Slow-Cooked Italian Chicken and Mushrooms

2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced thin
1/2 cup Marsala wine (or chicken stock)
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, in juices
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1/2 cup currants
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or 2 teaspoons dried)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or 2 teaspoons dried)

In large sauté pan, warm 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan and sauté until browned, about 5 minutes.

Remove chicken to slow cooker and turn pot on low. In same sauté pan, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add garlic, mushrooms, pepper slices and onion. Saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 – 7 minutes.

Add vegetables to slow cooker. Add wine to same pan and deglaze about one minute, stirring up brown bits. Pour wine into slow cooker.

Add to slow cooker the tomatoes and juices, capers, currents, basil and parsley. Cook for 6 or 7 hours on low (or 3 hours on high), until chicken and vegetables are very tender and sauce has thickened slightly.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition Information, Per Serving: 600 calories; 31 g fat; 7 g saturated fat; 29 g carbohydrate; 45 g protein

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of the National Chicken Council - used with permission