Lazy Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken

📃Shopping list

To make this easy chicken dinner recipe, you will need:

• chicken - boneless, skinless breasts or chicken thighs
• diced tomato - canned tomatoes with all the juices. 
• garlic - fresh minced gives this recipe lots of fresh flavor
• onion - freshly diced onion is great here
• black pepper - freshly ground adds great flavor 
• basil -  use both dried basil and fresh basil to give this recipe a double boost
• chicken stock - for added moisture and flavor
• garlic salt - for lots of extra yummy garlic flavor

🔪How to make it

Prepare your slow cooker ​for your tomato basil chicken by coating it in a non-stick agent of some sort.  You can use a nonstick cooking spray or oil of choice. 

 NOTE:  Some slow cookers come with a nonstick surface.  They often still recommend using a nonstick agent but suggest using an oil rather than a spray. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Next, place chicken pieces into the bottom of the crockpot.  Add in all remaining ingredients on top of the chicken, cover, and cook!  

Once the chicken is cooked through (this generally takes me about 4 hours), remove it from your slow cooker.   Cut chicken into chunks or shred it.  

Stir shredded or cut chicken back into mixture in slow cooker.  Serve and enjoy!!

What kind of chicken slow cooks best?

This crockpot tomato basil chicken recipe works best with boneless, skinless chicken pieces. White meat chicken is always drier, especially when slow cooked. Dark meat is more forgiving. It can cook for a longer time without drying out. 

Thighs (dark meat) are smaller and 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 decide to use breasts and feel they are a little too dry, shredding them is the best option.

🍽Serving suggestions

The sauce produced by this tomato basil chicken recipe is very light.  A great way to serve it is over a bed of rice, mashed potato, or mashed cauliflower. Each of these will soak up all of the delicious flavors. 

Serving this dish with a side of pasta, a side salad, and thick crusty bread are also great options.  Fresh corn makes another wonderful side dish.  

If you are a fan of spice, try topping your crock pot basil chicken recipe with some red pepper flakes.  Grated parmesan cheese is also a great topping for this easy dinner.

🔁Substitutions

• Substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for breasts in this delicious meal.
• Diced fresh tomatoes can be used in place of canned ones.  
• Garlic powder can be substituted for garlic salt if you are watching your sodium levels. 

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers of this delicious recipe in an airtight container or zip-top bag. They will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator or several months in the freezer.  This type of meal is perfect to reheat at the end of a busy day.  

😉Hints and Hacks

1. Serve this delicious dish warm or cold for great dinner time 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 others use the beaters of a handheld mixer. This chicken will be so tender it will be very easy to shred with two forks.
3. Confirm chicken is safe to eat a meat thermometer. According to the FDA, chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. 
4. Store leftovers of this tomato basil chicken in individual serving-size containers for easy next day grab-and-go meals.
5. 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. 
6. In the market for a new slow cooker?  I love mine!