Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken slowly simmered in a rich tomato basil sauce with Italian herbs
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (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
13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
14 - ½ cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
15 - ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
→ To Serve
16 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
# How to Make It:
01 - Generously season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper, ensuring even coverage for proper seasoning penetration.
02 - Arrange seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
03 - Combine crushed tomatoes, drained diced tomatoes, chopped onion, minced garlic, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, sugar, red pepper flakes, and olive oil in a large mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
04 - Pour the tomato mixture evenly over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated with sauce.
05 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 6 hours or HIGH setting for 4 hours, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and is tender enough to shred easily with a fork.
06 - During the final 30 minutes of cooking, stir in chopped fresh basil and heavy cream (if using) for a creamy, aromatic finish.
07 - Taste sauce and adjust salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as needed. Serve hot over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread, garnished with additional fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sauce develops this incredible depth that you just cannot achieve on the stovetop in under an hour
- Its practically foolproof and tastes like you spent all day tending to it
02 -
- The cream can separate if added too early, so wait until those final 30 minutes
- Chicken breasts can dry out if overcooked, so check at the shorter end of your cooking time
03 -
- Sear the chicken quickly in a hot skillet before adding to the slow cooker for deeper flavor
- Use high-quality canned tomatoes since theyre the foundation of the entire dish