Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken (Printable Version)

Tender chicken slow-cooked in a rich tomato basil sauce with Italian herbs for an easy, comforting meal.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 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 (optional)
13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
14 - ½ cup packed 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:

01 - Rub both sides of each chicken breast with salt and black pepper, ensuring even coverage.
02 - Place seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
03 - In a large bowl, combine crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, sugar, red pepper flakes if using, and olive oil. Mix thoroughly until uniform.
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 for 4 hours, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and is tender.
06 - During the final 30 minutes of cooking, stir in chopped fresh basil and heavy cream if making a creamy version.
07 - Taste sauce and add additional salt or pepper if desired.
08 - Plate hot chicken with sauce, garnish with extra fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Accompany with rice, pasta, or crusty bread.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce develops a depth of flavor that tastes like it simmered all day on the stove but requires almost no active cooking time
  • The chicken becomes impossibly tender soaking up all that Italian goodness while you go about your day
02 -
  • The cream is entirely optional but transforms this into something restaurant quality and special
  • Chicken thighs work beautifully here if you prefer darker meat that stays even juicier
03 -
  • Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning to help it absorb flavor better
  • Let the finished dish rest for 10 minutes before serving so the sauce has time to thicken slightly

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