Tomato Basil Chicken Slow Cooker (Printer-friendly)

Tender chicken in rich tomato basil sauce with Italian herbs

# What you'll 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)

# Method:

01 - Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides.
02 - Place the chicken in 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. Stir until well mixed.
04 - Pour the tomato mixture evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker.
05 - Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
06 - In the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir in the chopped fresh basil and, if using, the heavy cream for a creamy sauce.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with extra basil and Parmesan cheese if desired. Pair with rice, pasta, or crusty bread.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chicken becomes impossibly tender and practically falls apart at the mere suggestion of a fork
  • The sauce develops those deep slow cooked flavors that usually require hours of active stirring and monitoring
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day if they last that long
02 -
  • Heavy cream can sometimes separate if added too early so wait until that final 30 minutes
  • The sauce will thicken slightly as it cools so do not worry if it looks thinner than you expect right after cooking
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before seasoning to help it brown slightly in the sauce
  • Taste the sauce before serving as slow cookers sometimes mellow flavors more than expected

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