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When I need a creamy, comforting hearty dinner that I know my whole family will dig into without complaining, I reach for this slow cooker tomato basil chicken breast recipe – its packed with flavor and cooked from scratch in a slow cooker!
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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe – my goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
I want each reader to walk away with a solid knowledge of each recipe, with all of the tips I’ve gathered from extensive testing of each recipe. I also answer questions my friends and family have asked about my recipes, to help everyone better understand the processes we use – and why!
Table of contents
Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts
Whatโs the best thing about this tomato basil chicken recipe? You add everything into the crockpot and forget about it until itโs time for dinner! This recipe is the easiest weeknight meal, but it tastes like take-out!
These chicken breasts are packed with savory basil flavor and smothered in a creamy tomato basil sauce – my family can be really picky about sauces, but this is one even my son who hates tomatoes likes. The creamy texture is totally addictive – it is great over spaghetti, or with browned vegetables stirred in if you’re looking for ways to sneak more veggies in your kids diet.
I designed this recipe to be really adaptable – feel free to get creative and make some swaps your family loves!
Made with cream cheese, tomato sauce, and Italian spices, itโs packed with delicious flavors the whole family will enjoy.ย
How To Make Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts
Made with only 8-ingredients, this recipe is super easy to make! Get out your slow cooker, gather your ingredients, and sit back and relax! Hereโs what you need to get started:
- Diced Tomatoes with Italian Herbs (14 oz can): Adds a rich, tomatoey foundation with the added benefit of Italian herbs (like oregano, basil, and thyme) for a flavorful, aromatic sauce.
- Pasta Sauce (1 cup): Enhances the tomato base and adds a thicker, richer texture to the sauce. The seasoning in the pasta sauce provides additional depth of flavor.
- Cream Cheese (1 cup, softened): Creates a smooth, creamy texture, balancing the acidity of the tomatoes. It also adds a rich, mild tang that makes the sauce more luxurious.
- Garlic (6 cloves, minced): Provides a robust, pungent flavor that infuses the sauce with a savory depth. Garlic is essential in Italian-inspired dishes for a strong, aromatic foundation.
- Salt (1 teaspoon): Enhances the natural flavors of the chicken, tomatoes, and herbs, bringing out the best in each ingredient.
- Basil (ยผ cup, freeze-dried or fresh, chopped): Adds a bright, fresh, and slightly sweet flavor that complements the tomatoes and garlic, while giving the dish its characteristic basil aroma.
- Black Pepper (ยผ teaspoon): Adds a gentle heat and sharpness, balancing the creaminess of the sauce and enhancing the overall seasoning.
- 8. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (2 lb): The lean chicken breasts absorb the rich, creamy tomato sauce and become tender as they cook. They provide a hearty base to the dish, allowing the sauce to shine.
Once you gather your ingredients, we will use the following process:
- Add sauce ingredients. First, add the tomato sauce, cream cheese, diced tomatoes, garlic, salt, basil, and pepper to the slow cooker. Stir and mix well.ย
- Add chicken. Next, add your chicken breasts to the slow cooker. Press it into the sauce until fully submerged.ย
- Cook. Put your lid on the slow cooker. Set it on high and cook for 4-hours, or until the sauce has thickened.ย
- Serve and Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks to slow cooker chicken
Don’t worry about lumps. There will be lumps of cream cheese when you mix it with the sauce and spices. This is ok, we want it mixed but not too smooth. The lumps will melt as it cooks.
Add more cheese. A cup of grated parmesan cheese is delicious on top.ย
Brown the Chicken First (Optional): Searing the chicken breasts in a skillet before slow cooking adds extra flavor and gives the dish a richer taste. It also helps lock in moisture. If swapping chicken thighs for chicken breasts, you definitely want to brown the chicken first, especially if using skin-on thighs.
Use Bone-In for Extra Moisture: If you want extra juicy chicken, consider using bone-in chicken breasts. They cook more slowly and retain more moisture, though boneless, which is the standard, will work fine too.
Layer the Ingredients Properly: Place the onion, garlic, and tomato sauce at the bottom of the slow cooker before adding the chicken breasts on top. This allows the chicken to cook evenly and soak up the flavor from the sauce.
Don’t Overcook: Chicken breasts cook quickly in a slow cooker, so aim for 4-5 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high. Use a meat thermometer to check when they reach 165ยฐF (74ยฐC) to avoid overcooking and drying out the chicken.
Use Fresh Basil for Maximum Flavor: While dried basil works, using fresh basil at the end of cooking will bring out the best flavor. Add it right before serving to retain its vibrant taste.
Adjust Thickness of Sauce: If the sauce is too thin, let it simmer uncovered in the slow cooker for the last 15-20 minutes to reduce. You can also thicken it with a bit of Parmesan cheese or a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water).
Donโt Skip the Garlic: Fresh garlic is key to a flavorful dish. You can also sautรฉ the garlic and onion before adding them to the slow cooker for extra depth in the sauce.
Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil for extra flavor. This dish pairs well with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the creamy tomato sauce.
FAQs
You should put your slow cooker on high to cook the chicken. However, you can also cook it on low, but will need to increase the time to 8 hours.ย
With prep time and cook time, you can have this recipe done in about 4 hours and 10 minutes. Or, if you want to cook it on low, it will take 8 hours and 10 minutes.ย
You can use frozen chicken instead, but you will need to increase the time by at least an hour. Additionally, you will want to check the internal temperature before you serve your chicken. Keep in mind that other professionals do not recommend cooking frozen chicken in the crockpot. This is all up to what you feel safe doing.ย
If you are going to use fresh basil, then you need to cut it down a bit. The best way to do this is by chaffolding the basil leaves. Roll the basil leaves horizontally and then carefully slice ribbons of basil off the rolled leaf. This will give you long ribbons of basil that you can use or can cut down further into smaller pieces.ย
You can use your favorite pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce. You can use homemade sauce or buy a jar. Marinara is also a great sauce to use for this basil chicken recipe.ย
This chicken stores really well in your refrigerator for 3-5 days. Simply place it in a tupperware bowl and put it in your fridge. Additionally, it makes a great freezer meal. Let your chicken and sauce cool completely, and then put it in a freezer Ziploc bag. You can store it in the freezer for up to 3-months.ย
What To Serve With Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts
You can serve your juicy chicken in this delicious creamy basil sauce on top of rice, with pasta, vegetables, or potatoes. I like to serve these chicken breasts with a heaping pile of rice, my Roasted Parmesan Garlic Asparagus, my Pan Roasted Butter Carrots, or my Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts.
If you’re looking for more delicious, easy side dish recipes, click here to see our complete side dish recipe index.
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Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 14 oz can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs
- 1 cup pasta sauce
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ยผ cup basil, freeze dried or fresh, chopped
- ยผ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
Instructions
- Add tomato sauce, cream cheese, diced tomatoes, garlic, salt, basil, pepper to slow cooker and stir well to mix. There will be lumps of cream cheese which is ok, we want it mixed but not to smooth.
- Add chicken breasts to slow cooker, and press into sauce until submerged.ย
- Add lid, set slow cooker to high.ย
- Cook on high for 4 hours, until sauce has thickened and chicken has reached 175 internal temperature.
- Serve with pasta, rice, vegetables, or potatoes and enjoy!
Notes
- Stir the sauce, but donโt worry about lumps of cream cheese – they will melt.ย
- Add more cheese with up to a cup of grated parmesan cheese.
- Use any pasta sauce you love – three cheese, tomato basil, and spicy arrabiata are all favorites of ours for this recipe.ย
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
