This easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur is proper comfort food with very little effort. Tender chicken thighs, mushrooms, carrots and onions are slow cooked in a rich tomato and herb sauce until the chicken is melt-in-the-mouth tender and full of flavour.
This is one of my favourite comforting meals to make on a busy day. Just a little bit of prep and the slow cooker takes care of the rest. Get it into the slow cooker earlier in the day, then all you need to think about later is what to serve alongside it.
Mashed potatoes are our favourite, but this chicken chasseur slow cooker recipe is just as good with rice, a jacket potato, crusty bread or plenty of green vegetables.
It freezes well too, so it's a useful one for getting ahead.
Recipe update: This recipe was originally published on 14 October 2022 and was fully retested in October 2026 to check the cooking time and ingredient quantities. The retested version is made without wine for an easy family-friendly meal, and I've also expanded the instructions, tips, serving suggestions and FAQs.
If you are looking for some other slow cooker recipes, then why not try our 2 ingredient slow cooker balsamic chicken, restaurant quality slow cooker beef curry, comforting slow cooker bolognese or our delicious slow cooker chicken fajitas?
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Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
- What is Chicken Chasseur?
- Recipe Overview
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- Does Chicken Chasseur Need Wine?
- Variations
- How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
- How Long Does Chicken Chasseur Take in the Slow Cooker?
- Do You Have to Brown the Chicken Before Putting it in the Slow Cooker?
- How to Make a Thick Chasseur Sauce
- What to Serve with Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
- What Vegetables Go with Chicken Chasseur?
- Storage
- Dannii's Top Tips
- Troubleshooting Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Chicken Thigh Recipes
- Recipe
- Feedback
Why You'll Love This Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
- Easy family dinner - A little preparation at the beginning gives you a comforting dinner with hardly anything to do later.
- Mostly hands-off - Once everything is in the slow cooker, it can get on with cooking while you get on with everything else.
- Full of vegetables - Mushrooms, carrots and onions make this a satisfying all-in-one chicken dish.
- Easy to adapt - Use red or white wine, leave the wine out completely or add different vegetables depending on what you have.
- Freezer-friendly - Chicken chasseur is ideal for making ahead, freezing and reheating on a busy day.
- Plenty of serving options - Mash is the classic choice, but there are lots of other easy sides that work well too.
What is Chicken Chasseur?
Chicken Chasseur is a classic French chicken dish made with mushrooms, onions and herbs in a rich savoury sauce. Tomato and wine are also commonly used.
"Chasseur" means "hunter", which is why you might also see it described as French hunter's chicken or poulet chasseur.
It is worth pointing out that this is different from the British pub-style Hunter's Chicken, which usually combines chicken with barbecue sauce, bacon and melted cheese. Chicken chasseur is much more like a rich French chicken casserole.
Making Chicken Chasseur in a slow cooker gives the chicken plenty of time to become tender while all those mushroom, tomato, garlic and herb flavours come together.
Recipe Overview
- Prep: 10 minutes, plus 10 minutes for browning
- Cook: 4 hours on HIGH or 6-7 hours on LOW
- Serves: 4
- Main ingredients: Chicken thighs, mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes and thyme
- Flavour: Rich, savoury, herby and tomato-based
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Family dinners, make-ahead meals and freezing
- Alcohol-free: Yes - this retested version is made without wine
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Oil - A good quality olive oil to brown the chicken in.
- Chicken thighs - I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs because they stay juicy and tender during slow cooking and have more flavour than chicken breast.
Chicken breast can be used, but it needs less cooking time because it can dry out more easily. See my notes further down the post if you want to make Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur with chicken breast. - Salt and pepper - Generously season.
- Onion and garlic - A regular brown onion keeps this recipe simple and inexpensive. Shallots are a lovely alternative if you want a slightly sweeter flavour.
Fresh garlic gives the best flavour, although prepared crushed garlic is handy when time is tight. - Carrot - Carrots add colour, texture and a little natural sweetness to the sauce. They also make this feel much more like a complete family meal.
Cut them into fairly thick slices so they don't disappear into the sauce during cooking - Mushrooms - Button mushrooms work really well because they hold their shape, but chestnut mushrooms are also delicious and give the sauce a slightly deeper flavour. You can use a mixture of mushrooms if you have them.
If mushrooms are not popular with everyone in your house, keep them fairly chunky so they are easy to leave to one side rather than chopping them too finely. - Chicken stock - Use a good-quality chicken stock because it forms the base of the sauce. It is easy to make homemade chicken stock, but store-bought stock is perfectly fine. Stock varies a lot in saltiness, so taste the finished sauce before adding any extra salt.
