Description
This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken features tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich and creamy tomato basil sauce. Perfect for an easy and comforting meal, this recipe combines canned tomatoes, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese with aromatic herbs to create a flavorful dish that cooks low and slow for juicy, melt-in-your-mouth chicken.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Tomato Basil Sauce
- 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (14 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Place Chicken in Slow Cooker: Arrange the boneless, skinless chicken breasts evenly in the bottom of your slow cooker to create the base for the sauce.
- Mix Tomato Basil Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, heavy cream, chicken broth, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped onion, minced garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Pour Sauce Over Chicken: Pour the prepared tomato sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, ensuring each piece is covered.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Blend Sauce (Optional): Carefully remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and set aside. Using an immersion blender, puree the sauce directly in the slow cooker until it reaches a smooth, creamy consistency. This step is optional but recommended for a silky texture.
- Combine Chicken with Sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the slow cooker and stir gently to coat them evenly with the creamy tomato basil sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped basil leaves over the chicken for a bright, fresh finish before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, increase the crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but it may be less rich.
- Serve this dish over cooked pasta, rice, or alongside steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- For an even creamier texture, stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese into the sauce before blending.
