Description
Tender Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breast cooked in a rich tomato cream sauce with garlic, Italian herbs, and fresh basil. This easy slow cooker chicken dinner delivers comforting Italian-inspired flavor with minimal prep and is delicious served over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs, with juice
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: Add the diced tomatoes with their juice, marinara sauce, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, dried basil, and black pepper to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Add the cream: In a small bowl, whisk the heavy whipping cream and cornstarch together until smooth. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker and stir it into the tomato sauce.
- Add the chicken: Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker and gently press them down into the sauce.
- Slow cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or until the thickest part of each chicken breast reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Finish the sauce: Stir the fresh chopped basil into the sauce. Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning as needed.
- Serve: Spoon the creamy tomato basil sauce generously over the chicken and finish with grated Parmesan. Serve warm with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, vegetables, or crusty bread.
Notes
- Use chicken breasts that are similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Avoid overcooking the chicken. Begin checking the internal temperature around the 3-hour mark.
- Whisk the cornstarch thoroughly into the cream before adding it to prevent lumps.
- Add fresh basil at the end of cooking for the brightest flavor and color.
- The sauce may thicken slightly as it rests.
- For a little heat, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
- Reheat gently with the sauce to help keep the chicken moist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 1150 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 65 g
- Cholesterol: 205 mg