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.
Sometimes when I have an idea for a recipe or method 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 time to wait for the ones I had in the freezer to thaw. Thanks, honey!
Since I forgot to specify 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 don’t need to alter the recipe one bit. Please continue with the same instructions written in the recipe.
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 without a doubt will add great depth and amazing flavor, and the one that will make your Slow Cooker Chicken Vesuvio a standout!
Here’s how to make it:
In a large skillet over medium/high heat, brown the chicken thighs on both sides, working in two batches. Cut three pounds of red potatoes into 2″ chunks and layer the browned chicken and potatoes in 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. Reduce the heat in the skillet to low and add 3/4 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 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.
- 8 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 pounds red potatoes cut into 2" chunks
- 1 jar 3.5 ounces capers, undrained
- 3 large shallots peeled and minced
- 3/4 cup white wine
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 8 quart slow cooker
- Large skillet
- Tongs
- Wooden spoon
- Slotted spoon
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Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper to taste.
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In a large skillet over medium/high heat, brown the chicken thighs on both sides, four at a time.
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Place four chicken thighs in the bottom of a slow cooker.
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Top the thighs with half of the cut up potatoes. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper.
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Top the potatoes with the remaining browned chicken thighs and the remaining potatoes that have been seasoned with salt and pepper.
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Pour the capers over the potatoes in the cooker and top evenly with the shallots.
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Add the wine to the skillet and over medium/low heat, stir in the chicken broth making sure to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
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Stir in the thyme and butter until melted.
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Pour the pan sauce over the chicken and potatoes in the slow cooker.
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Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
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Right before serving add the fresh lemon juice and stir.
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Remove the chicken and potatoes with a slotted spoon and serve.
Boneless skinless chicken thighs may be used in place of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.
Do not omit the browning of the chicken. This is necessary for flavor, and in making the pan sauce.
Looking for additional delicious slow cooker ideas? Click on the recipe titles for other tasty recipes I’ve shared over the years:
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches:
Slow Cooker Beef with Peppers, Onions and Dill:
Slow Cooker Gingered Pork with Orange Sauce:
Slow Cooker Whole Grain Lasagna:
This Italian favorite of Chicken Vesuvio is a dish that worked 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
While you’re savoring your Slow Cooker Chicken Vesuvio, why not use a little something black and white to hold your red… wine of course.
If there is ever anything I can paint for you, from glassware to fabrics, please don’t hesitate to send me an email: info@kudoskitchenbyrenee.com , or visit my shop on Etsy, Wazala, or my new location Kudos Kitchen Paints. Custom orders are always welcome, and I will happily paint and design from any photo, description, or request you send my way.
Kudos Kitchen by Renée ~ Where food, art, and fun collide each and every day!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Love all your slow cooker recipes, Renee. Thank you and have a Wonderful Week.
Thank you, Liz! You do the same, and I hope you’ll try this recipe.
I love the slow cooker and that white wine caper sauce sounds so good!
This looks so wonderfully flavorful! And I love slow cooker meals!
I love a good reason to break out my slow cooker, especially in the summer because we don’t have AC. And those glasses are gorgeous!
This is my kind of meal…chicken, capers and wine! And better yet – made in the slow cooker so it’s super easy!
I love everything about this. Planning to make it for my mom the next time she visits
I made this for my mom and she absolutely loved it!
Such a warm, comforting dish. And, love that you did it in the slow cooker! Gotta love a man who’ll run to the grocery store at a moment’s notice 🙂
Great looking dish…those potatoes look sooo good
This sounds like such a perfectly comforting dinner. I have some boneless skinless thighs in the fridge, so this is going on the menu in the next couple of days. So excited to add a jar of capers…mmm…
Chicken Vesuvio has a very special place in my heart. I love that you’ve found a way to make it in the slow cooker and still look delicious.
I love cooking chicken in the slow cooker! It comes out so tender and delicious!
What a fantastic recipe Renee! Pinned!
You can never have enough slow cooker recipes. I love this one it looks so easy.
I love everything capers. I can believe I was not aware of kitchen Vesuvio… need to make it soon!
WOW! That looks incredible! I especially love the fact that it’s made in the slow cooker. Huge bonus!! 😀
Chicken thighs are my favorite cut! They are so flavorful. I am loving this dish, especially the capers. This would be a family favorite for sure!
Renee, I am drooling all over my laptop as I look at your images! Just – wow! What an amazing dish! The fact that I haven’t had chicken in, um, years? Doesn’t help! I’ll be sharing this with all my meat eating friends as I know they would absolutely love it!
Thank goodness for husbands who go to the store for us! My hubs is the same and it’s a lifesaver! This chicken looks so good and I love all the flavors you packed into this slow cooker dish.
Normally when I cook chicken I always go for boneless, skinless chicken BUT when I cook thighs I always want the thigh bone and skin. This is perfect for us!
I made this the other night and it was great! Super easy. I was planning to reduce down the liquid after cooking to make a sort of gravy, but ran out of time. Next time. 🙂
That’s a great idea, Stephanie. I’m going to do that next time too. Glad you liked it!