Description
Rustic tomato basil chicken brings Italian countryside comfort to home kitchens. Silky sauce, fresh herbs, and tender chicken combine for a simple yet sophisticated Mediterranean-inspired meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 14 oz (398 ml) can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs
- 1 cup tomato pasta sauce
- ½ cup evaporated milk or heavy cream
- 2 tbsps corn starch
- 2 tbsps finely chopped fresh basil
- 2 tsps minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Merge diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, dried basil, and black pepper in the slow cooker, whisking until ingredients blend seamlessly.
- Cream Integration: Craft a silky slurry by combining heavy cream and cornstarch, eliminating lumps, then gently fold into the sauce mixture.
- Chicken Immersion: Nestle whole chicken breasts into the sauce, ensuring partial submersion and complete coating for maximum flavor absorption.
- Slow Cooking Process: Secure the slow cooker lid and set to low temperature, allowing the chicken to gently simmer for 3-5 hours until reaching a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Resting and Finishing: Extract chicken breasts and let them rest momentarily, then delicately fold fresh basil leaves into the sauce to enhance its aromatic profile.
- Serving Technique: Slice or present chicken whole, accompanied by pasta, steamed rice, or a vibrant garden salad, drizzling the luxurious sauce over the protein for a perfect culinary presentation.
Notes
- Optimize Slow Cooker Size: Use a 3-6 quart slow cooker to ensure proper heat distribution and prevent overcrowding, which can lead to uneven cooking.
- Master the Slurry Technique: Whisk heavy cream and cornstarch thoroughly to eliminate lumps, creating a smooth, creamy sauce without unwanted clumps.
- Check Chicken Doneness: Always verify internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer to guarantee safe, perfectly cooked chicken.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Let chicken rest 3-5 minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring moist and tender meat with maximum flavor retention.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg