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    Home » Entrees » Chicken » Lazy Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken

    Published: Aug 14, 2020 · Modified: Nov 24, 2020

    Lazy Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken

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    This deliciously light Crockpot dish is filled with tender chicken, diced tomato and fragrant basil. A super easy, any time of year dish

    close up view of chicken, tomatoes and basil after cooking

    If you are looking for a light chicken dish filled with flavor, you have come to the right place! This easy dish makes for a great light summer meal, yet is still warm and filling enough to make in colder months. Tasty and filling anytime of year - that's the kind of dish worthy of adding in to your regular rotation.

    How To Make Tomato And Basil Chicken

    What Kind Of Chicken Works Best In A Slow Cooker?

    This dish is meant for boneless and skinless chicken pieces. Since we have both white meat and dark meat fans in our house, I generally create recipes using both to satisfy as many members of The Team as possible. White meat chicken is always drier, especially when slow cooked. Dark meat is more forgiving and can be cooked longer without drying out. However, thighs (dark meat) are smaller and have tend to have more connective tissue. If you don't have a preference taste wise, thighs are the way to go. However, if you are a fan of less fatty chicken, stick with those breasts! If you do decide to use breasts and feel they are a little too dry, a great option is to shred them and mix the shreds back into the sauce.

    What Other Ingredients Are Needed?

    all raw ingredients in slow cooker with lables

    This tomato basil chicken recipe calls for both dried and fresh basil. It is especially great for those of you who grow your own basil. The simple ingredients really allow the distinctive basil flavor to shine through. In addition to chopped fresh basil, you will need:

    • 2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
    • canned, diced tomato with juices
    • fresh minced garlic
    • diced onion
    • fresh black pepper
    • dried basil
    • chicken broth
    • garlic salt

    This simple recipe involves placing chicken in your crockpot, adding all remaining ingredients on top of the chicken, covering and cooking. After about 4 hours of cooking, remove chicken pieces from slow cooker and either cut into chunks or shred. Stir chicken back into mixture in slow cooker then cover and cook for another hour. Serve and enjoy!!

    freshly chopped basil on a wood cutting board with a knife

    How To Serve This Easy Chicken Dish

    The sauce produced by this dish is very light, as a result, it is great served with something that will absorb some of it. Rice, mashed potato and mashed cauliflower are great options. It is also delicious served with a side of pasta and/or a thick crusty bread.

    Crockpot Chicken Hints and Hacks

    1. This dish is delicious served warm or cold and makes for great leftovers!
    2. There are a lot of different opinions regarding the best way to shred chicken. Some people prefer to use a potato masher while other use the beaters of a handheld mixer. This chicken will be so tender it will be very easy to shred with two forks. Keeping it simple!Chicken breast being shredded with two forks
    3. To confirm when chicken is finished cooking, I suggest a meat thermometer. Chicken that is over cooked will be dry and rubbery. According to the FDA, chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Here is my favorite meat thermometer.
    4. Slow cooker liners are an optional but helpful hack whenever using a crockpot. They allow you to cook with little to no cleanup. I like to buy mine in bulk for a better per-piece price. Click here to see what I buy.
    5. In the market for a new slow cooker? Here is the one I am currently lusting after.
    top view of chicken with tomato and basil in a round bowl with watermelon salad in background
    a bowl of finished tomato basil chicken with a blue rim

    Lazy Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken

    Deliciously light, this crockpot tomato and basil chicken dish makes for a fabulous meal, any time of the day. Great served over rice, riced cauliflower or mashed potato!
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 hours
    Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 198kcal
    Author: The Lazy slow cooker
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    Equipment

    • 3.5 qt slow cooker or larger
    • measuring spoons and cups
    • slow cooker liner (optional)
    • spoons and knives

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
    • 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomato with juices
    • ½ cup chopped onion
    • ½ cup chicken broth
    • ¼ cup fresh, chopped basil
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
    • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
    • ½ teaspoon dried basil
    • ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • place slow cooker liner in pot (if using)
    • place chicken breasts into pot
    • add all remaining ingredients and spoon over chicken
    • cover and cook on low for 4 hours (confirm chicken is cooked through using a meat thermometer. Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F)
    • remove chicken, cut into chunks, return to slow cooker and stir to mix.
    • cover and cook on low for an additional hour
    • keep on warm until ready to serve

    Notes

    *

    Nutrition

    Calories: 198kcal

    Great Crockpot Chicken Dishes

    • Pizza Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
    • Cashew chicken
    • Soy-Peanut Chicken
    • Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken

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    Welcome to The Lazy Slow Cooker. I am so happy you are here! My name is Susan (yep - I am Lazy Susan!) and I am the recipe developer/blogger behind these posts. I am the mom of three amazing but super busy kids and the wife of one awesome and also super busy guy. All 5 of us have very different schedules and I would not survive mealtime without my crockpot. Read More…

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