💡 One important thing with slow cooker recipes is not to automatically add the same amount of liquid you would use for a casserole cooked on the hob. Very little moisture evaporates from a slow cooker, while the chicken, mushrooms and vegetables release extra liquid as they cook. - Tomatoes - Chopped tomatoes form part of the sauce and tomato purée gives it extra depth.
I find good-quality tinned tomatoes worthwhile in slow cooker recipes because watery tomatoes can make the finished sauce thinner. - Thyme - Thyme works beautifully with chicken and mushrooms. Fresh thyme can be used instead of dried if you have it.
You could also finish the dish with a little fresh parsley or tarragon.
Does Chicken Chasseur Need Wine?
Traditional Chicken Chasseur often includes wine, but it isn't essential. I retested this slow cooker version without wine because I wanted an easy family dinner I could serve to everyone, and the mushrooms, garlic, thyme, tomatoes and chicken stock still give the sauce plenty of flavour.
If you prefer a more traditional wine-based sauce, both white and red wine work. White wine gives a lighter flavour, while red wine makes the sauce deeper and richer.
If adding wine, replace some of the chicken stock with wine rather than adding extra liquid on top. Very little moisture evaporates from a slow cooker, so adding wine as well as all the stock could leave you with a thinner sauce.
For a little extra acidity without alcohol, stir a small splash of white wine vinegar through the sauce at the end. Taste first and add just a little at a time.
Variations
Chicken breast - You can make Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur with chicken breast, but breast needs a shorter cooking time than thighs. I prefer thighs for a traditional slow-cooked version because they stay juicy and are difficult to overcook.
If using chicken breast, check it earlier rather than leaving it for the full thigh cooking time.
Add bacon - Bacon works brilliantly with the mushrooms in this dish. Fry chopped bacon or lardons until lightly browned and add them to the slow cooker for a smokier, richer Chicken Chasseur.
Add more vegetables - This is a really useful recipe for using vegetables that need eating. Leeks, parsnips, sweet potato, swede and butternut squash all work well. You can also stir spinach through right at the end of cooking.
Just be careful not to fill the slow cooker with lots of very watery vegetables unless you reduce some of the other liquid.
Make it without mushrooms - Although mushrooms are a traditional part of chicken chasseur, you can leave them out if your family isn't keen. I would replace them with another vegetable rather than simply increasing the liquid.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
- Season the chicken: Season the chicken thighs well with salt and pepper.
- Brown the chicken: Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and brown the chicken on both sides. This will take about 5 minutes per side.
Browning isn't essential for cooking the chicken safely, but it does give the meat better colour and develops a deeper savoury flavour.
If it's one of those mornings where every minute counts, you can skip this step and put the chicken straight into the slow cooker.
- Add to the slow cooker: Put the browned chicken thighs into the slow cooker.
- Add the vegetables: Add the onion, carrots, mushrooms and garlic.
- Make the chasseur sauce: Mix the chicken stock, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée and thyme together.
- Pour in the sauce: Pour the sauce into the slow cooker and gently mix everything together
- Slow Cook: Cook for 4 hours on HIGH or 6-7 hours on LOW until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Check: Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 74°C/165°F.
⚠️ Try not to keep lifting the lid to check it. Every time you remove the lid you let out heat and extend the cooking time.
How Long Does Chicken Chasseur Take in the Slow Cooker?
This takes 4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low. Chicken thighs are ideal for slow cooking because they are much more forgiving than chicken breast.
For boneless chicken thighs, I find a shorter slow-cooking window gives you tender meat without the vegetables becoming too soft.
If you're cooking the dish earlier in the day, the LOW setting is particularly useful because you can get dinner started and leave it to cook gently.
Do You Have to Brown the Chicken Before Putting it in the Slow Cooker?
No. I prefer to brown the chicken when I have time because the golden colour and caramelisation add extra flavour to the finished dish.
But this is supposed to be an easy family dinner, and sometimes saving yourself an extra frying pan is more useful than squeezing out that final bit of flavour.
If you want a true low-prep version, simply season the chicken and put it straight into the slow cooker with the remaining ingredients.
How to Make a Thick Chasseur Sauce
One of the most common problems with slow cooker casseroles is a sauce that's thinner than expected.
A slow cooker doesn't allow much water to evaporate, and ingredients such as mushrooms, onions and chicken release additional moisture as they cook. This means you generally need less added liquid than you would for a casserole on the hob.
If your Chicken Chasseur sauce is still thinner than you would like, you have a few options. You can remove the chicken and simmer the sauce in a saucepan for a few minutes to reduce it.
If your slow cooker has a sauté or reduce function, you can use that instead.
For a quicker option, stir in a small cornflour slurry and allow the sauce to thicken.
A small amount of gravy granules can also work when you need a very quick fix, although they will change the flavour slightly.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
The rich Chasseur sauce definitely calls for something that can soak it up.
