This slow cooker chicken ratatouille stew is a healthy and hearty dish that you can make in minutes. Server over rice or eat it as is. This is a low calorie and fairly low carb dinner that you can easily make any night of the week.
You might also like this slow cooker creamy chicken and spinach recipe!
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This week for Sunday Supper we are making Easy Supper Recipes so I thought this slow cooker chicken ratatouille stew would be a good one to make. Everyone likes slow cooker meals for busy days and this chicken vegetable stew is easy, hearty and even low calorie!
I love ratatouille because of it’s tasty combination of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and zucchini. However I normally consider it a side dish. Today I wanted to make it a bit more substantial for a main dish instead, so I added some chicken thighs and cooked the whole dish in a slow cooker. It was so easy and tasty that I’m sure we will be eating this again and again.
What Is Ratatouille?
Most people know about the movie Ratatouille involving a rat that is a culinary genius but not everyone has had this delicous dish. Ratatouille is a French stewed vegetable dish. It has been made many different ways but it usually includes tomato, onions, zucchini, peppers and eggplant.
I used those same basic ingredients but added some chicken thighs to make this slow cooker recipe more of a dinner than a side dish. It came out perfect and was really easy to make.
Making Slow Cooker Chicken Ratatouille
If you want you can just put everything in the slow cooker and be done but try it this way. Pour a little olive oil on the bottom, then onions and half of the tomatoes. Next put in the vegetables and top them with the chicken thighs.
Now take the remaining tomatoes and mixed in the tomato paste, Better than Bouillon base, garlic and spices. Spoon this over top and cook on low for 8 hours. Times may vary depending on your slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Ratatouille Recipe Notes
- I used chicken thighs but you could also use breasts if you wish.
- I also used boneless, skinless chicken so I could shred it at the end. If you want you can keep the chicken as is and serve it separately from the ratatouille.
- Better than Bouillon gives this an added flavor boost. You can substitute chicken bouillon if you don’t have BTB.
- At the end I shred the chicken a little bit and mix well. If it’s still too watery for your liking, you can take the lid off the slow cooker and turn up the heat for 10 minutes.
- You can eat this dish as is or serve it over rice or pasta. I like to grate Parmesan cheese over top sometimes.
I hope you like this easy dinner recipe and for more great recipes, scroll down for my friend’s recipes from Sunday Supper. The nutritional information for 1 serving is:
131 cals / 8g fat / 10g carbs / 2.7g fiber /18g protein = 7.3g net carbs
PLEASE NOTE: I have updated this recipe to make it a bit lower in carbs and it ended up a bit more tasty! The video is older and you might notice a few differences. The changes I made were to use less onions and tomatoes and add tomato paste, bouillon and a little more spice.
Slow Cooker Chicken Ratatouille Stew
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
- 1/4 cup onion, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups sweet pepper, sliced
- 2 cups eggplant chopped
- 2 cups zucchini chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 3/4 cup diced tomaotes
- 2 tablespoons tomator paste
- 1 teaspoon Better than Bouillon chicken base
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
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Pour oil into the slow cooker and then add onions and 1/2 of the tomatoes.
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Next put in your vegetables and nestle the chicken thighs on top.
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Add your garlic, spices, Better than Bouillon, tomatoe paste and tomatoes together and mix well.
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Pour the tomatoe mixture over the chicken and place the lid on top.
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Cook on low for 8 hours. (times may vary depending on your slow cooker)
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When done, shred the chicken a bit with two forks. If you want to get rid of some of the liquid you can turnn it up to high and keep the lid off for about 10 minutes.
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Serve over rice or eat as is.
Chicken Suppers
- Chicken Enchiladas by Eat, Drink and Be Tracy
- Chicken Scarpariello by Sunday Supper Movement
- Honey Mustard Chicken & Rice Pilaf by Wholistic Woman
- Pan Roasted Chicken Breasts and Vegetables by Simple and Savory
- Pineapple Chicken Stir-Fry by Mindy’s Cooking Obsession
- Roast Chicken by Monica’s Table
Pasta Suppers
- Bucatini with Spinach Pesto by The Chef Next Door
- Chicken Marsala Lasagna Rollups by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Extra Cheesy Stuffed Shells by Positively Stacey
- Quick Chicken Piccata by The Redhead Baker
Pork Suppers
- Apple Mustard Pork Tenderloin by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Cheesy Oven Omelette With Ham by Cricket’s Confections
- Cranberry Orange Pork Roast by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Sweet and Garlicky Slow Cooker Pulled Pork by Family Foodie
Sheet Pan Suppers
- Dijon Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner by Casa de Crews
- Ranch Sheet Pan Pork Dinner by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs Provencal Style by Delaware Girl Eats
Soup and Sandwich Suppers
- Chicken and Cheese Pita Sandwiches by Pies and Plots
- Chicken Chili by A Mind “Full” Mom
- Chicken Marinara Panini by The Freshman Cook
Stove Top Suppers
- Arroz con Coco y Lentejas – Coconut Rice with Lentils by Food Lust People Love
- Asian Tuna Noodle Bowls by Cooking Chat
- Haluski (Cabbage and Noodles) by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Healthy Quinoa Japanese Donburi Bowl by NinjaBaker.com
- One Pot Braised Lamb Shoulder Chops and Vegetables by Caroline’s Cooking
- Slow Cooker Chicken Ratatouille Stew by My Life Cookbook
Renae
Should I still leave it in the crock pot for for 8 hours if my chicken is pre-cooked?
