Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken (Print)
Tender chicken slow-cooked in rich tomato basil sauce with Italian herbs
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1.5–2 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Sauce
04 - 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
05 - 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
06 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
07 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon sugar
12 - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
14 - ½ cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
15 - ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half (optional)
→ To Serve
16 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
# How to Make:
01 - Season chicken breasts thoroughly with salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides.
02 - Place seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine crushed tomatoes, drained diced tomatoes, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried thyme, sugar, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
04 - Evenly distribute the tomato mixture over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
05 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 6 hours or HIGH setting for 4 hours, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and is tender throughout.
06 - During the final 30 minutes of cooking, stir in chopped fresh basil. For a creamy version, add heavy cream or half-and-half at this stage and mix well.
07 - Taste sauce and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot, garnished with additional fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Accompany with rice, pasta, or crusty bread.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You can dump everything in the slow cooker and walk away for hours
- The sauce becomes impossibly rich and concentrated without any effort
02 -
- The sauce might look thin at first but it thickens beautifully as it simmers
- Dont lift the lid too often or you'll add cooking time
03 -
- Use good quality canned tomatoes since they're the backbone of the dish
- Taste before serving and adjust salt or red pepper flakes to your liking