Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken (Printable)
Tender slow-cooked chicken in a tomato-basil sauce, ready for weeknight dinners; serve over pasta, rice, or zucchini noodles.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with juices
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
05 - 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional, for creamier sauce)
→ Herbs and Seasonings
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
10 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 10 to 12 fresh basil leaves, roughly torn (for serving)
# Directions:
01 - Lightly grease the inside of the slow cooker with olive oil to prevent sticking.
02 - Place the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine the diced tomatoes with juices, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir to blend, then pour the mixture evenly over the chicken breasts.
04 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
05 - For a creamier sauce, stir in the heavy cream during the last 10 minutes of cooking and allow it to heat through.
06 - Transfer the chicken breasts to plates and spoon the tomato basil sauce over the top. Garnish with freshly torn basil leaves and serve immediately.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The sauce practically builds itself while you go about your day, and the house smells like an Italian grandmother has been cooking for hours.
- It uses pantry staples you probably already have, which means no emergency grocery store runs.
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid and peek during cooking because each peek adds about 15 minutes to the cook time as the heat escapes.
- If your chicken breasts are very thick, pound them slightly first or they will take longer to cook through and the thinner ends will dry out.
03 -
- Pat the chicken breasts dry before placing them in the slow cooker because excess moisture dilutes the sauce and makes it watery.
- Finish each plate with a drizzle of your best olive oil and a generous pinch of flaky salt to elevate the entire dish.