Description
This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken features tender chicken breasts cooked in a rich, flavorful tomato and basil cream sauce. Perfect for a comforting and easy meal, this recipe combines canned tomatoes, cream, Parmesan cheese, and aromatic herbs, all slow-cooked to meld the flavors beautifully with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Tomato Cream 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 at the bottom of the slow cooker to create the base of your dish.
- Mix the Sauce Ingredients: In a medium bowl, thoroughly 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 optional crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well to ensure the flavors meld.
- Add Sauce to Slow Cooker: Pour the prepared tomato cream mixture evenly over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, covering them completely.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the low setting for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is tender, fully cooked, and infused with the sauce flavors.
- Blend the Sauce (Optional): Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and set aside. Using an immersion blender, blend the cooking sauce until smooth and creamy, if desired.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the slow cooker and stir gently to coat them evenly with the blended creamy tomato basil sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped basil leaves over the chicken for a burst of fresh flavor and an appealing presentation before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, increase the crushed red pepper flakes according to your taste.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, though it will be less rich.
- Serve this creamy tomato basil chicken over rice, pasta, or with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
- The sauce can be blended for a smooth texture or left chunky based on your preference.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
