Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken breasts simmered in tomato-basil sauce for an easy, flavorful weeknight main; gluten-free and low-carb.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
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 & 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 - 10-12 fresh basil leaves, roughly torn (for serving)
# How To Cook:
01 - Lightly grease the inside of the slow cooker with olive oil to prevent sticking.
02 - Place the chicken breasts in an even layer across 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 until well blended.
04 - Pour the tomato mixture evenly over the chicken breasts. Cover 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 - If a creamier sauce is desired, stir in the heavy cream during the last 10 minutes of cooking and allow it to warm through.
06 - Transfer the chicken breasts to serving plates and spoon the tomato basil sauce over the top. Garnish with freshly torn basil leaves.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You literally throw everything in the slow cooker and walk away, which feels like magic on chaotic days.
- The tomato basil sauce tastes like you spent hours hovering over a stove when you barely lifted a finger.
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid and peek during cooking, because every time you do, you lose about 30 minutes of heat and extend the cook time.
- Chicken breasts can dry out if cooked too long, so err on the side of checking at the lower end of the time range rather than going over.
03 -
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before adding them to the slow cooker so the thin ends do not dry out while the thick centers finish cooking.
- If you want a thicker sauce, remove the lid for the last 30 minutes and let some of the liquid cook off before adding the cream.