Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken with tender chicken thighs, olives, sweet red peppers, and onion couldn't be more delicious and is healthy too.
264 CAL 8g CARBS 11g FAT 30g PROTEIN
48 Comments
Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Recipe
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Crockpot Mediterranean Chicken cooks low and slow in the crockpot to create an amazing dish packed with moist chicken thighs, olives, red peppers, onion, Italian spices, capers, and plenty of flavor. Serve it with some Mashed Cauliflower or Spinach Polenta for a restaurant worthy meal.
I forget how much I love olives sometimes. I think it all started with my Mom who loved eating toast with cream cheese and those little mini green pimento olives. We would steal bites as kids and I remember thinking it was equally delicious and disgusting. I couldn't really decide if it was something I liked.
Fast forward and now I will happily eat just about any type of olive. I love the salty brine and bite of a really good olive as much as I love the aforementioned jarred green olives with cream cheese. Go figure.
So lately when I was looking for recipe inspiration, I saw a jar of my favorite Castelvetrano olives and knew they had to be a part of dinner. Naturally, I began to think ofMediterranean dishes and flavors since they are a natural fit for olives - red peppers, lemon, capers, onion, thyme, rosemary, you get the idea.
From there it was easy to build a simple, yet insanely tasty, slow cooker recipe with all these flavors. The slow cooker is the perfect vehicle since it allows everything to cook together and develop an intense, complex flavor and it means you can throw everything in and walk away. Love that.
Recipes Ideas for Crockpot Mediterranean Chicken
- Make it spicy: For a spicy twist, add red pepper flakes. You could also add some harissa or Calabrian chili pepper.
- Add tomatoes: If you prefer more tomato flavor, add a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste. You could also add a canned of diced tomatoes or some sundried tomatoes.
- Add artichoke hearts: Throw in a can of artichoke hearts or some frozen artichoke hearts to add extra veggies and Mediterranean flavor.
- Use chicken breasts: For a lighter meal, use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of the thighs. Just make sure not to overcook them. Normally they cook in 3-4 hours on low.
- Add greens: For extra veggies and nutrients, stir in a few handfuls of spinach before serving.
- Top with cheese: Take this dish to the next level and finish it with some crumbled feta cheese.
Tips for Making Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken
- Although I made this with chicken thighs since they stay nice and tender, you can also make this recipe with chicken breasts (skinless, bone-in for a more flavor), skinless chicken drumsticks, or even a pork tenderloin or trimmed pork shoulder.
- While the slow cooker is the easiest option, in my opinion, this is definitely a recipe that can be made stove-top or even in the oven. For a stove-top version, using a Dutch oven or heavy bottomed pan, add the chicken and let it brown on each side. Remove it and saute the onions and garlic. Then add the remaining ingredients and let everything cook for about 45 minutes on a simmer until the chicken is fork tender. For an oven option, add everything to a glass baking dish and cover with foil. Cook it at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, removing the foil during the last five minutes of cooking so the chicken can brown.
- When it comes red peppers for this dish, you have two options. For a more savory option, use roasted red peppers. For a sweeter option, use the jarred peppadew or sweet cherry peppers.
- Olives are an important part of this dish and add a lot of flavor, so make sure to choose an olive that you would happily eat on its own. While I love greenCastelvetrano olives, you could use Kalamata olives, black olives, or really any good tasting olive.
Side Dishes for Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken
There are so many different side dish options for this chicken but no matter what you choose, you will want something that can soak up the sauce.
- Reach for some orzo or couscous to stay in the Mediterranean theme.
- For something heartier with more whole grains, try some quinoa or farro.
- For a low carb option, gran some spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles. Cauliflower rice works great as well.
- This can easily become a pasta dish with some cooked pasta. We also love it with egg noodles.
Looking for more healthy slow cooker chicken recipes?
- Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas
- Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken
- Slow Cooker Coconut Basil Chicken
- Slow Cooker Italian Red Pepper Chicken
- More healthy slow cooker chicken recipes
Here are some of the products I used when making this recipe.
- Slow Cooker: There are so many different slow cookers on the market but I personally use this one that allows me to brown, sear, or saute in the same pan. Plus I find the cooking temperature to be really even and consistent.
- Olives: As I mentioned, my favorite olives for this recipe are green Castelvetrano olives. Usually I buy mine from the olive bar a our local grocery store or order them online, which is usually more affordable.
- Peppers: As I mentioned you can use roasted red peppers or sweeter peppadew peppers for this recipe. Both turn out delicious. Fresh peppers will also work but the flavor won't be as intense since they haven't been roasted beforehand. If you like heat, you could also use the spicy peppadew peppers for this recipe.
The Recipe
Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken
264 CAL 8g CARBS 11g FAT 30g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 10 Min
COOK TIME: 4 Hours
TOTAL TIME: 4 Hours, 10 Min
Dinner
48 Comments
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Ingredients
US METRICS
-
1 tbsp olive oil
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2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
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1 sweet onion, sliced thin
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3 garlic cloves, minced
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1 cup roasted red peppers, chopped (or peppadew peppers)
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1 cup olives (any kind)
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1/2 cup chicken broth
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1 tbsp. capers (optional)
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1 tsp. oregano
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1 tsp. dried thyme
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1 tsp. rosemary
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1 bay leaf
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Salt and pepper
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1 lemon (juice for serving)
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Diets:
- Clean Eating
- Gluten Free
- Healthy Eating
- Low Carb
- Paleo
- Whole30®
Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 6 oz. chicken and 2/3 cup sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 264
Calories from Fat 51
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g
9%
Saturated Fat 2g
2%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
0%
Cholesterol 132mg
0%
Sodium 753mg
33%
Total Carbohydrate 8g
3%
Dietary Fiber 1g
5%
Sugars 3g
Protein 30g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.
About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans.Learn More
† We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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48 Comments
On Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken
Vanessa Diaz
April 1, 2024 - 10:16
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5
I don’t normally take the time to write a review on recipes but this recipe is so amazing I’ve made it about 4x times now and my family and I all love it! Today I’m making for my parents and I’m excited for them to try it!
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Madeleine
January 30, 2024 - 07:30
On weight watchers if you use chickenbreasts it’s 4 points great meal
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nancy
January 12, 2024 - 15:35
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5
I made this tonight for dinner; I am not the cook in the family. Everyone really liked it
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Karla
December 9, 2023 - 17:05
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5
Delicious and healthy!
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Megan
October 5, 2023 - 10:43
Is the rosemary and oregano intended to be fresh or dried? I know you could use either in theory but the quantities would need to be adjusted based on what was intended for the recipe as outlined above. Thanks in advance!
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Kristen McCaffrey
October 5, 2023 - 10:58
Normally I use dried herbs in this recipe. For fresh herbs, you will need to use more since the flavor isn't as pungent.
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Lori
October 3, 2023 - 02:34
You say to brown the chicken in a pan … how long do you brown it for? Should it be cooked through
at that time?
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Kristen McCaffrey
October 5, 2023 - 10:59
It only needs to be browned for a couple of minutes per side to add color and texture. There is no need to cook it all the way through.
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Nichole
August 29, 2023 - 05:10
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5
OMG THIS WAS FABULOUS! The favors were spot on. The fire roasted peppers made this dish. I cut the recipe in half since there is only the two of us and I added zucchini and 1/4 cup fire roasted diced tomatoes for added veggies and served it with orzo. Oh I also cooked it in the oven. Hubby loved it, so this is a keeper!
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Rachael
September 1, 2023 - 09:49
What temp did you do in the oven?
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Kristen McCaffrey
September 19, 2023 - 09:22
It can be cooked in the oven at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
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Ryan
July 31, 2023 - 15:48
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5
I did crockpot on low for 9 hours. Added 2 sweet potatoes, 2 tomatoes, drained and rinsed artichoke hearts. Used fresh herbs except for the dry oregano. Removed the rosemary and bay leaves after cooking. Forgot to add capers. Squirted lemon juice before eating. It is unbelievable. Might be my favorite thing I've made yet
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Janice
June 26, 2023 - 19:17
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3
I found this to be a bit bland, everything cooked well, but not much flavor. Will try red wine next time.
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Kristen McCaffrey
September 19, 2023 - 09:19
Sorry to hear that! The most common reason that food can turn out bland is not enough salt and pepper. Sometimes just a pinch more kosher salt makes all the difference.
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Vicky Yedwalsky
May 11, 2023 - 04:55
Do I need to drain the roasted red peppers? I would like to add artichoke hearts, can I use marinated artichoke hearts? And do those need to be drained as well? Thank you.
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Kristen McCaffrey
May 23, 2023 - 16:47
Definitely drain them first so that there isn't too much liquid in the dish.
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Anita
May 6, 2023 - 16:33
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5
This was fabulous! I opted for the stovetop method and used bone in thighs and legs. I also added a can of diced tomatoes. I used pimento stuffed green olives and jarred roasted red peppers. Easy and will make again and again.
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Candy
March 19, 2023 - 08:37
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5
Delicious. I added sun-dried tomatoes and used black olives. I will definitely make it again.
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RMS
March 12, 2023 - 17:00
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Very tasty, made as written!
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CMK
February 27, 2023 - 08:56
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This was delicious! Thank you for the recipe. I did add the sun-dried tomatoes as suggested in your add-in's list, and I used frozen "fire-roasted" bell peppers from Trader Joes, which I sauteed first in Calabrian Chili oil for a bit of spice before adding to the crock pot. I served it with saffron risotto on the side. I would definitely make this again!
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Ginger
February 2, 2023 - 16:49
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4
I changed per our taste . 1 can fire roasted tomatoes and 1/2 can water (no broth), no olives as we don’t like, some chopped water chestnuts cause I had some I needed to use, sliced mushrooms, and I thickened it a bit with cornstarch. Served over noodles with a salad ! Yummy!!!! I didn’t give it 5 stars because I made changes so IDK what the original would taste like.
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Peggy Cooper
January 14, 2023 - 17:02
Has anyone tried this in an instant pot ?
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Diane
May 16, 2023 - 07:19
I have. It turned out fab. A go-to recipe in our house now.
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Eileen Jenkins
December 30, 2022 - 16:03
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5
Omygoodness this was delicious! I always make the recipe exactly as written, the first time, and then play around. Not sure I will do anything to this one when I Definitely make it again!
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Michelle Iannelli
December 14, 2022 - 11:03
I love this recipe. I have made it several times and everyone loves it. Thank you for this one :)
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B Webber
December 13, 2022 - 14:17
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This was delicious! I did not brown the chicken or cook the onions. I also added potatoes. So I layered onions and potatoes- added chicken and covered with remaining ingredients. I also added a can of diced tomatoes!
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Judy
November 6, 2022 - 12:05
I have marinated over night with all ingredients I also add dried apricots. Used skin on bone in chicken thighs. Hoping it comes out delicious. What are your thoughts
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Helen
September 24, 2022 - 08:21
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This is so delicious. I'll make it again but I wonder if the chicken and onions really need to be cooked beforehand or can everything be added to a crockpot and just cooked longer than 4 hours? Has anyone tried this and if so, does it sacrifice the flavor doing it this way?
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Heather Baldwin
November 5, 2022 - 11:08
I always throw it all together in the crock pot at one time. The flavor is amazing. I just cook it a little longer
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Tanya
August 23, 2022 - 16:27
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5
Just made it. So yummy. My kids are super picky and ate it. They requested it be added to our meal rotation
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Shelly
August 2, 2022 - 20:23
This is going to be my dinner tomorrow night. Sounds delicious
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Ann
August 1, 2022 - 18:08
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5
It was delicious ! I served it over Jasmine rice! I loved the lemon kick at the end!
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Shelly
August 4, 2022 - 11:02
Please at what point did you put the lemon? Thank you
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Heather
August 1, 2022 - 16:21
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It was delicious. I forgot to put the chicken breasts in the pan first, but it turned out great. I added the artichokes.
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susan yosef
May 18, 2022 - 04:02
I am new to the Mediterranean Diet and searched for crock pot recipes and this was the first I opened. Looks and sounds good. Also, After reading the other comments I can't wait to make it for myself. Unfortunately, I can't give a rating at this time, but hope to do so after I make it (this weekend??)
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Nancy
May 12, 2022 - 14:17
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I made this using a pressure cooker while camping and it was awesome! I put in a bag of frozen zoodles after it was cooked and it became a one-pot meal.
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Angela
May 5, 2022 - 15:20
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Oh my gosh this was so good!! I used chicken breasts and added a can of diced tomatoes. Served over faro. Hubby and I couldn't believe how flavorful this was. Definitely going into the recipe rotation! Thank you so much
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Wini
March 15, 2022 - 12:57
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Thank you!! Loved this recipe! Fortunately, after dinner, one portion was left. The following day I removed the container from the refrigerator, placed the leftovers in a saucepan, added some Chicken Broth, and had some great soup, a salad and Artesian Bread for lunch. Will make this recipe frequently from now on!!
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Happy Meglino
January 26, 2022 - 08:02
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I LOVE this recipe and so does my family. It is a regular in our home .
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Tracy
November 28, 2021 - 10:12
Can I use chicken breast?
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Kristen McCaffrey
October 4, 2022 - 18:46
This works great with chicken breast - just make sure not to overcook it or the chicken breast can dry out.
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Neysa Miller
November 22, 2021 - 15:12
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This was easy and delicious! Served it with some good homemade rustic bread.
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Lisa Johnson
January 26, 2021 - 17:55
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I made this tonight. It was wonderful. I added frozen green beans and, instead of getting any more pots dirty, I cooked it in a Dutch Oven at 350 for a couple hours. (Same pan I browned the thighs in)
Served with mashed potatoes on the side, but this would go with anything. Perfection!
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Deborah Learn
August 9, 2021 - 21:50
Great idea. I will try this way.
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Marie Radtke
September 10, 2020 - 19:36
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This is now my favorite recipe! The flavors are wow! I add fire roasted tomatoes, yellow - red - and green peppers. Definitely use the capers...brings up the flavors. I prefer green olives and I serve over whole grain pasta. I am SO grateful for this recipe, we love it!!!
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Susan Mansfield
April 10, 2020 - 15:20
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I love this dish. The flavor is wonderful.
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Pierre
February 16, 2020 - 11:21
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One of my favorite dishes!
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Michelle P Will...
June 1, 2018 - 09:02
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Great taste!
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