Description
Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts is a comforting and flavorful slow-cooked dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich sauce made from diced tomatoes, basil, garlic, and creamy tomato sauce with cream cheese. This hearty recipe is perfect for an easy dinner and pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or vegetables.
Ingredients
Sauce 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
- ¼ cup basil (freeze dried or fresh, chopped)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Chicken
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In the slow cooker, combine the diced tomatoes with Italian herbs, pasta sauce, softened cream cheese, minced garlic, salt, chopped basil, and black pepper. Stir the mixture well to incorporate all ingredients, allowing some lumps of cream cheese to remain for texture.
- Add chicken to sauce: Place the boneless skinless chicken breasts into the slow cooker, pressing them gently into the sauce so they are fully submerged.
- Cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to the high setting.
- Slow cook: Cook on high for 4 hours, or until the sauce has thickened and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 175°F (79°C) to ensure it is fully cooked and tender.
- Serve: Once cooked, serve the rich tomato basil chicken breasts with your choice of pasta, rice, steamed vegetables, or potatoes for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use fresh basil for a brighter flavor or freeze-dried basil for convenience.
- Ensure the chicken is fully submerged in the sauce to keep it moist and flavorful during cooking.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can remove the chicken at the end and cook the sauce uncovered on high for 10-15 minutes.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer for food safety.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American