Tomato Basil Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken in a rich, Italian-inspired tomato basil sauce that cooks while you go about your day.

# What You'll 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 packed fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
15 - ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half

→ To Serve

16 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

# Directions:

01 - Season chicken breasts thoroughly with salt and black pepper on both sides.
02 - Arrange seasoned chicken breasts in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, chopped onion, minced garlic, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, sugar, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
04 - Pour the tomato mixture evenly over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
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 throughout.
06 - During the final 30 minutes of cooking, stir in chopped fresh basil. If preparing the creamy version, add heavy cream or half-and-half at this time and mix well.
07 - Taste sauce and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread. Garnish with additional fresh basil and Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Set it and forget it freedom means you can actually relax while dinner cooks itself
  • The sauce develops this incredible depth that tastes like you spent all day simmering it
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for tomorrow's lunch, if there are any
02 -
  • The chicken will release a lot of liquid as it cooks, so don't panic if it looks soupy at first
  • Letting it rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking helps the sauce thicken slightly and the chicken reabsorb some juices
  • If your sauce is too thin after cooking, remove the chicken and set the slow cooker to high with the lid off for 15-20 minutes
03 -
  • Line your slow cooker with a disposable liner for cleanup that takes literally five seconds
  • If you're home during cooking, give everything a quick stir halfway through for more even flavor distribution

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