Denise
Hi Renae, no I would just add it about 1/2 hour before it’s done. Also since you will just have vegetables to cook in the slow cooker it will probably take much less time. I’m guessing it will just take 3 hours on low. Hope that helps!
Vera
How should I cook it using a Dutch oven, please? I do not own a slow cooker. Thank you!
Denise
Hi Vera,
I have never tried this in a dutch oven but I would suggest that you brown the chicken then take it out and set aside.
Then add a little olive oil and brown the vegetables a bit – you don’t need to cook the vegetables nor the chicken through – just brown both.
Next place both the chicken and vegetables back in the pan. Mix the tomato paste, tomatoes, garlic, bouillon and spices together and pour over the chicken and vegetables.
Cover and cook for about 30 minutes?? Not sure about the timing but you want the chicken to be cooked through and to be able to shred it and for the vegetables to be tender.
Take out the chicken, shred it and place back into the pan and mix together. Hope that helps!
Isabel Rommel
Great Stuff, thanks for sharing this recipe … 🙂
Michael
Hi! If I use boneless skinless chicken breasts, how many lbs of breasts should I use?
Thank you!
Denise
Hi Michael, I used roughly 1 1/2 pounds of chicken thighs. You don’t have to be exact but that is what I used. Good luck and I hope you enjoy it!
Heather
Is the diced tomatoes canned or do you dice fresh tomatoes?
Denise
Hi Heather, I used a canned tomatoes but fresh would work as well. Hope you like it!
Heather
I loved it! I used fire roasted canned tomatoes and it was absolutely delicious!! I was thinking next time adding mushrooms in the last few minutes of cooking.
Denise
Hi Heather, so glad you liked it. I need to make this again and I’ll try the mushrooms too!
Alba
Is it possible to cool it at high or it has to be at low? I wany to make it for tonight but I don’t think I’ll have time!
Denise
Hi Alba, I think you could cook it at high. Good luck!
Macey
Would you recommend doing this in a pressure cooker? And if so for how long? Thanks!
Denise
Hi Macey I guess you could be I would be afraid it would turn to mush. If you want to try it, I’m guess about 8 minutes. That’s what I did for these Instant Pot chicken cubes. https://mylifecookbook.com/instant-pot-chicken-cubes-low-carb-meal-prep/
Good luck … sorry I’m not much help.
Jill
How much is a serving? I cup?
Denise
Hi Jill, I am not sure but I would say a cup is a good estimate. I usually take the recipe as a whole and estimate how many it could feed rather than measure by volume or weight. Hope that helps and that you like it.
Karly
Perfection. Especially during the cold Midwest winter, this is exactly what I want to warm me up. I can’t wait to make a big batch of this stuff and eat on it for days!
Denise
It does make a lot! Enjoy!
Caroline
I love ratatouille and this sounds a great variation. Your video shows how easy it is too!
Denise
Thanks Caroline, it was really easy.
Monica
Like you I adore the flavors of ratatouille and adding chicken to it is genius! I’ve tried adding white beans to make it more substantial but I’ve never thought to add chicken. Brava Bella!!!!!
Denise
Hi Monica, I love the idea of white beans! I’m going to try that next time.
Liz
What a marvelous recipe! I’m a huge ratatouille fan, too—and I just won’t mention there’s eggplant in the recipe when I feed it to Bill. Maybe he won’t notice???
Denise
My husband doesn’t like eggplant either! What is wrong with these guys! 😉
The Ninja Baker
Absolutely gorgeous Denise! Definitely a keeper recipe for my slow cooker =) P.s. Did you ever see the Disney movie?
Denise
Yes I have and my son asked me if I was making rats. 😉
Christie
That looks amazing! I love all those colors and flavors.
Denise
Thank Christie! It’s very simple (like most of my recipes) but I really liked it!
Cindy @CindysRecipesAndWritings
I can always use more slow cooker recipes! I bet this chicken gets so tender!
Denise
Yes it’s more like shredded chicken.