Description
Juicy chicken breasts slow-cooked in a creamy marinara and tomato sauce with garlic, Italian seasoning, and fresh basil — an effortless weeknight dinner that tastes like Sunday cooking.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs)
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with Italian herbs, juice included
1 cup marinara or tomato pasta sauce
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped (add at the very end)
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
1. Pour diced tomatoes (with juice), marinara, minced garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, dried basil, and black pepper into a 4-6 quart slow cooker. Stir until combined.
2. Whisk cornstarch into heavy cream in a small bowl until smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour into the slow cooker and stir to incorporate fully into the tomato base.
3. Nestle chicken breasts into the sauce, pressing down so they sit mostly submerged. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours. Start checking internal temperature at 2.5 hours — remove the moment chicken reaches 165°F.
4. Stir in the fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Let rest on WARM setting for 5 minutes before serving.
5. Lift chicken to a cutting board and slice thickly, or shred right in the pot. Serve over spaghetti, rice, or polenta with the sauce spooned generously over the top and freshly grated Parmesan to finish.
Notes
Always start with fully thawed chicken — never frozen directly from the freezer.
Check the internal temperature starting at 2.5 hours; overcooked chicken breast turns dry and stringy.
Use only heavy cream or evaporated milk — regular milk and low-fat cream curdle in this recipe.
Add fresh basil at the very end only — long cooking dulls its bright, vivid flavor.
If fresh basil is unavailable, substitute 1-2 tsp of good-quality basil pesto stirred in at the end for the same freshness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American / Italian-Inspired