Description
This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. Tender chicken breasts are simmered in a rich and creamy tomato sauce infused with basil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. The slow cooker does all the work, resulting in a deliciously creamy and smooth sauce that pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or crusty bread.
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
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts evenly in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Mix the Sauce Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, heavy cream, chicken broth, grated Parmesan cheese, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Stir the mixture until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add Sauce to Slow Cooker: Pour the prepared tomato and cream sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, making sure they are fully covered.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 4 to 6 hours. The chicken should be tender and fully cooked through by the end of this time.
- Blend the Sauce: Once cooking is complete, carefully remove the chicken breasts and set aside on a plate. Using an immersion blender, blend the sauce in the slow cooker until smooth and creamy. This step is optional but recommended for a silky texture.
- Recombine Chicken and Sauce: Return the chicken breasts back to the slow cooker and stir gently to coat them evenly with the creamy tomato basil sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh basil leaves over the chicken for added flavor and a fresh finish. Serve warm with your choice of sides like pasta, rice, or crusty bread.
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter version, but the sauce will be less rich.
- For a dairy-free version, omit Parmesan and heavy cream and use coconut milk or a non-dairy cream alternative.
- Adding crushed red pepper flakes is optional and can be adjusted based on your preferred spice level.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat well.
- If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can carefully transfer the sauce to a blender and blend until smooth.
