This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breast is SO easy and flavorful, you wouldn’t believe it only has just a few ingredients! The perfect easy crockpot chicken recipe for busy weeknights!
If you’re looking for more crockpot chicken breast recipes, check out this Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken or this Crockpot Tuscan Chicken!
Table of Contents
- Reader Rating
- Why we love this Slow Cooker Chicken Breast recipe:
- Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken Ingredients:
- How to make Creamy Tomato Basil Crockpot Chicken Breast:
- How long to cook chicken breasts in the crockpot?
- Can I use half and half or milk?
- What kind of tomato pasta sauce do I need?
- Tips for making this slow cooker chicken recipe:
- Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Recipe
Life is busy and I’m busting out all the easy slow cooker, one pot and Instant Pot recipes to keep us sane! This Crockpot Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken is well-loved here around the dinner table.
Chicken is such a versatile protein so we always have a stash in the freezer!
This slow cooker chicken recipe 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, 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!
If you love this recipe, you might enjoy this Slow Cooker Chicken Breast or this Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings — they are both easy Crockpot meals!
Why we love this Slow Cooker Chicken Breast recipe:
- it’s a Real Life recipe: it’s easy to prep, mostly hands off and the family loves. We all need more of that!
- it’s a slow cooker win: with a lot of slow cooker recipes, I find you sacrifice either flavor or texture or both. With this chicken you dump and go, and the sauce is the perfect consistency when it’s done and the flavor is awesome!
- it’s quick to prep: being a dump and go slow cooker, you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen, which is a plus on busy weeknights!
Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts: we always use chicken breasts for this recipe but boneless, skinless chicken thighs would also work well. If you choose bone-in chicken the cook time will increase significantly.
- Tomato pasta sauce: this is simply a tomato sauce that you would use on pasta with herbs and seasonings, i.e., a marinara or something similar. This is not tomato paste. Choose your favorite well-seasoned brand!
- Diced tomatoes: If you don’t like the chunks of tomato you can sub this out with an additional cup of tomato pasta sauce.
- Garlic and seasonings: I’ve kept things simple, but feel free to experiment if you prefer. Add some red pepper flakes if you like things spicy!
- Cream: I recommend heavy cream or evaporated milk in this recipe. I find that they have the lowest chance of curdling when cooked with the acidic tomatoes. I do not recommend low fat cream or milk, but you are always welcome to try!
- Corn starch: A little corn starch helps to thicken our sauce. You can swap this out with flour if you don’t have any.
- Fresh basil: fresh basil can be hard to find in the cooler months. Basil pesto is my favorite swap because it adds more of that fresh flavor than dried basil.
How to make Creamy Tomato Basil Crockpot Chicken Breast:
This is a simple overview to help guide you! Scroll down to find the detailed recipe in the pink recipe card.
- Stir together sauce, tomatoes and herbs.
- Whisk the corn starch into the cream.
- Add the cream to the slow cooker and stir.
- Add the uncooked chicken and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
How long to cook chicken breasts in the crockpot?
Not overcooking slow cooker chicken breasts is the key to having juicy and flavorful chicken.
I usually recommend 3 hours on low — this might be a little less if your chicken breasts are small or a little more if your chicken breasts are large.
If you’re cooking on high, check the internal temperature at 2-2.5 hours and add time as needed.
Can I use half and half or milk?
Low fat dairy has more of a tendency to curdle.
For that reason, the addition of the tomatoes and the long cook time, I prefer not to take the chance. My exception is low fat evaporated milk, which I find works really well in slow cooker recipes.
You are always welcome to try it!
What kind of tomato pasta sauce do I need?
Choose your favorite brand of tomato-based pasta sauce, i.e., marinara sauce or something similar.
You’re looking for a relatively smooth and well-seasoned tomato sauce, rather than a can of plan crushed tomatoes.
Tips for making this slow cooker chicken recipe:
- Don’t overcook it — I find 3 hours is plenty for the usual size of my chicken breasts. I recommend checking the temperature at 2.5 hours for smaller breasts, and 3 hours for larger breasts, and adding time as needed.
- 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 love 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.
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Ingredients
- 14 oz can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs (398 ml)
- 1 cup tomato pasta sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup evaporated milk or heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Add tomatoes, pasta sauce, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, basil and pepper to a 3-6 quart slow cooker. Stir.
- Whisk together cream and corn starch and add to the slow cooker.
- 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!
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Tasneem says
I have a electric nutripot so what is the cook time for this recipe?
