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!
Reader Rating
“So easy and delicious! Followed the recipe exactly. 3 hours and was so moist. Served over spaghetti with fresh green beans Picky husband and foodie son went back for seconds!” — Liz
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.
Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken
written by Ashley Fehr
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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Sharon Kneubuehl says
This is a terrific family casual meal and made for great leftovers as well!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Sharon!
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
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, that would work great!
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!
Kristine says
Is it ok to leave this in the slow cooker on warm until I get home from work or will it dry out? It will be done cooking a few hours before I get home.
Ashley Fehr says
It will be fine, but the sooner you can eat chicken after it is done cooking, the juicier it will be 🙂
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
Ashtin says
Would it still work with frozen chicken? I forgot to take out my meat this morning! LOL
Ashley Fehr says
Cooking frozen chicken in the slow cooker is not recommended, but you could make the recipe on the stove top if you are in a pinch!
K Andrews says
Delicious & Super Easy!!! This one will definitely be added to our dinner rotation 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad!
Amy says
What’s the measurements for uk please
Ashley Fehr says
The measurements are the same for the UK 🙂
Grace says
Bahahahahahaha perfect
Melissa says
Recipe is simple and turned out perfectly! I used heavy cream and the sauce turned out exactly how I hoped it would. Not watery or runny at all. My husband also loved it! I served over zoodles. Will definitely make again.
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Melissa!
Erin.B says
I loved this recipe I’m considering on making it again. My cousin said her kids polished it all off.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Erin!
Chelsea says
How much is considered a serving? 1 peice of chicken & how much sauce over it?
Ashley Fehr says
1/4 of the sauce
Sadie says
Do you thaw your chicken first or would this work with frozen chicken breast?
Ashley Fehr says
It is not recommended to cook frozen chicken breasts in the slow cooker because they stay at an unsafe temperature for too long. I always thaw first
Charlie says
My crockpot only have options to cook on high for high 4 or 6 hours and low 8 or 10 hours ? Will cooking it on high for 4 hours suffice ?
Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
I wouldn’t cook it on high for 4 hours as it will be overcooked. The best option would be to start it on low for 8 hours and then turn it off when done
JCM says
Family loved it! I cut my chicken breast in half because I think they are too large these days. The consistency was perfect. It was a win! Thank you!!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m glad you liked it!
Michaela says
If I’m cooking this before work, to ensure the milk doesn’t curdle, should I add the evaporated milk at the end of the recipe, when I get home?
Ashley Fehr says
Evaporated milk is usually pretty stable and shouldn’t curdle, but you can easily add it in when you get home to be safe
Kayla Green says
Does this have to be made in the Crock-Pot or can it also be made just in a skillet?? I messed up and waited 😩
Ashley Fehr says
It can be made in a skillet no problem! I would just simmer for 15-20 minutes (low heat, slight bubble) until done
Xenia says
Hi there!
Do you possibly know how long this would be in an instant pot?
Thank you.
Ashley Fehr says
I haven’t tried in an Instant Pot, but I would probably leave out the tomato and cream based ingredients and add them at the end so they don’t scorch during pressure cooking.
Marie says
The recipe says 14oz of diced tomatoes, however in the recipe video it looks like you used a big 28oz can of diced tomatoes? Can you please clarify??
Ashley Fehr says
The recipe is correct at 14 oz