Crock Pot Paleo Chicken Cacciatore

Crock Pot Paleo Chicken Cacciatore over Spaghetti Squash

Who doesn't love coming home after a hectic day to a delicious meal that has been simmering all day?  I haven't met a single person who would answer that question with a 'not me'. This is exactly why I love my crock pot. Crock Pot cooking has to be one of the best things ever invented for the kitchen. I know that there are times cooking after a long day just seems too exhausting and that little voice inside my head says fast food would be easier.  Those are the moments I am so glad that I have a crock pot at home waiting for me with a delicious healthy meal inside.  

You can prep the ingredients the night before, throw it in the crock pot in the morning, press on as you walk out the door, and viola dinner when you get home. What could be better? The options of combinations for meals are really endless, and one of my favorite meals to make in the crock pot is Paleo Chicken Cacciatore.  It is really a simple dish that is delicious and low carb when it is done. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Ingredients

1 pound skinless, boneless, cage free organic chicken thighs

1 large green pepper chopped

1 15 oz can organic tomato sauce

1 8 oz can organic tomato paste (no salt added)

1/2 chopped large onion

1 clove minced garlic

1 capful organic apple cider vinegar

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup packed cup of fresh basil leaves

Sprinkle of stevia

Mix all the ingredients (minus the chicken) into the crock pot together.  Fill the empty 8 oz can of tomato paste with water and add to your sauce.  Mix all the ingredients together so the tomato paste blends with the rest of the sauce.  Then add your chicken thighs and make sure the sauce covers them so you get a good flavor when it is done. 

Cover and set the cooking time for however long you will need. My crock pot setting is high, medium, or low heat with each setting having its own additional time.  So I cooked mine on medium which took 6 hours.  

When the crock pot is done cooking go ahead and remove the lid and stir the ingredients together. Feel free to add crushed red pepper to add a little heat.

I served my Chicken Cacciatore over spaghetti squash noodles to keep the meal low carb and paleo. Spaghetti squash is a beautiful thing, because it tastes great and only has 31 calories per cup while whole wheat pasta has on average 174 per cup.  It is also a great alternative to a grain for those who need the meal to be gluten free.  

Spaghetti squash is simple to cook, it takes about 30 minutes to bake in the oven.  You can cut the squash in half, clean out the seeds, rub olive oil all over the squash, sprinkle with salt, and place upside down on a cookie sheet.  Cover with foil and back for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.  When it is done remove from the oven and uncover.  Let cool till you can handle the squash.  Then scrape with a fork long ways. The squash will scrape out resembling a noodle!

Now serve and enjoy!