This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken is SO easy and flavorful, you wouldn’t believe it only has just a few ingredients! The perfect easy dinner recipe for busy weeknights!
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Fall is on its way and I’m busting out all the easy slow cooker, skillet and Instant Pot recipes!
We have been kind of obsessed with chicken this summer, so I always have a ton in the freezer.
This slow cooker chicken comes together in no time with just a handful of ingredients that we usually have on hand — which makes it a win in my books!
The creamy tomato flavor combo is always a hit over here, and we love this chicken over a plate of spaghetti but it can really be a stand alone meal with a side salad if that’s your thing!
My goal this fall (really, every fall) is to bring you more recipes for Real Life. Because summer is over and life goes back to Crazy, dinner time is rushed and spending hours in the kitchen is often the last thing on our minds.
The other reason, obviously, is that I need easy recipes like this too!
With a lot of slow cooker recipes, I find you sacrifice either flavor or texture or both. Browning meat beforehand can really help with that, but often even after that the juices need to be spiced up because after cooking for so long, the flavors just become muted.
With this chicken, though, there are no issues like that! You dump and go, and the sauce is the perfect consistency when it’s done and the flavor is awesome! So creamy and comforting, and yet only a small amount of cream or evaporated milk.
Tips for making this slow cooker chicken recipe:
- I made this recipe in a 4 quart slow cooker — if you want to double it, I suggest a 6 quart slow cooker (I have both, and use them for different things!).
- I really, really, REALLY recommend using slow cooker liners. I will gladly pay the 50 cents or whatever they cost to not have to wash that beast!
- Please always, always check the temperature of your chicken with a meat thermometer before serving just to be safe! All slow cookers cook differently.
Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 14 oz can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs
- 3/4 cup tomato pasta sauce
- 3/4 cup evaporated milk or heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Add tomatoes and pasta sauce to a 3-6 quart slow cooker.
- Whisk together cream and corn starch and add to the slow cooker. Stir in garlic, salt, basil and pepper.
- Add chicken breasts and press down into the sauce.
- Cook on low for 3-5 hours, until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. The exact cook time will depend on your slow cooker — a fuller slow cooker will take longer to cook, so a larger one will cook faster.
- Stir in fresh basil and serve over pasta, rice, or with a salad and veggies!
Nutrition Information
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Burt says
Terrible recipe! Followed exactly and it was tasteless at best. Made a lot and was a lot of waste. Can’t even think of a way to help this one. Won’t try it again. If you do try it, spice it up for some flavour!
Venessa says
Could you use freshly diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning if you don’t have the canned ones already? Sorry if that’s dumb to ask
Rachel says
Could you substitute sour cream instead of heavy cream?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, you could but it will change the flavor
Riley Raney says
Super easy and delicious!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Riley!
Megan Scott says
I made this and was amazed at how easy and delicious it was! I added the heavy cream and cornstarch at the end and didn’t have any curdling, just a lovely creamy texture.
I doubled the recipe, also increasing pasta sauce to 32 oz, and had plenty of creamy tomato broth left over. To the leftover broth I added some extra spices, also seafood (shrimp, mussels, and cod), and had a wonderful Cioppino to enjoy.
Thank you for this delicious recipe! It’s going into my files!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Megan! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Julie says
Could you cook this in the oven? I’m
Not a huge fan of chicken cook in the crock pot but this sounds so yummy
Ian says
Such a good comfort recipe, especially served over pasta. Only addition I made was to sauté a red onion and the garlic in a some butter before adding to the crock pot.
Ashley Fehr says
That’s a great idea!
Mary says
Is there a dairy-free option?
Ashley Fehr says
You could use dairy free milk if necessary
Amanda says
Using canned full fat coconut milk is a good substitute for heavy cream!
Maggie says
What do you mean by tomato pasta sauce? Canned tomato sauce or jarred marinara sauce?
Ashley Fehr says
Tomato based sauce that you would use on pasta.
Katie says
Can I used bone in chicken for this recipe? If yes, how long do I put it in the slow cooker?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, you definitely can! I would probably add an hour or two to the cook time, depending on how much larger the pieces are than what is called for in the recipe
Mary says
Can I make this on my stove top
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, definitely! You will just simmer for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through
Judy Delgado says
Is the chicken thawed or frozen when placed in crockpot?
Ashley Fehr says
It is thawed