Potatoes
Creamy mashed potatoes are my first choice. The combination of buttery mash and that rich mushroom and tomato sauce is exactly what I want from this kind of comfort food.
You could also serve it with:
- A jacket potato
- Roasted baby potatoes
- Small roast potatoes
- Vegetable mash
- Sweet potato mash
Rice, pasta and bread
If potatoes aren't your thing, try:
- Steamed rice
- Microwave rice for a really quick dinner
- Buttered pasta or noodles
- Creamy polenta
- Crusty bread for mopping up the sauce
Rice is particularly handy when I want to keep dinner simple because it doesn't compete with the flavour of the sauce.
What Vegetables Go with Chicken Chasseur?
Because there are already carrots and mushrooms in the chasseur, I usually add something green on the side. Green beans, broccoli, tenderstem broccoli, sautéed cabbage and spring greens all work really well.
On a busy evening, frozen peas are often all I add - there is already plenty going on in the casserole.
If I want to make the meal feel a little more substantial, then broccoli or buttery cabbage are great for soaking up some of that rich tomato sauce too.
Storage
Store: Once the casserole has completely cooled, you can put it in an airtight container and it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze: This freezes really well, which is why we make a big batch of this to keep in the freezer. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Defrost: You can leave this to defrost in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: You can put it in the microwave for 2 minutes, or heat through on the hob (stovetop).
Dannii's Top Tips
- Don't add too much liquid. Slow cookers retain moisture and the ingredients release more liquid as they cook.
- Keep the vegetables fairly chunky. They hold their shape much better during several hours of cooking.
- Brown the chicken when you have time, but don't let that stop you making the recipe. The browned version has a little more depth, but the no-browning version is still a really useful family dinner.
- Use chicken thighs for the most forgiving result. They stay juicy during slow cooking and cope better with a slightly delayed dinner time.
- Taste before serving. Slow cooker dishes can sometimes need an extra pinch of seasoning or something acidic at the end to bring all the flavours back to life.
- Make the side easy. The whole point of putting dinner in the slow cooker earlier is not to give yourself another hour of cooking at 5pm. Mash, microwave rice, a jacket potato or crusty bread all work brilliantly.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sauce is too thin | The chicken, mushrooms and vegetables have released more liquid than expected. | Remove the chicken and reduce the sauce for a few minutes, or stir in a small cornflour slurry and cook until thickened. |
| Sauce is too thick | Too much thickener has been added or the sauce has thickened while standing. | Stir in a splash of hot chicken stock until it reaches the consistency you want. |
| Chicken is dry | It has been cooked too long, or chicken breast was used for the full thigh cooking time. | Use chicken thighs for the most forgiving result. If using breast, check it earlier. |
| Chicken is still tough | It may simply need longer to become tender. Slow cookers vary in temperature. | Replace the lid and cook for another 30 minutes, then check again. |
| Vegetables are too soft | They were cut too small or cooked for too long. | Keep carrots fairly chunky and quarter the mushrooms rather than finely chopping them. |
| The sauce tastes flat | Slow cooking can soften some flavours and it may need final seasoning or acidity. | Taste before serving and add a little salt, pepper or a small splash of white wine vinegar as needed. |
| The dish is too salty | The stock was quite salty as well as the added seasoning. | Add a little unsalted stock or extra chopped tomatoes to dilute it. Next time use a lower-salt stock and season at the end. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Chicken Chasseur is particularly well suited to slow cooking because chicken thighs stay tender while the mushroom, tomato, garlic and herb sauce develops plenty of flavour.
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are my first choice. They have plenty of flavour and don't dry out as easily as chicken breast.
Bone-in thighs can also be used but may need a slightly different cooking time.
Yes, but reduce the cooking time and check it earlier. Chicken breast is leaner than thigh and can become dry if it stays in the slow cooker for too long.
Yes. This recipe is already alcohol-free, as I use chicken stock rather than wine. It still has plenty of flavour from the mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic and thyme. If you want a little extra acidity, stir a small splash of white wine vinegar through the sauce just before serving.
The sauce should be rich enough to coat the chicken rather than being watery like soup.
If yours is too thin, reduce it at the end of cooking or thicken it with a little cornflour.
Mashed potatoes are the classic choice, but jacket potatoes, roast potatoes, rice, pasta, polenta and crusty bread all work well. Add a green vegetable such as broccoli, green beans, peas, cabbage or spring greens for an easy family meal.
Yes. Cool it completely and freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost it overnight in the fridge before reheating thoroughly.
