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!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog
This looks like something I’d totally enjoy! YUM! Pinning to make for dinner next week :)
Liz DellaCroce
You would love this Phi!!
Victoria
I am rating your site, rather than the recipe itself. It is so good to find a website with delicious and easy slow cooker recipes! My physiotherapist recommended me buying a slow cooker recently, to make my life easier. (Three constantly hungry males in my house.) I have just started using it and I love that you have yummy meat AND veggie options. I just double all the ingredients for my household and it’s done. Thank you!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad you found me Victoria!!! My boys are starting to out-eat us at the dinner table and I know that the slow cooker is going to be a saving grace for us as they get bigger. Thank you so much for writing!! Keep me posted if you make anything else!
Victoria
Well, the veggie curry was a success, but this chicken dish less so – the flavours were delicious, but the chicken was over-cooked. :-( It may be my slow cooker, so next time I will only do 3 hours on high.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh no!! Seriously? Darnit. We have made this over 20 times and it’s always really juicy. I’m so sorry it didn’t turn out. Did you make any other changes to the recipe? Would love to help you make it a success!
Melissa
Hi! Do you cut up or cook the chicken prior to putting it in w/the rest of your ingredients?
Thanks! LOVE your recipes!
Liz DellaCroce
No I don’t cut it!! It’s so easy!! It usually just shreds right up. :) Thank you so much!! Enjoy!
Margie
Liz, this was DELICIOUS ! I’m loving your recipes. My daughter hurries home after work to make dinner for her family and so, since I’m retired, I have started cooking for her and she can’t get over the meals I’m making in my new slow cooker. Thanks to you, she thinks I’m a genius !!
Liz DellaCroce
You are such a great mother!! Thank you so much for the thoughtful and sweet comment!!
Margie
Question…….. I’m going to make you Italian Chicken and Vegetable Ragu which calls for a 15 ounce can of chickpeas. Do I drain the chickpeas before adding ??
I make a lot of your recipes and my family loves them all.
Thanks
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Margie – Yes you drain them first and ideally rinse them too to get rid of the starchy/salty liquid. Thank you so much for your sweet words! Let me know if you try anything else!
Elizabeth
Delicious! The whole family enjoyed it, definitely a keeper!!
Russell from Chasing Delicious
Yum and yum! I love dishes like this!
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm
Hooray for more slow cooker recipes! This is a great one for the end of summer with all them extra veggies! YUM! Pinning under Easy Weeknight Meals!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
The other day I was just telling myself that I really need to use my slow cooker more. I think I’ve made about 2 recipes in it during the year and a half that I’ve had a man to feed. This looks like the perfect way to kick start that! Pinned!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
This looks so hearty and comforting! And an extra bonus you can make it in the slow cooker!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
Love the versatility of this recipe – always looking for ways to make my life easier!
Amy @ MomAdvice
Oh, this looks just heavenly!! I’m going to have to make this for my lunches!!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
so, I take it you got a new slow cooker? :) love slow cooker recipes for fall. . yum and pinned!
Liz DellaCroce
NO!! This recipe was done before mine died!!! hahaha – hoping it comes soon!
Julia
Love a good slow cooker recipe! This looks so flavorful. Pinning!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you friend – so good for busy days!
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
This looks so comforting. Way to use up the end-of-summer zucchini!
Michelle @ Healthy Recipe Ecstasy
I love all the veggies in this ragu! I am so pulling out my slow cooker!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext
This looks divine! Love slow-cooker meats, definitely one of my comfort foods! Bookmarking this recipe, cannot wait to try it out! :)
Lauren @ Hall Nesting
Love the slow cooker now with the baby! And it just so happens that I have most of these ingredients from the farmers mkt this weekend. Yum!
Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files
Oh I have all these ingredients on hand. That never happens! YUM!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
I seriously LOVE slow cooker meals. They make life so much easier! :)