Description
This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breast is a rich, comforting dish made with tender chicken, creamy tomato sauce, and fresh basil. It’s the perfect fuss-free weeknight dinner that tastes like it came from a cozy Italian kitchen.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
1 jar (about 24 oz) tomato pasta sauce (marinara-style)
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (or substitute with more sauce)
2–3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (or 1 tbsp basil pesto)
1 cup heavy cream or evaporated milk
1 tbsp corn starch
Instructions
Add tomato pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, and half the basil into a 3–6 quart slow cooker. Stir to combine.
In a separate bowl, whisk together heavy cream and corn starch until smooth. Pour into the slow cooker and mix well.
Nestle chicken breasts into the sauce, pressing them down to cover.
Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 5 hours, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Just before serving, stir in the remaining basil or a spoonful of basil pesto.
Serve over pasta, rice, or with veggies, and top with shredded cheese if desired.
Notes
For a smoother sauce, replace the diced tomatoes with more pasta sauce.
Basil pesto works beautifully when fresh basil isn’t available.
Use heavy cream or evaporated milk to avoid curdling.
Add red pepper flakes for a little spice.
You can substitute corn starch with flour if needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American / Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 425 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg