…with Marsala & Brandy
Slow Cooker Hunter’s Chicken. Slow cooked chicken in a rich sauce flavored with wine, brandy and fresh herbs. If you’re looking for comfort food, you’ve found it in this cozy, saucy dish. Made in the slow cooker so your hands are free to whip up some creamy mashed potatoes to eat it with. Heaven.
I’m so into Fall days and sweater weather right now so I can’t resist breaking out the slow cooker and jumping head first into comfort food season. I love a good chicken stew, but this one is extra special. The hearty mushrooms and savoury herbs pair so well with the wine and brandy to make the most delicious saucy chicken.
It’s also super easy to make and incredibly tasty. Plus it’s full of Marsala Wine & Brandy (no wonder I love it). Make it, pour some wine, and let’s toast the changing leaves and the start of Fall.
Is it easy to make this Slow Cooker Hunter’s Chicken?
OMG yes!
You’re going to start with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You can use breasts too, but I think thighs are tastier and also more forgiving in the slow cooker.
Toss the chicken with a little flour and brown it. Then you’ll soften the onions and garlic in the same pan and deglaze with the wine and brandy, letting it cook down until it gets syrupy.
You’ll dump all of this into the slow cooker along with tomatoes, mushrooms, broth and herbs and let it cook low and slow for a few hours.
I like to serve my Hunter’s Chicken with buttery, creamy mashed potatoes, but you can choose whatever side you like. A big bowl of this stew would even be good with a big hunk of warm, crusty buttered bread.
Anything Special You Need to Know?
Several, it seems…
If you know Hunter’s Chicken as chicken breasts wrapped in bacon and smothered in bbq sauce and topped with melted cheese (YUM!) you’re probably used to British Hunter’s Chicken, which obviously I need to try!
If you know Hunter’s Chicken as saucy slow cooked chicken with bell peppers and oregano, you’re talking about Italian Hunter’s Chicken or Chicken Cacciatore. So delicious.
If you’re Hunter’s Chicken has wine, brandy and tarragon in it you’re talking about French Hunter’s Chicken, or Chicken Chasseur, and that my friends, is what we’re making today. A rich, flavourful, boozy chicken stew that you are going to find irresistible.
Chasseur means Hunter in French and the name is in reference to the origins of the sauce that was developed to use on wild game.
Pretty much anything works, but white wine is traditional along with a little brandy or cognac. I used Marsala Wine because it’s rich and tasty and I thought it would work well (it does).
Recipe-ish…
Let me know what you think!
Slow Cooker Hunter’s Chicken with Marsala & Brandy
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into quarters
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1/2 white onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 cup Marsala wine or white wine
- 2 Tbsp Brandy
- 1/2 lb mushrooms I used Cremini
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tomato diced
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 2 tsp fresh tarragon chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Toss the chicken pieces with the flour.
- Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet. When hot, add in the chicken pieces (in batches, if necessary, to not crowd the pan) and cook until golden brown. Place in slow cooker.
- Add more oil to the skillet if necessary, and add in the onion. Cook until slightly softened.
- Add in the garlic. Cook 1-2 minutes.
- Add in the wine and brandy and deglaze the pan. Cook until much of the liquid has evaporated and the mixture looks syrupy.
- Pour onion and wine mixture into the slow cooker.
- Add in the tomato paste, tomato, chicken broth, mushrooms, herbs and a large pinch each S&P.
- Cook on low for 4 hours.
- Mix the cornstarch with 3 Tbsp water until smooth. Stir into the slow cooker mixture and turn heat up to high. Cook 20 minutes, until thickened.
- Taste. Add more S&P, if desired.
Video
If you like this Slow Cooker Hunter’s Chicken Recipe please go try my Creamy Skillet Chicken with White Wine Dijon & Olives Recipe. It’s also easy, hearty and really delicious.
