!
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Cacciatore Stew
- Healthy and WW friendly – generous servings with low calories and WW Points.
- Simple prep – everything goes right into the slow cooker.
- Family approved – hearty, flavorful, and comforting.
- Flexible serving options – pair with rice, pasta, zoodles, or bread.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs – juicy and flavorful, perfect for slow cooking.
- Fresh mushrooms, sliced – add earthy flavor and bulk.
- Bell pepper, sliced – yellow adds sweetness, but any color works.
- Onion, sliced – creates a savory base.
- Carrots, cut into chunks – hearty and colorful, or use baby carrots.
- Garlic cloves, minced – bold and aromatic.
- Crushed tomatoes – rich, saucy base for the stew.
- Dried oregano – classic Italian seasoning.
- Salt and black pepper – added at the end to balance flavors.
- Red wine vinegar (optional) – brightens and balances.
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional) – adds freshness and color.
Calories and WW Points
According to my calculations each generous 2-cup serving has 333 calories.
- Calories: 333 calories (generous 2-cups)
- Points: To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) - Old WW Points: 8 PointsPlus
Recipe Notes and Variations
- I increased the garlic (4 cloves instead of 2) and oregano (1 tablespoon instead of 1 teaspoon).
- To balance flavors, add 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar before serving.
- Cooking tip: slow cooker recipes often need more seasoning — taste and adjust as needed.
- Vegetable boost – add zucchini, celery, or extra bell peppers.
- Protein swap – use boneless chicken breasts instead of thighs.
- Low carb – serve over zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice.
- Classic style – serve over rice, pasta, or with crusty bread.
Serving Suggestions
We enjoyed this stew with warm crusty bread, but it’s also perfect ladled over:
- Steamed white or brown rice
- Egg noodles or spaghetti
- Mashed cauliflower or potatoes for a cozy twist
If you’ve made this Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore Stew, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Hunter Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 package (8 ounces) sliced fresh mushrooms
- 1 bell pepper sliced (I used a yellow one)
- 1 cup sliced onion (about 1 medium)
- 3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks (I used 12 baby carrots sliced 1/2-inch thick instead)
- 2 garlic cloves peeled and minced (I used 4 cloves)
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (I used 1 tablespoon)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (optional)
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Ideal slow cooker size: 6-quart
- Place the chicken, mushrooms, bell pepper, onion, carrots, garlic, tomatoes and oregano in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW setting for 6 to 8 hours, or until the chicken and vegetables are tender.
- Just before serving, taste and add salt and pepper to taste. (I also stirred in red wine vinegar and fresh chopped parsley at the end.)
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) Serving size: 2 cups 8 PointsPlus (Old plan) I find that slow cooker recipes require considerable more seasoning to satisfy our taste buds. To brighten up the dish, I stirred in 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar and some fresh chopped parsley just before serving. You could serve this healthy Chicken Cacciatore Stew over rice, pasta, zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice to keep it low carb. I opted to go with warm crusty bread on the side. Printed with permission from Snack Girl to the Rescue by Lisa Cain.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Source: Snack Girl to the Rescue: A Real-Life Guide to Losing Weight and Getting Healthy with 100 Recipes Under 400 Calories (affiliate link) by Lisa Cain
More WW-Friendly Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love
- My Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore, a more classic version of this Italian favorite made extra easy in the crock pot.
- For something a little different, my Crock Pot Artichoke Chicken is light, tangy, and perfect for a weeknight.
- And if you are craving a hearty stew with a protein boost, my Italian Beef and Lentil Slow Cooker Stew will keep you warm and satisfied.
- My Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken Soup — full of bold Tex-Mex flavors and WW-friendly ingredients, it’s another favorite for cozy nights.
- Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken Soup
Bring More Easy WW Recipes to Your Table
If you enjoyed this comforting slow cooker chicken stew, you’ll find even more simple, WW-friendly favorites in my eCookbook bundle. Each cookbook is packed with tried-and-true recipes that make healthy living easier and more delicious.