Ashley Fehr says
Sorry, I don’t have any experience cooking with one of those
Lisa says
I hate to sound dumb but what exactly is “tomato pasta sauce”? Do you mean spaghetti sauce?
Lauren says
I wondered that too. “Tomato pasta sauce” is extremely vague.
Pj says
Didn’t see a reply about the tomato paste sauce clarification.
Tomato pasta and tomato sauce are two very separate things. Would like to know the answer to this. Thanks!
Daniel says
Yes, if you read the front of the jar or can it’s called pasta sauce not spaghetti sauce and they make cream and cheese flavored instead of tomato flavored
Ashley Fehr says
When you are a grocery shopping, you will look for a jar of tomato based sauce that reads “pasta sauce”, and then you know you have tomato pasta sauce.
Allison says
Can you make this as a freezer meal? Anyone tried?
Ashley Fehr says
I haven’t tried but I think it could work! It’s not usually recommended to freeze dairy, but the higher the fat content the better it will freeze (so heavy cream could be fine)
Barbara Manouselis says
I do not have the cream or evaporated milk but found a can of coconut milk wondering if this will be ok to use a as substitution?
Ashley Fehr says
It will work but it will change the flavor somewhat
Melissa says
This was so good. I’m always looking for new recipes my family loved it.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Melissa!
Lisalia says
SO delicious and flavorful and so easy to make. My family loved it!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Lisalia!
Stephanie says
The sauce in this recipe was unbelievable! Great recipe!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Stephanie!
Meagen says
This is such a great and easy recipe. The whole family loves it. Will definitely be making it again soon! Yum!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Meagen!
Betsy says
So good! I love the creaminess paired so perfectly with the rich tanginess of the tomato! Over pasta is the perfect thing for this…that and some lovely crusty bread to soak up any extra sauce. 😉 These blazingly hot days the slow cooker is my most trusted friend. Great recipe to use with my slow cooker! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Betsy! I’m so glad you liked it!
kim says
I am totally making this tonight
Ginny says
This looks delicious. The can of diced tomatoes shown in the video looks a lot bigger than 14 oz. as stated in the recipe. Is it actually 28 oz? Just want to make sure before trying. Thanks.
Ashley Fehr says
The recipe as written is correct. Thanks for checking!
LeeAnne Snead says
Can this be done in a pressure cooker??
Ashley Fehr says
Maybe, but I have not tested the recipe that way
Brianne says
I am going to try in my Insta Pot. I would add the cream at the end and cook for 25 min with a quick release. The chicken may shred apart but that would be yummy on pasta.
Ashley Fehr says
I’d love to hear how it goes Brianne!
Quirky Homemaker says
Sounds yummy! I love my slow cooker. You’re so funny. “doomed for some big fails sometime soon.” Ha! Aren’t we all? In fact I’ve already had a couple this week. 😉 But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? All part of the creative process. This sounds and looks SUPER yummy! Enjoy your week.
Ashley Fehr says
That’s exactly right! It’s all a process. But when you stick with just a few ingredients it seems there’s less that can go wrong! Lol
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
Chicken breasts and my slow cooker are like staples around here! I love a little experimentation with low risk of it becoming a disaster. 🙂 This recipe looks incredible!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Well if this creamy tomato basil chicken is what real life looks like, count me in! Seriously, I don’t know what it is about fall, but i’m freggin’ exhausted, so 5 ingredient dinners that taste amazing sounds fabulous to me!! This looks absolutely delicious, Ashley! Keep the easy meals coming girlfriend! Cheers!
Jen | Baked by an Introvert says
I am loving this, Ashley! I turn to my slow cooker often because I am busy enough as it is. I can’t believe this recipe is only 5 ingredients. You can bet it’s going on the menu soon!!
wtc says
Ex
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
You make the BEST dinners, Ashley! I kinda want to come over for dinner at your place every single night. 😉 Seriously digging how EASY this chicken is plus it totally looks like fall comfort food!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
Only five ingredients!! Big claps from me – this looks SO good, and my dad has been asking me for tomato-y slow cooker chicken, so I’ve got to make this ASAP 🙂 deliciousness!
E. Williams says
This sounds so good I will have to try it for sure.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
You are definitely on a roll with those easy dinner ideas! And you really can’t beat 5 ingredients, especially when it’s in the slow cooker. Love the creamy sauce on this chicken! And that basil….yuuuum. My kinda meal, especially since the weather is getting cooler!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Gayle! They are the only thinking keeping my kids fed these days, easy dinner recipes! Lol.