Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Recipe

Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken is the answer to your weeknight dinner prayers, a dish so comforting and flavorful it will become an instant family favorite. Imagin extracte coming home to the non-intoxicating aroma of tender chicken swimming in a luscious, velvety sauce, infused with the bright, herbaceous notes of fresh basil and the rich tang of ripe tomatoes. This isn’t just another chicken recipe; it’s an effortless culinary masterpiece that transforms simple ingredients into something truly special. What makes this Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken so beloved? It’s the unparalleled ease of preparation – your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting. Plus, the resulting dish is incredibly versatile, perfect served over pasta, rice, or even mashed potatoes. Get ready to fall in love with this wonderfully simple, yet deeply satisfying meal!

Ingredients:

Let’s Make Some Delicious Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken!

This recipe is an absolute lifesaver on busy weeknights. It’s incredibly simple to throw together, and the results are restaurant-quality deliciousness with minimal effort. The slow cooker works its magic, tenderizing the chicken and infusing it with a rich, creamy, and herbaceous tomato sauce. Imagin extracte coming home to the most incredible aroma filling your kitchen – that’s what you’ll get with this dish. The best part? It requires very little active cooking time, freeing you up to tackle other things or simply relax. We’re talking about juicy, tender chicken bathed in a luscious sauce that’s perfect for serving over pasta, rice, or even a big salad.

Preparing Your Ingredients

Before we even get to the slow cooker, a little prep goes a long way to ensuring success. First, let’s talk about the chicken. For this recipe, we’re using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, which cook up beautifully in the slow cooker. Aim for chicken breasts that are roughly the same size. If you have some that are significantly thicker than others, you might want to pound them out slightly to ensure even cooking. This will prevent some pieces from being overcooked and dry while others are still not quite done.

Next, let’s get our aromatics ready. Minced garlic is crucial for building flavor. You can mince it yourself using a knife, or if you’re looking for a shortcut, a garlic press works wonderfully. We’re also going to use dried Italian seasoning and dried basil to boost that classic tomato-basil flavor profile, but we’ll be adding fresh basil at the end for a burst of vibrant, fresh taste.

Now, about that creamy sauce. This is where the magic truly happens. We’ll be combining the diced tomatoes and marinara sauce as our base. The heavy whipping cream will add that luxurious, velvety texture, and the cornstarch is our secret weapon for thickening the sauce to a perfect consistency. Don’t worry about lumps; we’ll take care of that during the cooking process.

Slow Cooker Instructions

Here’s where the magic truly happens. The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting, creating a dish that is both comforting and incredibly satisfying.

1. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker. Make sure they are in a single layer as much as possible. This helps to ensure that they cook evenly. You want all four chicken breasts to have good contact with the sauce that will be added.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the can of diced tomatoes with their juice, the marinara sauce, the minced garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, dried basil, and pepper. Stir everything together until it’s well combined. This mixture will form the flavor base for our delicious sauce.

3. Pour the tomato mixture evenly over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Make sure the chicken is mostly submerged in the liquid. This is important for keeping the chicken moist and tender as it cooks.

4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, or on LOW for 4 to 6 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and easily shreds with a fork. The exact cooking time will depend on your slow cooker and the size of your chicken breasts. It’s always a good idea to check the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). We want it perfectly cooked, not overcooked.

5. Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and place them on a plate. In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy whipping cream and the cornstarch until smooth and no lumps remain. This is your thickening slurry. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker with the tomato sauce.

6. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker. Place the chicken breasts back into the sauce. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for an additional 15 to 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened. You’ll notice it becoming glossy and luxurious. Stir occasionally during this phase to ensure even thickening.

7. Once the sauce has thickened, stir in the finely chopped fresh basil. The fresh basil adds a beautiful, bright flavor that really elevates the dish. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more salt or pepper to your preference.

Serving Your Creamy Creation

This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken is incredibly versatile. Serve it hot over your favorite pasta – linguine, fettuccine, or even penne are fantastic choices. It’s also delicious spooned over fluffy rice, mashed potatoes, or even quinoa for a healthier option. For an extra touch of indulgence, sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese just before serving. The salty, nutty flavor of the Parmesan is the perfect complement to the rich, creamy tomato sauce and tender chicken.

Enjoy this simple yet incredibly flavorful meal! It’s a winner in my book, and I’m sure it will be a favorite in your home too.

Conclusion:

You’ve now got the lowdown on how to create the most deliciously comforting Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken! This recipe is an absolute winner for so many reasons. It’s incredibly hands-off, meaning you can toss your ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a perfectly cooked, flavourful meal. The combination of tender chicken, rich tomato sauce, and fragrant basil is simply irresistible, and the creamy finish takes it to a whole new level of deliciousness. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner solution when you’re short on time but craving something truly satisfying.

To serve this delightful dish, I love pairing it with fluffy white rice to soak up all that wonderful sauce, or with crusty bread for dipping. Pasta, such as penne or fettuccine, is also a fantastic choice. If you’re looking to switch things up, consider adding some spinach or knon-alcoholic ale in the last hour of cooking for an extra boost of greens, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick. Don’t be afraid to experiment! I truly encourage you to give this Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken a try – I’m confident you’ll love it as much as I do.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What kind of chicken is best for this recipe?

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are ideal for slow cooking as they tend to stay incredibly moist and tender. However, boneless, skinless chicken breasts will also work well, though you’ll want to be careful not to overcook them to prevent them from drying out. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken reheats beautifully. You can prepare it a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.

What if I don’t have fresh basil?

No problem! You can substitute dried basil for fresh. Use about 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of dried basil for every tablespoon of fresh basil called for in the recipe. Add the dried basil earlier in the cooking process to allow its flavour to develop.

Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken

A simple and flavorful slow cooker recipe for creamy tomato basil chicken, perfect for a weeknight meal.

Prep Time
15 Minutes

Cook Time
4 Hours

Total Time
15 Minutes

Servings
4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs (with juice (14oz or 398ml))
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
• Grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)

Instructions

1. Step 1
   Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Step 2
   In a bowl, combine diced tomatoes with Italian herbs (with juice), marinara sauce, minced garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, dried basil, and pepper. Pour this mixture over the chicken.
3. Step 3
   Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until chicken is cooked through.
4. Step 4
   In a small bowl, whisk together heavy whipping cream and cornstarch until smooth. Stir this mixture into the slow cooker.
5. Step 5
   Cook for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
6. Step 6
   Stir in the finely chopped fresh basil. Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

Important Information

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.