Tomato Basil Chicken (Printable Version)
Tender chicken in a rich, herb-infused tomato basil sauce that simmers to perfection in your slow cooker for an effortless Italian-inspired meal.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1.5-2 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 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 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
14 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
15 - 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
→ To Serve
16 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
# How to Make It:
01 - Season chicken breasts thoroughly with salt and black pepper on both sides.
02 - Place seasoned chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker.
03 - Combine crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, sugar, red pepper flakes, and olive oil in a large bowl. Mix until thoroughly incorporated.
04 - Pour 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 chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F.
06 - During the final 30 minutes of cooking, stir in chopped fresh basil and heavy cream if making creamy version.
07 - Taste sauce and adjust salt or pepper as needed.
08 - Serve hot garnished with extra basil and Parmesan cheese. Pairs well with rice, pasta, polenta, or crusty bread.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Set it and forget it cooking that delivers restaurant quality flavor without any fuss
- The sauce gets better the longer it simmers, making it perfect for meal prep or leftovers
02 -
- I once skipped salting the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker and the whole dish tasted flat, no matter how much seasoning I added later
- Adding the basil at the beginning instead of the end results in a sad, brownish sauce with zero fresh flavor
03 -
- Browning the chicken in a hot skillet before adding it to the slow cooker adds depth of flavor that is absolutely worth the extra ten minutes
- A splash of balsamic vinegar stirred in at the end adds a subtle sweetness and complexity that makes people wonder what your secret ingredient is