This deliciously light slow cooker tomato basil chicken is made with diced tomato and fresh, fragrant basil. A super easy, anytime-of-year dish.
If you are looking for a light chicken dish filled with flavor, you have come to the right place! This easy recipe makes for a great, light summer meal. But, it is also warm and filling enough to make in colder months.
This slow cooker chicken recipe is made with very basic ingredients. It is diet friendly, but the whole family will love it. It is a super simple, low carb option that is perfect for busy weeknights.
Tasty and filling any time of year - this is the kind of dish worthy of adding to your regular rotation.
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📃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
Exact quantities and detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post
🔪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.
If you love this recipe, please let me know in the comment section below!
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
- Serve this delicious dish warm or cold for great dinner time leftovers!
- 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.
- 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.
- Store leftovers of this tomato basil chicken in individual serving-size containers for easy next day grab-and-go meals.
- 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.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
❔❓❔FAQ
A: Yes! Chicken does not have to be cooked before adding it to a slow cooker. Properly functioning slow cookers get hot enough, even on the low setting, to fully and safely cook chicken.
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📖 Recipe
Lazy Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken
Equipment
- 3.5 qt slow cooker or larger
- 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 chicken breasts into pot1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- add all remaining ingredients and spoon over chicken2 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
- 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.
- serve promptly
Notes
Nutrition
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