More Chicken Thigh Recipes
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Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 kg (2 ¼ lb) of Chicken thighs - skinless and boneless
- ½ teaspoon of Fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon of Ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons of Olive oil
- 1 Onion - small; finely chopped
- 150 g (5 ⅓ oz) of Carrot - peeled and diced
- 200 g (7 oz) of Button mushrooms - quartered
- 3 Garlic cloves - crushed
- 400 ml (1 ⅔ cups) of Chicken stock
- 200 g (1 ⅓ cups) of Chopped tomatoes - tinned
- 2 tablespoon of Tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon of Dried thyme
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Season 1 kg of Chicken thighs well with ½ teaspoon of Fine sea salt and 1 teaspoon of Ground black pepper.
- Brown the chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of Olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and brown the chicken on both sides. This will take about 5 minutes per side.
- Add to the slow cooker: Put the browned chicken thighs into the slow cooker.
- Add the vegetables: Add 1 Onion (diced), 150 g of Carrot (peeled and diced), 200 g of Button mushrooms (quartered) and 3 Garlic cloves (crushed).
- Make the chasseur sauce: Mix 400 ml of Chicken stock, 200 g of Chopped tomatoes, 2 tbsp of Tomato puree and 1 teaspoon of Dried thyme together.
- Pour in the sauce: Pour the sauce into the slow cooker and gently mix everything together
- Slow Cook: Cook for 4 hours on HIGH or 6-7 hours on LOW, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
Recipe Notes
- Don't add too much liquid. Slow cookers retain moisture and the ingredients release more liquid as they cook.
- Keep the vegetables fairly chunky. They hold their shape much better during several hours of cooking.
- Brown the chicken when you have time, but don't let that stop you making the recipe. The browned version has a little more depth, but the no-browning version is still a really useful family dinner.
- Use chicken thighs for the most forgiving result. They stay juicy during slow cooking and cope better with a slightly delayed dinner time.
- Taste before serving. Slow cooker dishes can sometimes need an extra pinch of seasoning or something acidic at the end to bring all the flavours back to life.
- Make the side easy. The whole point of putting dinner in the slow cooker earlier is not to give yourself another hour of cooking at 5pm. Mash, microwave rice, a jacket potato or crusty bread all work brilliantly.
Nutritional Information
Where nutritional information is provided, it is approximate and calculated using online tools. Values can vary depending on the ingredients and brands used, but we endeavour to be as accurate as possible.
All timings are a guide and may vary depending on the ingredients, equipment and, where relevant, the appliance used. Changing the serving size may also affect the time needed.
Tayler says
I made this chicken for dinner last night and it was amazing! definitely adding to our regular rotation.
Holley says
I wish I had this recipe growing up! Super delicious and comforting!
Kim says
Delicious! This is a perfect slow cooker dinner for our cold weather rotation, and I love how rich and comforting it is! Wonderful flavors!
Chris says
Hi, could you use chicken breasts instead of thighs ( hubby can't stand thighs ) and if so does the cooking time change? Thanks
Dannii says
Yes, you could but they won't be as juicy. It won't change the cooking time.
Mark says
Hi, I am wondering if I could use skinless chicken thighs. Have this recipe set up for tomorrow. Thanking you
M Forde
Bob says
Recipe is for skinless chicken thighs.
Gen says
I absolutely love the flavors in this recipe! Thank you. I’ll be making this again and again.
Mirlene says
Talk about comfort food! This slowcooker dish had exceptional flavors and ideal for a great family dinner. Was so delicious!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
Another great slow cooker recipe that is pure comfort. This is a real family friendly recipe.
Lesley Robinson says
Can you use a white wine stock pot instead of the wine. If so do I need to adjust the amount of liquid.
Dannii says
Yes, you can replace wine with stock and use the same amount.
Mark says
Woops. I read back through post. Apologies. I see you used skinless.
OK, I'll be on tomorrow
Shashi says
This is comfort food heaven - so much flavor! Perfect with some crusty bread!
Aimee Mars says
I didn't have this in my childhood, but I think I'm going to make a thing of my kid's childhood because it looks delicious! I'm all for a good slow cooker recipe.
Chenée says
This is the perfect comfort food recipe! and so easy to make in the slow cooker!
Katherine says
This is wonderful hearty comfort food. Such great flavors!
Gail says
This is such a cozy and comforting recipe! I can literally make this in my slow cooker and have it ready later on without thinking about it again!
Kathleen says
Big fan of slow cooker recipes. This chicken chasseur looks marvelous and I love that it's freezer friendly.
Beth says
Such a great recipe for the slow cooker. The chicken is so meltingly tender!
Tara says
Oh yum! Such a comforting recipe. The flavors sound fantastic and I love the minimal prep with the use of the slow cooker.
Dana says
This reminded me so much of chicken cacciatore! So good and cozy. Perfect for this tie of year.
gunjan says
Came out so flavorful, tender and juicy. It was a perfect dinner andmy family loved it.
Saif says
This chicken Chasseur looks absolutely delicious. The wine helps enhance the flavor of the chicken.