Slow Cooker Chicken Vesuvio

Moist and meaty chicken thighs, along with red potatoes are cooked low and slow in a white wine caper sauce for this Italian classic of Slow Cooker Chicken Vesuvio.

If you're looking for a robust chicken dinner that's packed full of delicious flavor and is also easy to prepare, then you need to add this chicken Vesuvio made in a slow cooker recipe to your meal calendar ASAP!

**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making Chicken Vesuvio in a slow cooker is available at the end of this post. OR you can hit the "jump to recipe" button (found above) to be taken directly to the recipe. 

This recipe was originally shared in 2016. This post has been updated with additional information, including a recipe card complete with nutritional information, but the recipe itself has remained unchanged.

The ingredient list:

**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned

• olive oil
• chicken thighs
• shallots
• white wine (I used a dry white)
• red potatoes
• chicken broth
• capers
• dry thyme (ground or leaves)
• butter
• lemon juice
• salt and pepper (CAUTION: Go easy on the salt as the capers contain a good deal of briny flavor)

Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

• large skillet
• spatula
• large slow cooker (8 quarts)
• tongs
• chef's knife
• measuring spoons
• cutting board
• large spoon
• large slotted spoon
• citrus juicer (optional)

How this recipe came to be:

Sometimes when I have an idea for a recipe and I need to make it without delay! That was the case for this Slow Cooker Chicken Vesuvio.

So much so that I asked my husband to please go to the market and pick up some chicken thighs, because I didn't have the patience to wait for the ones I had in the freezer to thaw. Thanks, honey!

Because I forgot to specify for him to buy boneless, skinless chicken thighs (the kind I normally use), my hubby picked up bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.

Since I had no room to complain (he was nice enough to go to the store for me), and since I really wanted to give my idea for Slow Cooker Chicken Vesuvio a try right away, the bone-in, skin-on chicken is what I used, and how I wrote the recipe.

If however, you prefer boneless, skinless chicken thighs, go right ahead and use them. You won't need to alter the recipe one bit. Please continue with the same instructions written in the recipe.

Why this recipe works:

This Italian favorite of Chicken Vesuvio is a dish that works very well for the slow cooker.

If you can spare 15 minutes in the morning to prepare the chicken and then nestle everything in the cooker, by the time you get home in the evening, you'll swear you're eating dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant. But it's one where you can visit while wearing your pj's if you're so inclined. LOL

The skin on, or the skin off? That is the question...

Traditionally, chicken Vesuvio is made with bone-in, skin-on chicken, so my husband was correct in his purchase. Since I'm not a big chicken skin eater (unless it's fried and crispy), I remove it before eating.

In this recipe, the skin will help to add extra flavor to the sauce and potatoes, and the bones will add extra flavor to the meat itself.

Whether you're using skin-on or skinless chicken, the step you don't want to neglect is the browning of the chicken before adding it to the cooker.

That's the step that will add great depth and amazing flavor, and the one that will make your Slow Cooker Chicken Vesuvio a standout!

How to make slow cooker chicken Vesuvio:

• In a large skillet over medium/high heat, brown the chicken thighs in olive oil on both sides, working in two batches.
• Cut three pounds of red potatoes into 2" chunks and layer the browned chicken and potatoes into a large (8 quart) slow-cooker.

• Season the layers of potatoes with salt and pepper to taste, and top the final layer of potatoes with 1 jar (3.5 ounces) of capers.
• Going back to the skillet, and on low heat and add ¾ cup of white wine.
• Add 2 cups of chicken broth to the skillet, making sure to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Stir in dried thyme and butter.

• Pour the pan sauce over the potatoes and chicken in the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
• Right before serving, add fresh lemon juice and stir.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken and potatoes from the cooker. 
• Serve and enjoy.

Additional slow cooker main courses:

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches: (shown below)

When you need to feed a crowd during the holidays with something that’s delicious, and completely stress-free, these Slow-Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches are just what the doctor ordered.

Slow Cooker Beef with Peppers, Onions, and Dill (shown below)

This super flavorful Slow Cooker meal is soon to become a family favorite for all the beef lovers...and who can blame them?

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos (shown below)

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos with Rice and Beans is an easy and flavorful “dump” recipe that will please the entire family. It’s so simple, so flavorful, and takes only minutes to prepare.

Slow Cooker Chicken Vesuvio (shown below) THIS IS THE PLACE!!

Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today's easy Italian chicken dinner in the slow cooker.

⭐If you've made this recipe, or are excited to make this recipe, I'd appreciate it if you'd take a moment to leave it a star rating on the recipe card, along with a comment if you're so inclined. Thank you. 🙂

I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's chicken main course for the slow cooker as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!