Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken Recipe – Easy and Hearty

This slow cooker tomato basil chicken is one of our favorite cozy dinners, tender chicken simmered low and slow in a creamy tomato basil sauce, with almost no hands on work. For us that kind of warm, effortless comfort is exactly what real food for real life is about. It is the kind of dinner you can start in the morning and forget about, coming home to tender chicken in a creamy tomato basil sauce that fills the kitchen with a cozy, inviting aroma.

Chicken slow cooks in marinara, diced tomatoes, garlic, and herbs, then gets finished with cream and fresh basil for a rich, velvety sauce. This slow cooker tomato basil chicken is an easy, set and forget meal that tastes like it took all day, because it did. Letting the chicken simmer low and slow in marinara, tomatoes, garlic, and herbs builds a deep, savory sauce, and a finish of cream and fresh basil turns it rich, velvety, and fragrant.

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Tender chicken in a creamy tomato basil sauce makes this slow cooker tomato basil chicken an easy, cozy, set and forget dinner.

Why You Will Love This Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken

• Set and forget. The slow cooker does the work for a rich, cozy meal.
• Creamy tomato sauce. Marinara, tomatoes, and cream make a velvety sauce.
• Tender chicken. Slow cooking keeps the chicken juicy and easy to shred or slice.
• Simple ingredients. Mostly pantry staples come together with little effort.
• Versatile. Serve it over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread.

What Makes This Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken So Good

A great slow cooker tomato basil chicken starts with a flavorful base of marinara, diced tomatoes, garlic, and Italian herbs, which slowly melds into a deep, savory tomato sauce. A base of marinara, diced tomatoes, garlic, and Italian herbs slowly melds over the long cook into a deep, savory tomato sauce that needs almost no attention from you.

Whisking cornstarch into the cream before stirring it in helps the sauce turn rich and velvety as it cooks, rather than thin or watery. Whisking cornstarch into the cream before it goes in is the simple step that lets the sauce thicken into something rich and velvety rather than thin and watery.

The key to this slow cooker tomato basil chicken is finishing with fresh basil. Stirring it in at the end brings a bright, fragrant, garden fresh note that lifts the whole dish. Stirring fresh basil in at the very end is what lifts the whole dish, adding a bright, fragrant, garden fresh note that balances the cozy, slow cooked tomato sauce.

Optional Pro Tip: Add Cream Toward the End

For the silkiest sauce, stir the cream and cornstarch mixture in during the last part of cooking so it thickens gently without separating. For the best slow cooker tomato basil chicken, save some fresh basil to stir in right before serving so it stays vibrant. Stirring the cream and cornstarch in during the last stretch of cooking lets the sauce thicken gently without separating, and saving some basil for the very end keeps it vibrant and aromatic.

Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken

Submerge the chicken in the sauce so the slow cooker tomato basil chicken cooks evenly and stays juicy, and cook just until it reaches 165 F. Keeping the chicken submerged in the sauce helps it cook evenly and stay juicy, and pulling it as soon as it is cooked through is what keeps it from drying out.

Whisk the cornstarch into the cream to avoid lumps, and finish with fresh basil at the end for the brightest flavor. Whisking the cornstarch smoothly into the cream first is the trick to a lump free sauce, and a final flourish of fresh basil brings the brightest flavor to the bowl.

Variations and Add Ins

• Cheesy. Stir in parmesan or top with mozzarella.
• Spicy. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
• Extra veggies. Add spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers.
• Herb forward. Add extra Italian seasoning or fresh oregano.
• Lighter. Use evaporated milk in place of heavy cream.

How to Store and Make Ahead

Store leftover slow cooker tomato basil chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The sauce stays rich and flavorful. Stored airtight, the sauce stays rich and flavorful for a few days, making this an easy, comforting meal to portion out and enjoy again through the week.

Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or cream to loosen the sauce if it has thickened. A splash of broth or cream stirred in while reheating loosens the sauce if it has thickened, and gentle warming keeps it smooth and velvety.

Serving Suggestions for Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken

Serve this warm over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread to soak up the sauce, garnished with extra fresh basil and parmesan. It makes a cozy, satisfying dinner. Spooned over pasta, rice, or crusty bread to catch the sauce, and finished with extra basil and parmesan, it becomes a cozy, satisfying dinner with little effort.

Fresh basil is the signature flavor here, a fragrant culinary herb in the mint family used in cuisines worldwide, as described in this overview of basil. Its bright aroma is what gives this slow cooker tomato basil chicken its lively, garden fresh finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chicken thighs?

Yes. Boneless thighs stay especially tender and juicy. Breasts work well too. Boneless thighs stay especially tender and juicy through the long cook, though breasts work nicely too if you prefer leaner white meat.

How long does it cook?

On low it takes about three to five hours, just until the chicken reaches 165 F. A few hours on low is all it takes, just until the chicken is cooked through, so it fits neatly into a busy day without overcooking.

Why add cornstarch?

Whisked into the cream, it thickens the sauce into a rich, velvety texture as it cooks. Whisked into the cream, cornstarch thickens the sauce into a rich, velvety texture as it warms, giving you that luscious finish without a heavy roux.

Can I use fresh tomatoes?

Yes, though canned diced tomatoes and marinara give a reliable, deep flavor with less work. Fresh tomatoes work, though canned diced tomatoes and marinara deliver a reliable, deep flavor with far less prep, which is part of what makes this so easy.

When do I add the basil?

Stir most of it in near the end and save some to add right before serving for the brightest flavor. Stirring most of the basil in near the end and saving a little to add right before serving gives you both melded flavor and a bright, fresh finish.

Can I make it lighter?

Yes. Use evaporated milk in place of heavy cream for a lighter but still creamy sauce. Swapping evaporated milk for the heavy cream lightens the sauce while keeping it creamy, so you can enjoy the same cozy dish with a little less richness.

What do I serve it over?

Pasta, rice, or crusty bread all soak up the creamy tomato sauce beautifully. Pasta, rice, or crusty bread all soak up the creamy tomato sauce beautifully, so serve it over whatever you love best for catching every drop.

Can I make it ahead?

Yes. It keeps for up to three days and reheats well with a splash of broth or cream. Because it reheats so well, it makes a great make ahead meal, returning to its rich, creamy self with just a splash of broth or cream.

Can I freeze it?

Cream sauces can change texture when frozen, but it is doable. Thaw and reheat gently. It freezes reasonably well, though cream sauces can shift in texture, so thaw it gently and warm it slowly while stirring to bring it back together.

Can I add cheese?

Yes. Stir in parmesan or melt mozzarella on top for an extra rich finish. Stirring in parmesan or melting mozzarella over the top adds an extra layer of rich, cheesy flavor that makes the dish feel even more indulgent.

Effortless, Creamy Comfort

This slow cooker tomato basil chicken delivers tender chicken in a rich, creamy tomato basil sauce with almost no effort, thanks to the slow cooker. It tastes like a meal that took all day. It delivers tender chicken in a rich, creamy tomato basil sauce with almost no effort, tasting like a meal that simmered all day, because it did.

Serve it over pasta or rice, stir in cheese or vegetables, and finish with fresh basil to make it your own. It is an easy, crowd pleasing dinner for any night. Serve it over pasta or rice, stir in cheese or vegetables, and finish with fresh basil to make it your own for an easy, crowd pleasing dinner any night.

If you love creamy, comforting dishes like this, you will also enjoy our cajun chicken pasta, another favorite from our kitchen.