Chicken breasts, carrots, onions and zucchini slow cook in tomato sauce and Italian spices to create a hearty and delicious ragu. Serve on whole wheat pasta or brown rice.
We are still knee-deep in zucchini season which was the inspiration for this quick and easy slow cooker chicken recipe! Protein-packed and loaded with Italian herbs and spices, this simple dish is going to quickly become a family favorite.
Feel free to mix and match the ingredients based on family preferences, seasonality or what is on sale that week. We needed to use up zucchini and carrots but this would be delicious with green beans, red peppers, sweet potatoes or butternut squash. Garbanzo beans were all I had on hand but cannelini beans would also work well.
Like it spicy? Throw in extra chili flakes. As with most of my recipes, use it as a guideline, not a hard and fast rulebook you must follow to the T.
We served it on whole wheat pasta but you can keep it gluten free by serving it over rice or with roasted potatoes. Leftovers make a fantastic lunch and in fact, I think it tastes even better the next day.
Your fork is waiting.
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Vegetable Ragu
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts – boneless skinless
- 2 carrots diced
- 2 medium zucchini diced
- 1 onion diced
- 15 ounce can chickpeas
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- ½ cup red wine optional
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried fennel
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a large slow cooker and cook on Low for 8 Hours or High for 4 Hours.
- Serve over cooked pasta or brown rice.
Karen
I’m going to try this out for a dinner party this weekend! I’m wondering if the fennel is ground or whole seed? Thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
I like to grind it but whole works too!
Debbie
Hi! This looks great but am wondering if zucchini gets over cooked and if I should put in slow cooker during last hour??
What are your thoughts??
Thanks,
Debbie
Liz DellaCroce
Not really because the water from the zucchini helps create the stew. We like it as is BUT please feel free to experiment and make it your own!