Description
Creamy tomato basil chicken breast elevates home cooking with Italian-inspired comfort. Tender chicken breasts simmer in a rich, herb-infused sauce that delivers mouthwatering flavor and simple weeknight elegance when you crave something special.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Other Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup (120 milliliters / 4 fluid ounces) chicken broth
- ½ cup (120 milliliters / 4 fluid ounces) heavy cream
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon dried basil (or ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped)
- ¼ cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (optional, for thickening)
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Orchestrate a flavor foundation by generously massaging chicken breasts with aromatic spices, creating a robust seasoning profile that will elevate the entire dish.
- Develop a rich caramelized exterior for the chicken by searing in a hot skillet, which intensifies the meat’s inherent flavors and creates a beautiful golden-brown crust.
- Transfer the seared protein into the slow cooker, blanketing it with a vibrant tomato landscape infused with fragrant garlic, herbaceous basil, and umami-rich Parmesan cheese.
- Submerge the chicken in a luxurious liquid bath of crushed tomatoes and savory chicken broth, allowing the proteins to gently poach and absorb the surrounding aromatic essence.
- Allow the slow cooker to tenderly transform the chicken, maintaining a low and consistent temperature that guarantees exceptionally moist and succulent meat.
- Introduce velvety heavy cream during the final culinary moments, creating a silken sauce that embraces the chicken with a decadent, smooth texture.
- If needed, incorporate a cornstarch slurry to elegantly thicken the sauce, ensuring a perfect consistency that clings beautifully to the meat.
- Finalize the dish by adorning with delicate fresh basil leaves, presenting a visually stunning and flavor-packed entrée perfect for serving atop pasta, rice, or creamy mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by searing chicken before slow cooking, creating a golden-brown exterior that locks in delicious, rich taste.
- Opt for fresh basil instead of dried for a brighter, more vibrant herb profile that elevates the entire dish’s aromatic quality.
- Adjust cream consistency by gradually adding cornstarch mixture, preventing sauce from becoming too thick or lumpy.
- Transform dish into lighter version by substituting heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk for diet-friendly alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (low) / 2-3 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 120mg